Believe it or not, there is a lot more than just barbecue in Austin! There is so much to explore whether you are here for a conference or just here to enjoy the city. I have lived in Austin since 2013 (hard to believe over twelve years now) and I still like to get out and enjoy all the city and the Hill Country have to offer. I consider myself an informal ambassador of the city though no one has ever given me that honor. I'm just a local who has been around for a while and enjoys helping others experience the city.
This amazing city has actually grown quite a bit over the last ten years (which comes as a surprise to absolutely no one). The city has several different pillars to it, which make it an attractive place to live and do business including The University of Texas at Austin, the state capitol for the State of Texas, a thriving entrepreneurial scene and so much more. There's not a way for me to cover everything in Austin and the Hill Country so I'll just start with the things I'm asked about the most. The food, the music and entertainment options and the Hill Country.
The Food
The food scene is nothing short of amazing. Highlighted by the fact that Austin is among the most diverse places in the center part of the country and certainly in Texas. Austin has a strong Mexican culture, which creates all sorts of culinary opportunities. However, the city has influence from all over the world given the number of people who have moved here over the years. Huge international events like SXSW and F1 have probably created some of that, but it has created a culinary arts scene that rivals any other place in the world.
We don't go far without talking about barbecue though. From Terry Black's to LaBarbecue to of course, Franklin, Austin holds its own when it comes to brisket and ribs. I am most often asked about where to go for great barbecue and those are the tops spots I always recommend, but would also call out Stiles Switch BBQ as another great option among many. The thing to remember about a great BBQ outing is don't plan on being productive for about six hours after because the "meat sweats" are very real.
Beyond barbecue, the food scene does not disappoint. If you desire, Mediterranean check out Aba down on South Congress for amazing food with a very cool vibe. For sushi, we love Neighborhood Sushi and of course, Uchi. For high-end mexican, ATX Cocina is always a favorite and especially when I am entertaining a group of people because the staff is amazing and will always just curate an amazing experience when asked.
The Music and Entertainment
The music scene and entertainment scene here has certainly changed over the years as most everything has become more expensive (ex. housing is a lot more expensive, which has changed a lot of dynamics). Despite these changes, Austin's music scene has remained very strong with several relatively new music venues including the Moody's Amphitheater and the Moody's Center, which doubles as the basketball arena for UT Basketball. The Moody Amphitheater is definitely one of our favorite spots, especially in the spring and fall, because it's backdrop is the Texas State Capitol building and the overall vibe of the amphitheater is awesome.
The oldies, but goodies as music venues go in Austin are still Austin City Limits Live, which is a relatively small venue but in my opinion the best in the city. You can always hit Antone's for a little blues or get pretty grungy at Mohawk down on Red River or The Continental Club on South Congress when that vibe is calling you. Hard to go wrong with any of those options and all provide for distinctly different experiences. We love to plan an evening where we can hit a couple venues in one evening hitting an earlier show at The Continental Club and the late show at Antone's. The city has so much to offer and it's such a blast to experience it.
The Wine Country (aka Hill Country)
The wine country, which certainly includes spirits and craft beer has certainly grown over the years with so many wineries, distilleries and craft beer options than I am probably even aware of. Some of our favorites are William Chris, Driftwood and Treaty Oak because their facilities are so amazing.
So what it the "wine country" in Texas? I am not going to make the case that's it's our own version of Sonoma or Oregon wine country or even the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky, but it is pretty amazing and only an hour drive from Austin. The wine country is also much more than wine and includes a number of distilleries and even craft breweries you can visit. It's easily a weekend trip renting an Airbnb in the Wimberly area or somewhere in the Hill Country. When you are down there in the summer it's also a great time to experience Blue Hole for a little R&R.
I fully recognize I am skimming the surface with respect to all the things to do in and around Austin. We haven't even discussed a trip up to the Waco area or down to the San Antonio area, which are only 90 minute drives in either direction. The ability to go fly fishing (especially in the winter when water temperatures are in the 50's and the brown trout are active) is also awesome, especially when you have a guide. There's really so much to do here you almost don't ever have to leave, but I think there's a song about that or something.
