Texas - Austin: Where to eat,stay and play

We return to the Texas capitol in February and are looking for suggestions for dining, accommodations and things to do.
Spent three days there last winter and got a chance to sample some food and we stayed near the capitol.
Enjoyed our visit to Waterloo Records and the Pacific War Museum. Plan to see those again and maybe The Alamo.
Any reviews of the LBJ library or the ranch would be welcome along with other suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

What sort of food are you into? Austin has lots of great options. If you are of the meat persuasion, standing in line for Franklin's is a must.

The Alamo is in San Antonio. If you're day tripping there, there are a lot of other great options.

Junior Brown does a GREAT show at the Continental Lounge.

Other than that, what are you into? Hiking? Museums? Art?

Three Forks and/or Roaring Forks. Both Great steak shops

Bob Bullock museum is fantastic! See "Star of Texas" video. IMAX is in building. Go Segway downtown - they do great tour! No need from a car - stay downtown and walk or get the cheap pedicabs to take you around. Max's Wine Dive should not be missed! Use opentable.com - it will help you.

Enjoy my town!

If you haven't been to LBJ Ranch, it's well worth the hour-long drive from Austin. Lots to see, including the beautiful scenery of the Hill Country. You can now go into the "Texas White House" and see how the Johnsons lived, and what things were like when LBJ was President, as well as when he was going up. There are some old buildings on the ranch of interest, especially the Sauer-Beckman Farm. The volunteers there show you how the pioneers lived by actually doing what they had to do to survive. Very interesting even though you've probably seen things like this before. They also have a self-guided driving tour...you pick up a CD from the Park HQ and just return it to the drop box at the end of your drive.
Depending on the weather, some wildflowers might be out, but mostly they come later in the Spring--fields of bluebonnets (our State flower), Indian paintbrushes, snow on the prairie, Indian blanket, etc.
You can have a very good lunch at Circle K cafe in Johnson City or some great barbecue at Cranky Frank's in Fredericksburg.

What sort of food are you into? Austin has lots of great options. If you are of the meat persuasion, standing in line for Franklin's is a must.

We love BBQ, especially the meaty kind.

The Alamo is in San Antonio. If you're day tripping there, there are a lot of other great options.

Junior Brown does a GREAT show at the Continental Lounge.

Other than that, what are you into? Hiking? Museums? Art?

Yes I saw the JB show advertised last winter and we pondered taking it in. Will try and get to it this year. As I said in my post we really enjoyed the Pacific War Museum out in F'burg. Could easily take in a decent art museum as well. BBQ is a hobby around our casita so we will happily sample the local wares in Austin.

nanook :Thanks for the review. We'll try and check it out. Ever been to the LBJ library?

We enjoy the "Salt Lick" (the actual one, not the airport location) for BBQ. Also, the porkchop at Perry's downtown is fantastic.

I have been to the LBJ Library and Museum at the University of Texas twice, most recently in October. I thought it was quite interesting and well worth the time if one is interested in the history and/or politics of the 1960s.

The museum has a floor devoted to LBJ history and presidency, half a floor for special exhibitions (in October there was one on various movements in the 1960s and earlier there was one on Walter Cronkite), half a floor with cases containing presents from various heads of state, and a floor representing a scaled-down version of the Oval Office and Lady Bird Johnson’s office.

We enjoy the "Salt Lick" (the actual one, not the airport location) for BBQ. Also, the porkchop at Perry's downtown is fantastic.

+1. Just make sure to bring enough cash (~$25/person) and your own drinks. Also, ask for refills of brisket (I prefer dry) or they'll try to load you up with their sausage and ribs, which are still good but not as good.

One of the most best places i've been to is a mexican place called Fondo San Miguel. Google it! They have a legendary sunday brunch but it is pricey. I think i paid 38 bucks /ea last time i went. We also like stubbs bbq.

BEST FAJITAS EVER
A SMALL DIVE

Habaneros on Oltorf, a little house with about 10 tables.

Get the beef fajitas

amazing

We love BBQ, especially the meaty kind.

One of my favorite places for BBQ is Lambert's, which is downtown (2nd and Guadalupe, i think).

Another great place to check out for BBQ if you're willing to do a short (30 - 45 min.) drive is Lockhart, which has 3 great BBQ joints within a couple of blocks of each other. I won't say which one is better, because big fights have broken out over that argument. Just suffice it to say that you can do a nice sampler just walking between Black's, Kreuz market and Smitty's market (http://www.lockhart-tx.org/web98/visitors/bbqcapitaloftexas.asp)

Enjoy!

Oh, yeah, almost forgot.

As far as where to stay, the two places I'd recommend are either downtown: The Driskill or the Marriott Residence Inn have been great options for me.

