You can get a downloadable map of this itinerary here.

**Isabela was a law school student at the University of Texas, and is now a practicing attorney. She has extensive experience writing travel itineraries for her family’s travels as well as her own throughout Europe, Latin America, China, and Southeast Asia. She loves breakfast tacos and fried chicken sandwiches and is passionate about tennis, crossword puzzles, and Latin American literature.

Our Texan capital used to be the state’s best kept secret. It was a bustling college town with plenty of live music and even more GREAT barbecue. In the past few years, this town has gone through some growing pains and evolved into a full grown city. Touting its Southern charm, college town vibe, and—this should go without saying—some of the best barbecue in the South, the secret’s out. Austin is the place to be right now.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL: Spring and the Fall are probably the best times to visit. The city is enjoyed at its fullest when the weather is nice enough to walk around. Most activities, bars, and even some restaurants are exclusively outside so you don’t want to visit the two weeks a year it’s below 50. Places in the city also tend to not take reservations; usually there’s no more than a thirty minute wait to get in anywhere but thirty minutes can feel a lot longer in 90 degrees so keep that in mind.

WHERE TO STAY: East Austin is bustling with new restaurants and bars while still maintaining a lowkey feel. It’s also central to anywhere you’re going to be visiting. If adding about ten minutes to your uber drive doesn’t bother you, South Congress is also a very walkable and beautiful part of the city with a gorgeous view of the Texas capitol.

friday.

Drop off your bags at your Airbnb and depending on how much time you have, go online and buy some tickets for a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. If you’ve never been to an Alamo Drafthouse, prepare to NEVER be satisfied with another moviegoing experience again. Get yourself a boozy milkshake, or one of the snacks from the rotating menu based on movies being shown in the theater. Sit back, relax, recline that leather chair allllll the way back, and enjoy the show.

If you’re not in the mood for a movie or are too hungry to think about doing anything else, drive a couple blocks past the Alamo Drafthouse to Loro, one of the best new restaurants in the city. The menu is put together by two of the biggest culinary powerhouses in the city, Aaron Franklin from Franklin’s Barbecue and Tyson Cole of Uchi. It’s an Asian smokehouse with a bar and plenty of outdoor seating. They don’t take reservations but the wait is hardly ever more than 30 minutes. Put your name down at the front and get yourself a frozen gin and tonic or mango sake slushee. Everything is made to be shared so try going with a big group so you can order as many things off the menu as possible. You CAN’T MISS the crunchy sweet corn fritters, chicken karaage, brisket, and Malaysian curry chicken.

saturday.

Make a reservation for brunch at Suerte, a James Beard award finalist last year and one of the most exciting restaurants in the city. The space is beautiful and sparse, the tortillas are made in house, and everything is delicious. Another good option if you can’t get a reservation is Elizabeth Street Cafe.

After brunch, take a short uber or one of the many scooters parked on the sidewalks and make your way to the Capital. The Capital lawn is also a great place to have a picnic if you want to doggy bag dessert and enjoy it basking the sun.

Walk through downtown to make your way to South Congress, it’s about a fifteen minute walk and gives you a glimpse at some of Austin’s biggest gems, like the Paramount theater and a gorgeous view of Ladybird Lake. If weather permits, there are a few kayaking companies that let you get on Ladybird lake and are worth checking out.

Stroll along South Congress and pop into as many stores as you can. Stroll through the iconic boot selection at Allen’s Boots, the costumes at Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, and take a peek at the famous “I love you so much…” wall by Jo’s Coffee. Jo’s coffee is also more than its sign, all of their specialty coffees are great for refueling. If you’re thirsting for something a little stronger, pop into Hotel San Jose for a michelada or a selection of one of many of Austin’s craft breweries.

For dinner, stick around South Congress just a little bit longer and check out June’s All Day. It has an impressive wine list and even more impressive burger menu.

You should DEFINITELY go out in Austin. The nightlife is fun and exciting and there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking for a chill evening, check out Whisler’s on the East Side for some delicious cocktails, a great selection of beer, and don’t forget to check out the mezcal bar on the second floor. Ask the bartender for suggestions, they’ll guide you toward something you’ll like if you’re not too familiar with mezcal. If you’re looking for a fun time, head over to Rainey Street for a selection of over a dozen renovated houses turned into bungalow bars. For dancing, check out Container Bar or Eisenhaur’s.

sunday.

You can’t leave Austin without having some of the DELICIOUS Mexican food and barbecue that the city has to offer, so why not kill two birds with one stone? Head over to Valentina’s food truck for some of the best tacos in the city. It’s a bit of a drive but worth every minute. Get the smoked brisket taco and the cerveza beef fajitas and wash it down with a topo chico or a sweet iced tea.

Head straight back to the UT campus to walk off all those tacos. Check out the beautiful Ellsworth Kelly Chapel completed in 2015. Afterwards, cross the street and head over to the Bullock Texas History Museum for a unique, ultra-Texan museum going experience.

After you’ve been completely indoctrinated into Texas pride, take a short walk or shorter scooter ride down to Easy Tiger on West Sixth Street for some casual day drinking. Order the pretzel, one of the local selection of craft beers, and feel free to play some ping pong by the creek.

When you start to get hungry, take a ride uptown to Hopfields for some great French cuisine. If you don’t mind the walk, stroll through West 6th street for one of the most ICONIC streets in Austin for undergraduate nightlife—it’s quieter and prettier in the daylight. Make your way up Guadalupe and walk “the drag” adjacent to UT campus. Check out Tyler’s to stock up on “Keep Austin Weird” t-shirts and other oddities, like Texas flag printed shorts, before you go.