The Austin Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, Shop & Two-Step
Why Austin
This guide is written by a Texan — a fifth-generation Austinite. Austin has always been home, and after years of friends asking where to stay, where to eat, and where to find a real pair of cowboy boots, we finally wrote it all down. This is the Austin we actually live in: the breakfast tacos we drive across town for, the rooftops and wine bars we take friends to, and the Texas traditions worth putting on your calendar.
Austin sits on the homelands of the Tonkawa, Comanche, Lipan Apache, and Coahuiltecan peoples. It is a history worth carrying with you while you are here.
**Austin is at its best all year long. October brings ACL Fest and Formula 1, November brings the Austin Powwow, and February through April bring the ATX Open, SXSW, Two Step Inn, and the bluebonnets.
Austin Events Calendar 2026–2027
Fall 2026
Austin City Limits Music Festival — Zilker Park* October 2–4 & October 9–11, 2026. Two weekends, the same lineup, with the downtown skyline behind every stage. Skip the rideshare line and walk in along the Butler Trail — it runs right past the park.
ACL Fest Nights — The Concourse Project & ACL Live at 3TEN* When the park closes, the night starts. The official late-night shows run both festival weekends, and this year The Chainsmokers and Steve Aoki are on the lineup. Tickets go fast.
Formula 1 United States Grand Prix — Circuit of the Americas* October 23–25, 2026, with the race on Sunday, October 25. Circuit of the Americas was built for Formula 1, and Austin has hosted the U.S. Grand Prix here since 2012. Race weekend is three days of practice, qualifying, concerts, and the race itself, with fans from all over the world. The climb up to Turn 1 is the most dramatic view on the track. Shade and parking passes are worth the splurge — October in Texas is still hot, and parking close to the gate saves you a long walk at the end of the day.
Austin Powwow — Travis County Expo Center* Saturday, November 21, 2026. The 32nd annual Austin Powwow and American Indian Heritage Festival — one of the largest one-day powwows in the country. Dancers, drum groups, and Native artists and vendors from across Turtle Island under one roof. This is the one day on the Austin calendar we never miss. Be in your seat for Grand Entry, and bring cash for the vendors and the delicious Navajo tacos.
Austin City Limits Tapings — ACL Live at the Moody Theater The longest-running music series in American television history still tapes in downtown Austin. Passes are free, given away by lottery on @acltv about a week before each taping. The concerts are filmed with no phones allowed — which is the best way to experience a concert.
Spring 2027
ATX Open — Westwood Country Club* February 22–28, 2027, with qualifying February 20–21. Austin's professional women's tennis tournament is part of the WTA Tour and one of only four women's-only tour-level tournaments in the country. It is played at Westwood Country Club, so the setting is intimate — you get to watch, and meet, the women leading the WTA Tour up close.
Rodeo Austin — Travis County Expo Center* March 12–27, 2027. Sixteen days of one of America's top ten professional rodeos, which started in 1938 as a stock show of just 16 animals. Watch barrel racing, bareback riding and team roping, then stay for the live concert after the rodeo each night. Concert tickets include rodeo admission. There's also a carnival, livestock and horse shows, and plenty for the kids. Wear the boots.
SXSW — Downtown Austin March 15–21, 2027. Film, music, and tech take over every room downtown. The keynote speakers and many of the headline events require a badge, but plenty of the sessions are free if you know where to look. Here's a secret: follow @thedirtyteam on Instagram to find out about all the happenings.
Two Step Inn — San Gabriel Park, Georgetown* April 17–18, 2027. A country music festival thirty minutes north of Austin, right at the height of bluebonnet season. Wear the boots. Wear the hat. See Ella Langley and Brooks & Dunn.
MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas — Circuit of the Americas* April 23–25, 2027. The same track as Formula 1, but on two wheels. Circuit of the Americas has been the home of MotoGP in the United States since 2013, and watching the bikes lean through the turns at full speed is unforgettable. Just like F1 weekend, shade and parking passes are worth the splurge.
Concerts, Games & Venues in Austin
Austin calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World for a reason — and it is a college town, a soccer town, and a stop on every major tour. If you are visiting, check these calendars before you book. There is almost always something worth a ticket.
