Wonderguide by
Walter Coots
Walter Recommends
Some places for folks to check out if they have spare time in town and aren't sure how to spend it.
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🗿 Novelty
There are some things in Austin you can't get anywhere else. For tourist spots and places of note, look no further.
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Walter:Classic Austin mini-golf spot that's been open since the 1950s. The statues are strange and make for great photos, and you're allowed to bring a cooler with you if you'd like to have a beer on the course.
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Walter:This should perhaps go in shopping, but "Antique shop" does it a disservice. I've seen taxidermy armadillos, full human skeletons, antique carnival games, collections of beetles and butterflies... you never know what you'll find. Worth looking even if you don't plan to buy anything.
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Walter:Gigantic arcade with everything you can imagine. Pinball, racing games, fighters, brawlers, space shooters, puzzles, and more. It's also BYOB, so you can bring a few beers in with you. Check their rules for details.
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Walter:Austin's museums aren't as impressive as most big cities, but The Blanton has some good stuff in it. Of particular note is Ellsworth Kelly's Austin which is the only building he's designed.
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Walter:Alamo Drafthouse has changed a lot over the past 10 years. This location is the last bastion of what it used to be like before it got big and started opening in other states. A great place to see a movie if the weather's terrible and there's something you're eager to check out! Famous for their strict no-talking and no phones policy. Most of the food is pretty good, but they really get their popcorn top notch.
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Walter:This is the original location of the very first Whole Foods Market, and the headquarters. There are groceries naturally, but also lots of great prepared foods and gift shopping that can be done.
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Walter:A love letter to vintage toys. Any collector or enthusiast of toys from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s should swing by to see the elaborate dioramas and fun setups.
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Walter:Forget "I love You So Much" or "Jeremiah the Frog"; this mural is on the side of a convenience store that opted to put itself in the middle alongside UT Tower, the bats, and our statue of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Just in case you wondered what this town was really all about!
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Walter:Austin Film Society was started by Richard Linklater, and the AFS Cinema is a great independent theater premiering and showcasing independent movies from all over the world.
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Walter:The Congress Avenue bridge goes over Town Lake and houses the largest urban bat colony in North America known as the Congress Bridge Bats. They usually come out between mid-March and early November. Seeing this is one of the most iconic Austin things you can do!
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Walter:Another great independent cinema that shows movies you might not see at a big box cinema, and they also serve food! The bar isn't a bad place to hang out and have a cocktail or snack before or after the show.
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⛰️ Outdoors
Is it nice out and you aren't hungry or thirsty? Tired of asphalt and cement? Your allergies aren't bothering you? Here you go!
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Walter:One of the best places in central Austin to watch the sunset. Voted "Best Place to Make Out" in the Austin Chronicle's 2007 Reader's Choice awards!
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Walter:Really pretty view of the Colorado River after a short climb up a rocky trail. Pennybacker Bridge is a bit of an iconic spot in Austin, and worth checking out if the weather's nice and you're up for a small trek.
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Walter:Although it says it's a dog park (and folks will have their dogs), it's not a mud pit with dozens of dogs barking and making messes everywhere. Lots of green space, paved paths, and a great park to stroll through and see a nice view of downtown over Town Lake.
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Walter:The city's big public park. The city will have festivals here such as the annual kite festival. You'll see folks playing disc golf, riding bicycles, having picnics, or just hanging out.
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Walter:Are you looking to do some camping around the time you're visiting? McKinney Falls is close to the airport, and definitely worth a visit or even staying a few nights. There are plenty of great parks near Austin, but this may be the most convenient for folks using air travel.
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Walter:If it's open and you want a brief visit to a tiny park, Red Bud Isle is a small dog park on an island. Pretty views, and as long as conditions allow, then there will be folks with their dogs.
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🍲 Food
Restaurants, food trucks, diners, etc.
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Walter:This is the home of world famous Franklin Barbecue. Unless you manage to order ahead for pickup, folks line up in the morning in order to eat lunch, so plan accordingly.
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Walter:If you're looking for a really nice dinner while you're in town, Uchi (or sister restaurant Uchiko) is where I regularly celebrate things like anniversaries. If you have dietary restrictions, they're usually willing to work with you. I highly recommend you leave room for their desserts. One time I was served ice cream with pop rocks in it.
