Here is our list of local favorites to help you enjoy the best of Austin while you're here, whether you're here for SXSW, a music festival like ACL or for whatever brings you here.
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Live Like a Local in Austin
Don't miss the local Austin experience while you're here. Austin skyline photo by Shane Pope on Flickr
With live music venues all over the city, amazing restaurants, fun and funky bars, and one-of-a-kind things to do, Austin is a great place to explore. Don't miss the local Austin experience while you're here. Our HomeAway team of Austin locals has put together a few of their favorites to help you enjoy the best of Austin while you're here. Enjoy! (Many thanks to Mairin, Cory, Karen and Josh for their suggestions!)
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Caffeinate Locally at these Coffee Shops
Austin has several great local shops serving up coffee, tea and tasty bites. Try Progress Coffee, pictured here, on 5th just east of 35. Also check out the Fair Bean, Juan Pelota, Caffe Medici and Mozarts. Photo by Gideon Tsang on Flickr
Austin has several great local shops serving up coffee, tea and tasty bites. Try Progress Coffee, pictured here, on 5th just east of 35. Also check out the Fair Bean, Juan Pelota, Caffe Medici and Mozarts
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Find Great Food All Over Austin - Part 1
Here's our list of best places to eat: Barley Swine - Call ahead as there is always a wait for this rather small venue. It's located in South Austin, off of Lamar. The Horeshoe Lounge - a dive bar that serves as a great place to have a few as you wait for your Barley Swine table. Polvos - this is the Mexican restaurant all visitors must visit. Photo by leyla.a on Flickr
Food - Austin's got it and lots of variety of it! Sample goodies at the food trailers you'll find all around town, and when it comes to restaurants, we have so many recommendations, we need more than one slide! Here's part one of our list of best places to eat: Barley Swine, Polvos...
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More of Austin's Great Food - Part 2
More restaurant picks: We had multiple recommendations for this one - Torchy's Tacos - also try El Chile, East Side Cafe, Curra's (w their Avacado Margarita!), Wink, Enoteca, 2nd, Maudies, Asti, and Graj Mahal. Photo by illustir on Flickr
Torchy's Tacos - there are a few locations across Austin. If you like tacos and have heard about the mythical Texas taco, then this is the place to experience the taco baptism. Tacos anywhere else in the country just aren't as good. Not to get too political, but The Democrat is mighty tasty. Whatever you're hungry for, you'll probably find it at El Chile, East Side Cafe, Curra's (w their Avacado Margarita!), Wink, Enoteca, 2nd, Maudies, Asti, Graj Mahal
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Austin Shopping - Bring Home a Souvenir
There's tons of unique shopping on both eclectic South First and South Congress (SoCo) - and the shops along South First are the real local find! Photo by philcampbell on Flickr
There's tons of unique shopping on both eclectic South First and South Congress (SoCo) - and the shops along South First are the real local find!
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Austin Bars - Drinks, Music, and More
Head out to these hangout spots for drinks, fun and, often, live music: Mulberry, Paggi House - sit on the deck outside, Shangri La, Sidebar, and The Grackle Photo by mediafury on Flickr
All over town, you'll find places to sit with friends, play pool, dance, and have fun late into the night. Head out to these hangout spots for drinks, fun and, often, live music: Mulberry, Paggi House - sit on the deck outside, Shangri La, Sidebar, and The Grackle
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Run the Trail at Town Lake
Burn off a few calories on the Town Lake Trail that meanders under the trees by Lady Bird Lake. All year round it's a popular place for a scenic walk or run right in the heart of downtown, and there's plenty of room for everyone. Photo by charlie llewellin on Flickr
Burn off a few calories on the Town Lake Trail that meanders under the trees by Lady Bird Lake. All year round it's a popular place for a scenic walk or run right in the heart of downtown, and there's plenty of room for everyone.
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Dive in! Barton Springs Pool
Cool off at the one-of-a-kind Barton Springs pool - Austin's famous spring-fed springs averages a cool 68 degrees which makes it a perfect summer spot. You'll see a wide variety of Austinites at the springs from hipsters to grannies. It's also located just off of Barton Springs Road close to a plethora of restaurants when hunger strikes. Photo by midwestnerd on Flickr
Cool off at the one-of-a-kind Barton Springs pool - Austin's famous spring-fed springs averages a cool 68 degrees which makes it a perfect summer spot. You'll see a wide variety of Austinites at the springs from hipsters to grannies. It's also located just off of Barton Springs Road close to a plethora of restaurants when hunger strikes.
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The Alamo Drafthouse
The Alamo Drafthouse is part movie theater, part bar, part event venue and always entertaining. Photo by Tim Patterson on Flickr
The Alamo Drafthouse is part movie theater, part bar, part event venue and always entertaining.
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See the Bats
If you've never seen Austin's famous urban bat colony, you have to make plans to be at the Congress Avenue Bridge at twilight and see thousands of bats leave their urban day homes to go out hunting for the night. The sight of them streaming out en-masse is just awesome. Photo by Dan Pancamo on Flickr
If you've never seen Austin's famous urban bat colony, you have to make plans to be at the Congress Avenue Bridge at twilight and see thousands of bats leave their urban day homes to go out hunting for the night. The sight of them streaming out en-masse is just awesome.