Concert Venues
Moody Center. Austin's arena on the University of Texas campus, opened in 2022. It was named the highest-grossing venue in the world by Billboard within months of opening, and Pollstar's Arena of the Year in 2024. It hosts the biggest tours that come through Texas — George Strait, Harry Styles, Bruce Springsteen — along with comedy, family shows, and Texas Longhorns basketball. See the event calendar.
Moody Amphitheater. An outdoor amphitheater in Waterloo Park, right downtown, with the skyline and the Capitol dome in view. Bring a blanket for the lawn on a spring or fall night. See the event calendar.
Germania Insurance Amphitheater. The big outdoor amphitheater at Circuit of the Americas, home to major summer tours and the concerts during race weekend. See the event calendar.
Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater. An Austin institution on Red River Street — barbecue out front, an outdoor stage out back, and some of the best nights of live music in the city. See the event calendar.
Game Day
Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. Football season in Austin is its own holiday. More than 100,000 fans in burnt orange fill DKR on Saturdays in the fall — tailgate on campus, sing "The Eyes of Texas," and hook 'em. See the football schedule.
Texas Longhorns Sports. The University of Texas plays at a championship level across the board. Catch women's and men's basketball at the Moody Center, baseball at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, softball at McCombs Field, and tennis at the Texas Tennis Center. See every schedule.
Austin FC — Q2 Stadium. Austin's Major League Soccer team, and the loudest crowd in town. The supporters' section stands, sings, and waves green for the full ninety minutes. See the match calendar.
Where to Stay in Austin
1 Hotel Austin
The newest hotel in Austin, located in the Waterline — at 74 stories, the tallest building in Texas. 1 Hotel Austin fills the first sixteen floors with 252 rooms, and sustainability is built into every one of them: around 4,000 living plants throughout the property, natural and reclaimed materials on the floors and walls, and filtered water taps in every room. There is even an apiary on site. Start your mornings at Neighbors Café. Book the Bamford Signature Treatment at the wellness spa, then spend the afternoon at the rooftop pool. Have dinner at Alteño, Chef Johnny Curiel's ode to the cooking of Los Altos de Jalisco, and end the night upstairs at Watr.
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Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection
A 1920s Italianate mansion on ten acres of gardens in the middle of the city, reimagined by designer Ken Fulk. Commodore Perry Estate has been named the No. 1 hotel in Texas by U.S. News & World Report and holds two MICHELIN Keys. The iconic mansion features hand-painted ceilings, and outside, a pool lined with yellow-striped umbrellas. Have dinner at Lutie's, the garden restaurant, even if you are not staying. Stay here if you want Austin to feel like a private estate.
Four Seasons Hotel Austin
On the shore of Lady Bird Lake, with a lawn that opens straight onto the hike-and-bike trail. There is live music six days a week, s'mores on the lawn at night, and Ciclo for dinner. At dusk, walk five minutes to the Congress Avenue Bridge and watch over a million Mexican free-tailed bats fly out from under it — the largest urban bat colony in North America, spring through fall.
The Loren at Lady Bird Lake
Quiet, polished, and on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, so it has a spectacular view of the Austin skyline across the water. The Loren is also the closest luxury stay to Zilker Park — a smart pick for ACL weekend.
The Loren Hotel located on the South Shore of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, TX.
Austin Proper Hotel
Kelly Wearstler interiors, a rooftop pool, and 238 rooms on West 2nd Street. Austin Proper puts you walking distance to the lake, the Second Street District, and the shops on West 6th. Stay here if you want to walk everywhere.
Hotel Lobby at Austin Proper decorated by Kelly Wearstler.
Where to Eat in Austin
Brunch, Breakfast Tacos, & Bagels
Pecan Square Café. Incredible for both dinner and brunch, at 1200 West 6th. A wood-clad dining room with a vaulted ceiling looks over an open wood-burning kitchen turning out handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and seasonal plates. Grab a seat at the bar when it glows at night. Then walk over to The Bungalows at Sixth and Blanco to see "Lamp of Approval," a surreal cast-bronze street lamp by Austin-born twins the Haas Brothers — just steps from the Clarksville blocks where they grew up.