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Walter:My favorite bagel shop (though I've heard Nervous Charlie's is good and haven't yet tried it.) Bagels in Texas can be underwhelming, but Friends from the northeast have visited and attested to Rockstar's capabilities in round pastrycraft.
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Walter:There are many Amy's locations throughout Austin. They started in 1984, and you can only find them in Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. Comparable to Marble Slab or Cold Stone Creamery, Amy's has a variety of flavors and things that can be mixed in. Some of the employees do juggling tricks with the cones as well.
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Walter:Thundercloud is not going to win any awards, nor will it make you want to move here. But it's a classic Austin chain with subs that are either amazing or meh, depending on who you ask. (I'm in the amazing camp, but recognize they're not for everyone.) Comparable to Subway in terms of both cost and culinary flare, but typically of better quality, and independently run!
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Walter:P. Terry's is the dominant burger chain in Austin, and boasts dozens of locations, so the likelihood you'll see one is high. The food is pretty good, but be sure to eat your french fries quickly because they get soggy.
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Walter:Maybe you don't want something solid? What if you could drink your meal? Juiceland has juices and smoothies with flavors you can't get anywhere else. Good stuff!
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Walter:Legitimately the best vegan burger you'll ever have. I originally heard about it from meat eaters, and if it has them convinced, you know you'll enjoy it.
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Walter:Mexican street tacos that everyone raves about. If you're eating plant-based, it's best to avoid. But otherwise I hear you should run and not walk!
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Walter:313 is the Detroit area code, and Via 313's pizza is "Detroit-style" which is basically delicious deep dish, fried pizza. It's decadent, bready, filling, and awesome.
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Walter:When friends who are big on food are in from out of town and want pizza, Bufalina is where I take them. Austin's best wood fire Neapolitan pizza.
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Walter:Torchy's Tacos are over-the-top enormous concoctions that don't really reflect purists' views on what a taco should be. Nevertheless, they're pretty delicious and definitely something everyone in Austin has tried at least once.
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Walter:I can swear by Hopdoddy's veggie burgers, and most folks I've talked to who have had their standard and more exotic burgers also rave about them. A step up in quality (and price) from a place like P. Terry's.
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Walter:1618 is a favorite Asian restaurant that blends a lot of different Asian cuisine in a really great way. It's in regular rotation for us with getting delivery!
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Walter:The beet fries here taught me to enjoy beets, but East Side King's delicious food doesn't stop there! There are several locations and they all have great stuff at them.
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Walter:Another really great Austin chain, Chi'lantro is effectively Korean Tex Mex. Famous for their kimchi fries, I also recommend a build-your-own bowl or wrap with everything you think sounds good. It works out!
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Walter:There are about five Mexican restaurants I rotate through. Curra's is always a crowd pleaser. Definitely try the tamales and the avocado margarita.
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Walter:My first favorite taco place in Austin. I don't get to visit as often as I used to, but it's an inexpensive but consistently solid taco place.
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Walter:Saddle Up is a beer shop, but it's home to Micklethwait Craft Meats which is where I direct folks who missed the memo on Franklin having a long line and selling out by lunchtime. Sometimes they have outdoor concerts benefitting various charities in the area.
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Walter:Indian food with some Mexican inspiration thrown in. If they give you several sauces, be sure to use them, because they tend to make or break the dish. Also they aren't messing around when they call it "desi hot".
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🤠 Texan Stuff
If you're wanting to Instagram yourself next to a horse and a guy who looks like Boomhauer in Wranglers, look no further.
🛍️ Shopping
Looking for souvenirs for friends, or maybe something for yourself?
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Walter:If you're looking for a souvenir from Austin, this is a great vintage / thrift shop. There are other shops nearby that have some neat stuff as well, but Room Service has been around a long time and has a lot of cool things even just to look at.
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Walter:The Domain is a weird, enormous region of the city operated by Simon Malls. It has a lot of shops you'd see at a typical mall, and then a few local places scattered throughout. Additionally there are buildings here where yuppies live and work, and even a crude facsimile of 6th street called Rock Rose Ave.
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Walter:If you're a book person, BookPeople is for you. Multi-story book shop with tons of inventory, as well as a great place to find gifts and souvenirs.
