Things to DoBest Things to Do in Austin: A Local's Guide
From swimming holes and bat colonies to the barbecue lines and back rooms that outlasted every boom, a local's real itinerary for the city that keeps changing underneath itself.
This Weekend
The Ultimate Austin Weekend: Breakfast Tacos, Live Sets & a Dip in Barton Springs
A no-wrong-answers guide to a perfect Austin weekend — from East Side coffee to a late-night two-step on the dance floor.
Weekend GuideThe Latest
Things to Do
Food & DrinkBest Coffee Shops in Austin, Tried and Tested
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to how Austin actually drinks its coffee, from East Side warehouses to Hyde Park porches, written by someone who has stood in every line.
Food & DrinkWhere to Eat in East Austin: A Local's Guide
The tacos never left and the smoke never stopped, even as the neighborhood around them changed almost past recognition. Pretending otherwise does the food a disservice.
Food & DrinkBest Italian Restaurants in East Austin Worth the Trip
The neighborhood's newest wave of Italian kitchens says as much about East Austin's growing pains as it does about good pasta.
Food & DrinkBest Mexican Restaurants in Austin, Tried and Tested
A working reporter's field guide to interior Mexican, Tex-Mex, and taqueria culture in Austin, and how to tell which plate is worth your money.
Food & DrinkBest Italian in East Austin You'll Actually Love
In a neighborhood built on tacos and brisket, a handful of pasta-and-wine rooms are proving Italian food can belong here too, if you know what to order.
Don't-Miss
10 Things to Do in Austin This Week
- Live music at a South Congress institutionThu–Sun · all ages welcome
- Farmers market in East AustinSaturday morning · rain or shine
- Gallery opening downtownFriday evening · free
- Sunset hike near AustinAny clear evening this week
- Pop-up dinner from a local chefLimited seats · reserve ahead
- Neighborhood street fair in Hyde ParkSunday · family-friendly
People of Austin
PeoplePortrait
Meet the Musicians Keeping Austin Weird in 2026
The new wave of artists behind the city's live-music heartbeat.
PeoplePortrait
The Pitmaster Reinventing Central Texas Barbecue
Smoke, patience, and a brisket philosophy worth the drive.
Free · Every Friday
The best of Austin, in your inbox every week.
Where to eat, what to do, and who to know — the Austin newsletter locals actually open.