The food at Pecan Square Cafe in Clarksville.
Mattie's. The quintessential Austin brunch spot. At Green Pastures, an 1895 Victorian home that opened in 1946 as Austin's first racially integrated restaurant. Peacocks roam the grounds — have a drink on the porch and wait for one to wander by.
Veracruz All Natural. The best breakfast taco in Austin, and we will not be taking questions. Sisters Reyna and Maritza Vazquez started with a food truck in 2008 and built a local legend on handmade tortillas and fresh ingredients. Order the Migas taco.
Taqueria De Diez. The best tacos in Austin, hands down. If you only make one taco stop, make it this one. Follow the neon "tacos" sign down the alley off Trinity Street downtown. Brothers Raul and Luis Esquer make Tijuana-style street tacos to order in an open kitchen, so you can watch every taco come off the grill and get built by hand in front of you. It landed on Yelp's Top 100 for 2026, and there is a second location on South Lamar.
Shug's. New York–style bagels at 1206 Parkway in Clarksville. Behind the counter, an assembly line tosses bagels into a giant oven, piles on the schmear, and calls out orders like auctioneers. The room is tiled like a proper New York deli, and the bagels have just the right chew. Order an everything bagel with scallion schmear and a coffee. Get there early — the line is part of the ritual.
Swedish Hill. A bakery and delicatessen in Clarksville. One side is a bright café; the other is a proper delicatessen and grocery with oak shelves and marble counters — sandwiches, salads, fresh bread, pastries, and pantry goods to take home. Pack a sandwich and a pastry for a picnic by the lake.
Lunch & Dinner
Jeffrey's. One of the best steakhouses in the country. A Clarksville institution since 1975, with ice-cold martinis, dry-aged steaks, and the most elegant dining room in town. This is where Austin goes for the big night.
Jeffrey's, one of the best steakhouses in the country, in Clarksville since 1975.
Fonda San Miguel. The best Mexican restaurant in Texas — and the place Austinites don't want you to know about. Interior Mexican cooking since 1975, in a hacienda filled with Mexican folk art. Have a drink in the famous atrium, lush with plants under a skylight, and order the Numero Uno margarita. It is legendary.
The famous atrium at Fonda San Miguel, lush with plants under a skylight. Order the Numero Uno margarita here.
Elizabeth Street Café. French-Vietnamese at 1501 South 1st, and the best pho ever. Order the chicken pho with the lemongrass skewers and a bánh mì, then grab macarons and pastries from the bakery on your way out.
The Salt Lick. The best barbecue in Austin is not in Austin. Drive out to Driftwood, where they have been cooking over an open pit since 1967. You eat family style at long picnic tables in the hill country, just like it has always been. It is BYOB, so bring a cooler.
The open pit at The Salt Lick in Driftwood, where they have been cooking barbecue the same way since 1967.
Ling Wu. The best Chinese food in Austin, from Chef Ling Qi Wu at Lantana Place, 7415 Southwest Parkway. You dine under a sky of lanterns and painted umbrellas, and the dim sum is some of the best in the state. Order the Shanghai soup dumplings, the vegetable fried rice, and a lychee martini.
Aba. Mediterranean with Greek flavors from Chef CJ Jacobson, on Music Lane off South Congress. The plates are made for sharing, so order a spread for the table. Ask for the patio — dinner under a heritage oak strung with Moroccan lanterns. It is also a celebrity hotspot. We have seen Cindy Crawford there.
Dinner under a heritage oak strung with Moroccan lanterns on the patio at Aba.
Neighborhood Sushi. From the same team behind Jeffrey's and Swedish Hill. The original on South Congress was such a hit that it opened a new location at 1417 South 1st, right across the street from Elizabeth Street Café — and this summer it expanded to Dallas. It is an everyday sushi hangout, not a formal omakase. Order the Yellowtail Scallion, the Wagyu roll, and the Snow Crab roll.