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Walter:In my opinion, Toy Joy is the world's best toy shop. It's dripping with novelty and nostalgia, and there's just really no way to remain in a funk after being there for 15 minutes.
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Walter:A neat little carefully curated independent gift shop with incense, stationery, candles, books, and more. Many items imported from Mexico and Japan.
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☕️ Coffee
Get your caffeine fix, and probably also eat a taco.
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Walter:I'm here every Sunday morning, and used to work across the street when it opened. Virtually no parking! Go on a day when the weather's nice, because it's mostly outdoors. Dog and kid friendly. You can also get some tacos from Pueblo Viejo. I stand by the Mi Madre, but meat eaters love the Don Chago.
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Walter:There are a lot of Houndstooth locations throughout town, and they're all really good. Most locations carry Taco Deli breakfast tacos in the morning, which are divisive among locals (but I personally enjoy!)
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Walter:Great view of the Colorado River while you gulp down coffee and scarf down pastries. Not the town's best coffee, but you could do a lot worse, and the views are hard to beat.
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Walter:I believe Merit is out of San Antonio originally, but they've expanded to Austin and Dallas. They used to be my daily shop when I worked in this part of town.
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Walter:My wife used to live near this place while we were dating. It's in a cute neighborhood, and a great place to hang out with a bagel and a cup of coffee.
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☕️🍺 Coffee + Alcohol
Why someone decided to serve both coffee and beer or coffee and cocktails at the same place is beyond me, but I'm here for it.
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Walter:A great big, carefully manicured outdoor area with lots of food trucks. Tends to get crazy on weekends, but a great place to work or hang out on a weekday!
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Walter:Another old favorite that I don't visit as often as I used to. Get a pitcher with some friends, or just an americano for yourself. Munch on chips and salsa inside, or have a bagel on their patio!
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Walter:Lazarus's beer and coffee are both pretty good. It's got a lot of outdoor seating, and they serve some pretty good food as well. Not a bad choice if you're meeting with a larger group.
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🍻 Beer
If you're wanting to check out breweries in or around town, or just taprooms where you can sample some of central texas's best beers, these are my top picks.
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Walter:This is Austin's best pub. Tons of taps and a warm, cozy atmosphere with a spacious patio in the front. There are a lot of great breweries and taprooms, but if you only have time to visit one, this is it.
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Walter:It feels dishonest pigeonholing Hi Hat into "beer" because their food is legitimately one of the primary reasons I visit. They have what I believe is the best pretzel in town, and I've eaten everything from pizza to a lion's mane mushroom burger there. It's always terrific.
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Walter:Do you have a few hours you want to kill outdoors? Do you like sour beer (and a few non-sours?) How about wood fire pizza? Jester King is a favorite among folks in Austin who enjoy these things. Take a tour of the brewery, and if it's a Sunday, you might be able to participate in the death metal goat yoga.
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Walter:Zilker arrived in the middle of an enormous boom of breweries opening in Austin, and I initially wrote it off as just another one of those. But their brews are consistently pretty great, and I'm happy they've stuck around!
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Walter:The brewery itself is in an out-of-the-way spot that may not be that interesting for out-of-towners to visit. But the brews are solid, and it's a nice spot to chill out away from the bustle downtown.
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Walter:Some friends own this place, but I'd recommend it either way. The beers (and branding!) are great. Don't snooze on La Taquicardia, because it's as authentic as great Mexican food truck cuisine gets.
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🥃 Cocktails & Bars
From dive bars to craft cocktails, Austin especially has you covered in this arena.
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Walter:My absolute favorite cocktail bar. Extremely small and cozy, so don't plan on bringing more than a couple of friends. If you make it for happy hour, they do bartender's choice daiquiris and they never disappoint. Bartenders are comfortable hearing what you feel like and riffing. The cheese plates are also usually pretty great. A+
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Walter:This tiny dive bar is right next to the capitol. It's a little shady and strange, and that's compounded by the fact that government officials go there to unwind and make deals with each other.
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Walter:Many of the places on "Dirty 6th" have come and gone. Meanwhile Casino El Camino has consistently good food, cheap drinks, great atmosphere, and an excellent jukebox for decades.
