Austin is a 100% chill and entertaining place. It’s a city break with country accents, and it’s the ideal destination for a long weekend or three-night escape. Given it’s such an easy two-hour flight from LA, I can definitely see myself returning sooner than later.
STAY at Hotel San Jose in the South Congress neighborhood. I was so smitten, I can’t imagine staying anywhere else on my return. It’s set in an ideal location in the thick of the action while having a lush, quiet, oasis vibe. It’s part of the Bunkhouse Hotel Group, who can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned (hello, El Cosmico!!!). As expected, their gift shop and food and beverage program are spot on (locals frequent the buzzy happy hours) and the service is warm and down-to-earth. My friend and I had a double room tucked in a back corner and it was the most delightful urban refuge, complete with a koi pond, chirping birds (nature’s alarm clock!) and the comfiest, chicest rainbow robes. If Hotel San Jose is booked up, the cheeky Austin Motel a couple doors down was recently taken over and updated by Bunkhouse. The new South Congress Hotel is another solid option just a few blocks up South Congress.
EAT a lot of queso fundido! And tacos, corn and donuts. And, of course, BBQ if you eat the meats (I don’t, but always appreciate the atmosphere and savory sides!). My favorite meals were at La Condesa and Launderette. I very much enjoyed Alcomar and Kerlin BBQ, while South Congress Café and June’s All Day each did brunch fare justice. It's worth pointing out that eating and drinking in Austin is surprisingly affordable—the food and beverage prices are noticeably lower across the board compared to Californian standards.
SHOP along South Congress. Here, you’ll find an eclectic mix of clothing boutiques, galleries, bookstores and gift shops. I was quite taken with the antiques and color-coordinated displays at Uncommon Objects. By George is clearly the source for cool men’s and women’s fashion and accessories. And Parts & Labour was chock full of Austin-centric souvenirs and affordable pieces by local artisans.
HEAR live music at Stubb’s, an intimate outdoor amphitheater venue where we were lucky enough to stumble upon a show headlined by The New Pornographers. The Continental Club is an iconic, old school venue that hosts live music nightly and is right across the street from Hotel San Jose. Next time, I’ll be sure to hit the country western Broken Spoke which everyone raved about.
SEE the bats at sunset. We took the Lone Star Riverboat Bat Watching Sunset Cruise—a bargain at $10! Not only was it so lovely to be out on the water as the sun started to drop, we had a prime vantage to watch the bats’ nightly feeding exodus when more than one million bats fly away from their home under the Congress Avenue Bridge.
SWIM at Barton Springs Pool. This is quintessential Austin and pretty much my favorite feature of the city. Between the people watching, the picture perfect grounds and refreshing waters, it’s the kind of spot you’d want to dip into daily during warm months.