Tiki Tatsu-Ya. The front on South Lamar looks like a vintage travel agency — "Aikawa Tropical Tours" — but the real entrance is around the back, past Ramen Tatsu-Ya. Inside, it is a fictional island in two parts. Downstairs is a rum distillery cave, dark and lively, with hidden nooks, old maps, and miniature ships. Upstairs is an island beach house, calmer and breezier. The whole place blends Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Japanese design, with pieces sourced from vintage shops and famous tiki bars — including parts of an old ship.
De Nada Cantina. Right in East Austin, in a greenhouse on East Cesar Chavez. Known for handmade tortillas and margaritas so strong there is a two-drink limit. Order the frozen margarita — De Nada was voted Best Margarita in Austin by Austin Chronicle readers. Ariana Grande was just in. There is a second location on South 1st.
ATX Cocina. The best spicy margarita in Austin. Modern Mexican at 110 San Antonio Street, in a soaring wood-lined dining room with windows overlooking Lady Bird Lake.
Rooftops & Lake Days
Watr. The best rooftop bar in Austin. On the sixteenth floor of 1 Hotel Austin in the Waterline, with a Japanese-inspired menu, DJ sets, and all of Lady Bird Lake below you. Make a reservation, and come for sunset or full moon parties.
Ski Shores. An Austin staple on the shore of Lake Austin since 1954. Shoes not required. Pull the boat up to the dock, order lobster rolls and a Lime N' Da Coconut, and watch the boats go by.
Pull the boat up to the dock at Ski Shores, an Austin staple on Lake Austin since 1954. Shoes not required.
Wine Bars & Nightcaps
Flo's & Allday Pizza. A wine bar and bottle shop in Tarrytown, at West 35th and Pecos, with pizza from Allday Pizza. Childhood friends Flo Clemons and Adair Belisle built it to feel like their living room — emerald tile, leather banquettes, and a back patio under twinkle lights. A super cool spot to go with a big group. Grab a bottle and the sausage pizza, and pick up a baseball cap on the way out.
Rosie's. An intimate, lively wine bar off Blanco Street, tucked behind Howard's Bar & Club. The rotating wine list pulls bottles from around the world, with an emphasis on natural winemaking from small producers and unique terroirs. The small plates are inspired by Spain, Portugal, and France — think tapas. Inside there is a long bar, and outside a secluded patio. Rosie's is walk-in only and open late, so if you want a European vibe and a nightcap after hours, this is the place.
The long bar at Rosie's, an intimate wine bar tucked behind Howard's off Blanco Street.
Where to Drink, Dance & Two-Step
The Victorian. Newly renovated and located inside The Driskill. Cattle baron Jesse Driskill opened the hotel in 1886, and it is the oldest operating hotel in Austin — Lyndon B. Johnson had his first date with Lady Bird here. The Victorian is a mahogany bar in the former KTBC studio of President Johnson.
Broken Spoke. Two-step. A true honky-tonk, open since 1964, complete with the iconic wagon wheel out front. There is always live music playing. Come early for the dance lesson, then stay for the band.
The iconic wagon wheel out front of the Broken Spoke, a true honky-tonk on South Lamar since 1964.
Continental Club. Live music all the time on South Congress. Open since 1955, it is one of the most legendary music rooms in Texas. Walk in any night of the week and guaranteed there will be a band on stage.
Modern Bar. On the ground floor of The Modern tower on Rainey Street, Modern Bar is avant-garde hospitality with some of the most beautiful cocktails in the city, with aromatic foams and careful garnishes. Expect curated DJ sets and live music. Then find Altar Bar, the tucked-away room in the back with an iconic stained-glass backdrop, home to exclusive gatherings and the after party.
Curated DJ sets and live music at Modern Bar, avant-garde hospitality on Rainey Street.
The Concourse Project. A warehouse club out by the airport, ranked the No. 3 club in the United States by DJ Mag. It hosts ACL Fest Nights, and this year The Chainsmokers and Steve Aoki are on the lineup.
The Concourse Project warehouse club.
Austin Sports Club. Where elevated hospitality meets the energy of the game. Austin Sports Club is a New American dining experience shaped by style, culture, and sports. Refined food, thoughtful cocktails, and an electric atmosphere come together in the heart of downtown Austin — the best seat in town when your team is playing.