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Walter:Formerly Club DeVille and named after arguably the worst song from Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Cheer Up's is situated right next to The Mohawk and across from Stubbs. Cheer Up's is one of Austin's most popular LGBTQIA bars, and it's a terrific place with welcoming people, cheap drinks, and a cool layout with frequent live music.
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Walter:Ego's is one of Austin's more popular karaoke bars. I haven't been (my friends gravitate toward private rooms) but I hear it's a dive, so go in expecting drunk people singing off-key.
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Walter:If you're up in north Austin, this is a great little dive bar to spend some time at. Pool, shuffleboard, and old fashioned on tap. They also have a mystery shot you can take, if you're feeling courageous.
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Walter:Taco Flats knows their cocktails, and it's one of the few places I'll order something more complex nowadays. But they ALSO know their tacos, and it's an unlikely pair that I'm always up for.
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Walter:The Wheel has an excellent whiskey selection, and several beers on tap. Both indoor and outdoor seating, and with its proximity to Austin Daily Press, it's a great place to have a drink and eat.
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Walter:A great crowd pleaser that checks the boxes of good pub food, good cocktails, and good beer. I recommend the Detention cocktail if they still serve it. There's a bell in the building they'll ring if it's your birthday!
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Walter:Kinda Tropical serves Caribbean inspired food along with beers and cocktails. Their yucca fries are great, and it laid-back patio is a great place to decompress and chat with friends.
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Wonderguide map
- Peter Pan Mini-Golf
- Uncommon Objects
- The Original Pinballz Arcade
- Blanton Museum of Art
- Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Village
- Whole Foods Market
- Texas Toy Museum
- About Austin Mural
- AFS Cinema
- Jeremiah The Innocent Mural
- “I love you so much” Mural
- Congress Avenue Bridge
- Violet Crown Cinema
- Mount Bonnell
- Pennybacker Bridge Overlook
- Auditorium Shores Dog Park
- Zilker Metropolitan Park
- McKinney Falls State Park
- Red Bud Isle
- Lakeshore at Lady Bird Lake Metropolitan Park
- Barton Creek Greenbelt
- Barton Springs
- Franklin Barbecue
- Uchi
- Rockstar Bagels
- Ramen Tatsu-Ya
- Amy's Ice Creams
- ThunderCloud Subs
- P. Terry's Burger Stand #1
- JuiceLand
- Arlo's
- Old Thousand
- Discada
- Via 313 Pizza
- Bufalina Due
- Veracruz All Natural
- Torchy's Tacos
- Hopdoddy Burger Bar
- 1618 Asian Fusion
- East Side King
- Chi'Lantro
- Curra's Grill Oltorf
- El Chilito
- Saddle Up Austin
- Nasha
- The White Horse
- Broken Spoke
- Donn's Depot
- Callahan's General Store
- Texas Capitol
- LBJ Presidential Library
- Room Service Vintage
- The Domain
- BookPeople
- Waterloo Records & Video
- Toy Joy
- Eliza Page
- take heart
- Flitch Coffee
- Houndstooth Coffee
- Cenote
- Try Hard Coffee Roasters
- Mozart's Coffee Roasters
- Fleet Coffee
- Flat Track Coffee
- Merit Coffee
- Swedish Hill
- Medici Roasting
- Sa-Tén @ Airport Blvd
- Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
- Texas Coffee Traders
- Patika
- Bennu Coffee
- Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden
- Easy Tiger - The Linc
- Thunderbird Coffee
- Wright Bros. Brew and Brew
- Radio Coffee & Beer
- Revival Coffee
- Better Half Coffee & Cocktails
- Lazarus Brewing Co.
- Draught House Pub & Brewery
- Hi Hat Public House
- Jester King -- Brewery, Kitchen, Farm & Event Hall
- Zilker Brewing Company and Taproom
- Oddwood Brewing
- St. Elmo Brewing Company
- Independence Brewing Co.
- Southern Heights Brewing Company
- Small Victory
- THE CLOAK ROOM
- Casino El Camino
- Sahara Lounge
- Cheer Up Charlies
- Ego's
- The Aristocrat Lounge
- Taco Flats-Burnet Road
- The Wheel
- School House Pub
- Kinda Tropical
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