Or if you're into something a bit different, South Congress has a couple older but very nice hotels including the Hotel San Jose, across from the Continental Club (which reminds me of another great restaurant for Tex Mex: Guero's)

for barbecue, in austin, go to franklins. forget everything else. iron works, stubbs, rubys, rudys (well, im sorta fond of this one for the convenience), artz ribs, etc.

dont even have to bother going to lockhart or lulling. or llano. or taylor (though louie mueller taylor used to have imo the best brisket in the state).

franklins has what you need.





though louie mueller austin recently opened up an is reputed to be tasty. i havent had a chance to try it

for barbecue, in austin, go to franklins. forget everything else. iron works, stubbs, rubys, rudys (well, im sorta fond of this one for the convenience), artz ribs, etc.

dont even have to bother going to lockhart or lulling. or llano. or taylor (though louie mueller taylor used to have imo the best brisket in the state).

franklins has what you need.





though louie mueller austin recently opened up an is reputed to be tasty. i havent had a chance to try it


Do not listen to this person. Franklins is terrible and you should stay away. Ignore the long line, they're just tourists that don't know any better. This is not the BBQ you are searching for! :D

Salt Lick is where Texans send Californians so that we can have less people in line at a real BBQ joint. Seriously.

We went to Louie Mueller last autumn on a trip from the UK and really enjoyed it - though we didn't have anything to compare it to apart from the place at CLT!

Do not listen to this person. Franklins is terrible and you should stay away. Ignore the long line, they're just tourists that don't know any better. This is not the BBQ you are searching for! :D

Salt Lick is where Texans send Californians so that we can have less people in line at a real BBQ joint. Seriously.

^^:D:D:D

Yup. Though it's all personal preference. So here are my preferences:

1) Smitty's, Lockhart, TX
2) City Market, Luling, TX
3) Snow's, Lexington, TX
4) Black's, Lockhart, TX
5) Kruez's, Lockhart, TX
6) Louie Mueller, Taylor, TX

All rankings above are for Brisket. Great brisket makers may or may not make great sausage, shoulder clod, or other meats. Sausage is important to many. Other meats are irrelevant. Pig and yardbird are discouraged in most Hill Country Q joints.

Note that on any given day you can get stellar Q from someone down the list and mediocre Q from someone near the top. Time of day matters, the specific cut matters (one brisket may be better than the one next to it), even the day of the week matters.

Salt Lick is for fun, atmosphere, and so-so Q. Rudy's is passable if you can't make it to one of the better joints listed above. Cooper's in Llano is capable of making very good Q but rarely does. They do, however, have lots of strange critters in the pit, such as goat, chicken, lamb, etc.

Can't disagree with your list. Though, I prefer Taylor Cafe to Louis Mueller's. It's too peppery on the bark. I'd also add Ironworks into the fray. Their brisket is usually pretty on.

Probably a better list is places to avoid:

1. Stubbs- Unless it's Sunday brunch or a great band is playing there. Great BBQ sauce, but real BBQ doesn't need it. There shouldn't be any mistakes to cover up.
2. Bill Miller's- Just terrible BBQ
3. County Line- Some people swear by this. I see it as nothing more than a buffet of barely passable meat. It's Salt Lick without the ambiance
4. Rubys- I don't get the hype. It's like Rudy's but less accessible. Fast food BBQ

Even BBQ on a bad day in the Hill Country is better than what we get in Dallas. Rudy's and the recently opened Lockhart are the kings. Sonny Bryan is broiled jerky and Dickey's is just awful.

I would disown my children if they ordered pork at a BBQ place or made their chili with beans. This isn't Nam, there are rules!

I'm heading to Austin the second weekend in May and am looking for recommendations on where to find the best bloody mary and a really good brunch. My travel plans mainly revolve around food and drinks, so any other suggestions are welcome. I am a pescetarian so BBQ places won't be first on my list but I will check some out for sure... you can always find great sides at a good BBQ place.

I'm heading to Austin the second weekend in May and am looking for recommendations on where to find the best bloody mary and a really good brunch. My travel plans mainly revolve around food and drinks, so any other suggestions are welcome. I am a pescetarian so BBQ places won't be first on my list but I will check some out for sure... you can always find great sides at a good BBQ place.

I am new to the area so take that into consideration. The 1886 Cafe & Bakery (http://www.1886cafeandbakery.com) at the Driskill hotel on 6th St. has a great atmosphere for brunch. However, the food is just OK. The drinks look good (I haven't indulged there yet :) )

Unfortunately the rates are exorbitant over Memorial Day weekend when I will be there ($500+ for Four Seasons, W, and InterContinental). How is the Sheraton, which is about half the price? How about the Hyatt across the river?

Any other recommendations? This is FlyerTalk, so I am partial to these four chains/loyalty programs of course, but am open to other suggestions.

Unfortunately the rates are exorbitant over Memorial Day weekend when I will be there ($500+ for Four Seasons, W, and InterContinental). How is the Sheraton, which is about half the price? How about the Hyatt across the river?