Things to Do in Austin
On the Water & Skyline Views
Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a ten-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake, cared for by The Trail Conservancy, with the Austin skyline across the water the whole way. Walk the loop, including the boardwalk that floats out over the lake on the south shore. Rent a paddleboard from Austin Rowing Club, or rent a bike from Barton Springs Bike Rental and cruise. Barton Springs Pool stays around 68 degrees all year, so a swim is always on the table.
Wakeline ATX. Charter a boat on Lake Austin. Lake Austin is the long, green, cliff-lined stretch of the Colorado River on the west side of the city, and it is where Austinites go for a real lake day. Try your chance at wakesurfing, cruise under the Pennybacker Bridge, then pull up to the dock at Ski Shores for lunch. The perfect Austin afternoon.
Retro Boat Rentals ATX. Vintage 1950s-60s fiberglass boats, restored and converted to electric, leaving from 74 Trinity Street downtown. Gas motors are not allowed on Lady Bird Lake, so this is the most stylish way to see the skyline from the water. Book a sunset cruise and watch the bats fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge.
A restored vintage boat, converted to electric, cruising Lady Bird Lake with the Austin skyline behind it.
Butler Pitch & Putt. A nine-hole par three near Lady Bird Lake that has been here since around 1950. There are no tee times and no reservations — claim your spot in line by dropping a golf ball into the ball-drop chute. No dress code, just grab a club and play a round with the skyline in view.
The Nine holes with the downtown skyline in view at Butler Pitch & Putt, an Austin original since around 1950.
Padel & Pilates
Padel 39. Padel is part tennis, part squash — played in doubles on an enclosed court with carbon fiber racquets — and it is the sport everyone in Austin is playing right now. The East Austin flagship on East 5th has twelve courts and two bars, so it is as much a social club as a place to play. Book a court, join an open play, or take a clinic if you are new. It is easy to learn and hard to stop.
AM Radio Pilates. Classical reformer Pilates at 902 North Lamar, from owner Christian Cox, with the traditional method taught properly. The studio offers private training, small group classes, and luxury apparatus.
Art, Culture & Film
Esther's Follies. SNL in Austin. A sketch comedy and variety show on 6th Street for nearly fifty years, with political satire, music, and magic. The stage backs onto a big window to the street, so people walking by become part of the show. We highly recommend it to out-of-towners and locals alike — you will be entertained from start to finish and leave wanting more.
Blanton Museum of Art. The University of Texas art museum, and one of the largest university art museums in the country, with a collection that runs from Renaissance paintings to contemporary Latin American art. Do not miss Ellsworth Kelly's Austin on the museum grounds — the only building the artist ever designed. It is a small stone chapel with windows of colored glass that throw shifting color across the floor all day.
Inside Ellsworth Kelly's Austin, where the colored glass windows throw shifting light across the floor all day.
James Turrell Skyspace. James Turrell is famous for making art out of light and sky. The Color Inquiry on Tripartite, one of his public Skyspaces, sits on the University of Texas campus: a room with an opening cut into the ceiling, where you sit and watch the sky while a light sequence changes the colors around it. Reserve the sunrise or sunset sequence — it is free and unforgettable.
Laguna Gloria. The Contemporary Austin's sculpture park on the shore of Lake Austin, at 3809 West 35th. The grounds wrap around the 1916 Driscoll Villa, built by Clara Driscoll, the Texan remembered for saving the Alamo. Walk the gardens past large-scale contemporary sculpture, then find a bench on the water. Bring a book and stay for the view.
The 1916 Driscoll Villa at Laguna Gloria, built by Clara Driscoll, the Texan remembered for saving the Alamo.
Bullock Texas State History Museum. The Story of Texas, told across three floors — from the first peoples of this land to Spanish missions, the Republic of Texas, cattle drives, and oil booms. Do not miss La Belle, a 17th-century French shipwreck raised from Matagorda Bay and rebuilt inside the museum. Afterward, it is a short walk to the Texas State Capitol, built of pink granite in 1888 and taller than the U.S. Capitol. Tours are free.
Austin Central Library. A locals' secret. The Central Library on Cesar Chavez is a light-filled, six-story building on Shoal Creek, with reading rooms, a café, and art throughout. Go up to the rooftop garden for one of the best free views of downtown.
Paramount Theatre. Movies the way they should be seen. The Paramount opened on Congress Avenue in 1915 as a vaudeville house and still has its original ornate interior. Today it hosts concerts, comedy, and live shows, and its summer classic film series is an Austin tradition — old favorites on the big screen.
Where to Shop in Austin
Boots, Hats & Western
Allen's Boots — South Congress. Get your cowboy boots at Allen's. Look for the giant red boot out front — Allen's has been fitting cowboy boots at 1522 South Congress since 1977, with thousands of pairs wall to wall. Ask for Josh. And yes, Allen's sells the stuffed raccoons too — get your own, just like Erling Haaland, who flew home from the World Cup in Texas this summer with one under his arm.
Thousands of pairs wall to wall at Allen's Boots. Get your cowboy boots here.
Maufrais — South Congress. Cowboy hats, two doors down from Allen's at 1512 South Congress. The hat shapers here will fit and crease your hat by hand while you wait. They even have cowboy hats for your furry friends.
Finish off your Austin western haul with the Teton Turquoise Navajo Oval Belt Buckle from Cowgirls & Indians, handcrafted by Diné silversmith Lee Charley.
Designer Shopping
ByGeorge. Designer shopping and Austin's fashion authority since 1979, with shops on North Lamar and South Congress. Racks of Loewe, The Row, Jacquemus, and Ganni sit alongside Texas designers like Nak Armstrong, plus Flamingo Estate candles and soaps for the house. This is where to find your clothes for the festival. They also have Westside Market at 1214 West 6th — do not skip it.
ByGeorge, Austin's fashion authority since 1979, with racks of Loewe, The Row, Jacquemus, and Ganni.
Jacques Marie Mage. Handmade luxury eyewear inside a Clarksville house at 606 Blanco Street. The frames are inspired by the American West and made in small, numbered editions. Even fellow Texan Tom Ford wears them. Ask for Alex or Ryan. The chicest souvenir from Austin.
Jacques Marie Mage, inside a Clarksville house at 606 Blanco Street.
West Chelsea Contemporary. A blue-chip contemporary and street art gallery at 1009 West 6th, with works by Banksy, Andy Warhol, and KAWS on the walls. Shows rotate often, it is free to walk in, and the staff is happy to talk you through the work — whether you are collecting or just looking.
Valentine's. A luxury women's boutique founded by Teresa Windham in 1999, with shops at Davenport Village and on West 35th. The racks are hand-picked from designers like Zimmermann, Ulla Johnson, Isabel Marant, Altuzarra, Nili Lotan, Rachel Comey, and La DoubleJ, along with jewelry and home décor. The stylists will pull an edit just for you.
Austin Originals
Central Market. Erewhon who? A division of H-E-B, Central Market is inspired by the famous markets of Europe — only Texas-sized. The store follows a serpentine flow that takes you through an immersive food adventure of bright fresh color, intriguing scents, and flavors from around the globe. This place is a must visit.
Bright pops of fresh color at Central Market, H-E-B's European-inspired market, only Texas-sized.
Whole Earth Provision Co. An Austin original since 1970. Outdoor gear and clothing, travel essentials, books, toys, and gifts, all under one roof. It is the place to outfit a Hill Country hike or a lake weekend — and to find a gift for everyone back home.
BookPeople. The largest independent bookstore in Texas — multiple stories of books at 603 North Lamar, in the center of downtown. Author events happen almost every week, and the staff picks are the best reading list in town.
Waterloo Records. Just down the street from BookPeople, and selling records since 1982. Browse new and used vinyl and CDs, with a deep section of Texas artists. Waterloo is famous for its free in-store performances, especially during SXSW, so check the calendar before you go.
Mad Hippie. Clean, vegan, cruelty-free skincare born in Austin, best known for its Vitamin C Serum. The South Lamar flagship is an architectural masterpiece worth seeing in person. Try the full line and book a mini facial while you are there.
The Mad Hippie flagship on South Lamar, an architectural masterpiece worth seeing in person.