Any other recommendations? This is FlyerTalk, so I am partial to these four chains/loyalty programs of course, but am open to other suggestions.

I would take the Hyatt over the Sheraton only because the Hyatt is more accessible (walking distance) to food and drinks. The Sheraton isn't in a bad location but I would choose Hyatt for this reason alone.

Eat: Torchy's Tacos
Stay: Somewhere downtown if you want to be near the action. La Quinta on the west side is good if you want to be somewhere nice and quiet.
Play: Check out The Alamo Drafthouse for dinner and a movie all at once! It's a great theater and something you really don't find elsewhere. See the bats under the Congress St. bridge too!

I'm heading to Austin to visit a couple of client locations, one on the south side near I-35 and 71, and one on the north side off 183 between I-35 and highway 1.

South side on day 1 - dinner recs? Breakfast the next morning?
North side on day 2 - lunch recs? Short trip, so I'll probably end up eating dinner at the airport.

Is there a river in/near Austin where u can go tubing on?

Thinking of going there for a few days.

In Austin you have the Colorado River, which widens on the southeast side of town into what's called "Lady Bird Lake" (formerly Town Lake). You can rent rowboats, pedal boats, kayaks, etc., but not really a tubing river.

Head 45 - 50 miles SW on I-35 to New Braunfels to the tubing capital of Texas. 2 rivers to choose from. More popular is the Guadalupe River, but the Comal is nice and laid back (much shorter, though). Plenty of outfitters at both rivers to rent you a tube if you don't have one, along with any supplies you may need. The Comal is particularly nice because it's just a nice mostly shady, slowly moving beer party.

They're trying to spoil the fun, however. Several years ago they banned glass containers (beer), and placed a limit on how loud you can turn up your ghetto blaster. Those were both fine, I guess. But just last week, despite numerous organized and disorganized protests, and various lawsuits, they've decided to disallow disposable containers on the Comal (beer cans, foam coolers). Expect more lawsuits.

Is there a river in/near Austin where u can go tubing on?

Thinking of going there for a few days.

First off, it's called "TOOBING". Don't ask me why.

This place has always treated us right and they have a coupon on the site: http://www.rockinr.com/

If you really want to knock it out of the park, you should check out Schlitterbahn: http://schlitterbahn.com/

If you are a man, you will want to invest in mirrored sunglasses there. Trust me on this :D

I'm heading to Austin to visit a couple of client locations, one on the south side near I-35 and 71, and one on the north side off 183 between I-35 and highway 1.

South side on day 1 - dinner recs? Breakfast the next morning?
North side on day 2 - lunch recs? Short trip, so I'll probably end up eating dinner at the airport.

It really depends on what you like

Burgers: Casino el Camino or Hut's for sit down. (Get the Richie Valens at the latter) MY-T-Fine for fast food
Pizza- Mangia's for the good stuff. Ropollo's if you are on 6th street and need to soak it up
Tex-Mex- El Arroyo, Trudy's or Maudie's
Sandwiches- Thunderclouds or Phatso's Cheesesteaks
Wild Card- Torchy's Tacos

You missed a glorious time where you could eat fried pickles at 3 AM at Katz. If you want something completely different, and want to sit waterside, Hula Hut is a great spot.

If you have a little extra time, it's worth a stop to Round Rock Donuts to get the glazed donut that's bigger than your head. It's actually really good. If you are at the airport, please do not eat the Salt Lick there. It will taint your view on BBQ.

P.S. If you don't go to Amy's ice cream, you really missed out on the good stuff. Get the Mexican vanilla, thank me later.

I am bumping an existing thread, which is quite informative (& opinionated!).

We are doing a MR to Austin over Easter weekend, staying at the Sheraton.

Can anyone recommend a good used items/books/pawn shop in downtown Austin? I have been spoiled by Bookman's in TUS & am hoping for something similar!

Also, what are our transportation options from AUS? I have seen a recommendation for an airport shuttle. Is their a public transit option?

Thanks in advance!

I am bumping an existing thread, which is quite informative (& opinionated!).

We are doing a MR to Austin over Easter weekend, staying at the Sheraton.

Can anyone recommend a good used items/books/pawn shop in downtown Austin? I have been spoiled by Bookman's in TUS & am hoping for something similar!

Also, what are our transportation options from AUS? I have seen a recommendation for an airport shuttle. Is their a public transit option?

Thanks in advance!

There is fairly good public transit to/from the airport, which you can see at this site (http://www.capmetro.org/); the 100 (Airport Flyer) is the best route to the downtown area. As far as places to peruse, I recommend just walking around downtown (Congress) and up "the drag" (Guadalupe) -- there's a Half Price Books somewhere along there.

Most of my book purchases in Austin were made just a little further up the street at the UT Coop. Hook 'em! \m/ :)

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