Where to Rest
Big Sexy Lashes. An Austin staple for nearly two decades, Big Sexy Lashes specializes in personalized lash extensions, lash lifts, and premium skincare treatments tailored to each client. Book with Keri, and get on her calendar before festival weekend or your next big night out in ATX.
Big Sexy Lashes, for lash extensions, lash lifts, and premium skincare treatments tailored to each client.
Hair House ATX. A hair salon inside a 1961 mid-century house at 805 West Avenue, as seen on Queer Eye. It feels more like visiting a friend's beautiful home than a salon. Book a cut, color, or blowout with Kallie.
Lake Austin Spa Resort. A destination spa on the shore of Lake Austin in the Hill Country, about thirty minutes and a world away from downtown. Condé Nast Traveler readers ranked it the No. 1 destination spa in the United States. The 25,000-square-foot LakeHouse Spa has thirty treatment rooms, an outdoor pool, and terraced gardens, and there are forty lakeside cottages if you want to stay the night. Book a treatment and a day package, eat lunch from the resort's own gardens, and take a kayak or paddleboard out on the lake.
Getting Around Austin
Tesla Robotaxi. Austin was the first city where Tesla launched its Robotaxi service, in 2025. It is fully autonomous, with no driver. Download the Robotaxi app from Tesla, request a ride, and a Tesla with no one behind the wheel pulls up to take you across town. Try it at least once — it is the most Austin thing you can do in 2026.
Tesla's Cybercab, a two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel and no pedals, on the streets of Austin.
Waymo. Austin also has fully driverless Waymo rides, and in Austin you book them through the Uber app — there is no separate Waymo app here. In Uber, go to Account > Settings > Autonomous vehicles and turn on the Waymo preference, then request an UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Electric. If a Waymo is nearby, you will be matched with one. It is not guaranteed every time, and there is no need to tip.
Austin Travel Tips
- Bluebonnet season peaks in late March and April. Do it like a true Texan: put on a white shirt and denim jeans and take family photos in the wildflowers along the highway.
- The weather is extreme. Pack appropriate clothes and shoes, bring a fan, a hat, and drink plenty of water.
- Parking downtown is pricey and nearly nonexistent. Only rent a car if you are traveling outside the city.
- For bar hopping and live music, go to Rainey Street instead of 6th Street.
- Stick to South Congress if you want to walk, dine, and shop. Check out the iconic Austin Motel sign, or take a picture in front of the "i love you so much" mural.
- Summers run hot. Plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings, and spend the afternoon in Barton Springs.
- The Congress Avenue Bridge bats fly at sunset, spring through fall. Stand on the bridge or watch from the water.
Cowgirls & Indians: Proudly Headquartered in Austin, Texas
Cowgirls & Indians is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and we are proud to call this place home. The Cowgirls half of Cowgirls & Indians is Texan first — everything in this guide is the city we love and live in every day.
Visiting from out of town? Our jewelry is a great addition to any collector's collection, and we are happy to arrange a private meeting to show you our pieces in person while you are in Austin. Email us at giddyup@cowgirlsindians.com to set up a time.
Can't Make It to Austin? Shop New Indigenous Jewelry Here.
Not everyone can be in Austin this fall. The work should still find you.
The Gothic Naja pendant, sandcast in solid 18 karat gold by fourth-generation Diné silversmith Wyatt Lee-Anderson.
Cowgirls & Indians is Navajo owned and operated. Ownership, curation, and craft stay in Native hands. Every piece we carry is made by a verified Indigenous silversmith and stamped with their hallmark.
Shop hallmarked contemporary Navajo jewelry — concho belts, buckles, cuffs, rings, and one-of-one statement pieces — from silversmiths creating today.
We ship internationally. More than thirty countries, fully insured, with tracking from our hands to yours.
Made-to-Order pieces. If you want a specific stone, a specific size, or a piece that does not exist yet, we will make it with you. Bespoke Commissions begin with a conversation.
Shop New Arrivals → · Made-to-Order → · Meet Our Artists →
Questions about Austin? Whether you need a dinner reservation idea or the right boot shop reach out at giddyup@cowgirlsindians.com and we'll be happy to help.
Cowgirls & Indians is not affiliated with any of the businesses listed. Every recommendation is our own.
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