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Welcome to Austin—the quirky, sprawling capital city of Texas. Venture outside the well-traversed music festival circuit (we’re looking at you, SXSW) for the best of can’t-miss diversions: swimming in the beloved, invigorating Barton Springs, tooling around Lady Bird Lake, and later, noshing on salt-and-pepper-rubbed brisket sandwiches from the lunch-only shrine Franklins. Plus, a buzzy crop of hip and reimagined hotels makes dropping your bags a cinch. From the shops of South Congress Avenue to cocktails on Rainey Street, and later, deep in the wild-flowered expanse of Hill Country, below, three different ways to experience Austin this spring.
What to Do
First, explore the analog delights: used literature at South Congress Books, vintage wares and LPs at Las Cruxes; and antiques and taxidermy at the multivendor emporium Uncommon Objects. For an unfussy lunch, Texas French Bread serves market sandwiches (and local Live Oak suds), while warm bowls of Japanese noodles reside at Ramen Tatsu-Ya. For burgers and cocktails, Justine’s is a moody brasserie set in a cozy bungalow—it’s also open into the wee hours. Take an early plunge into Barton Springs, the famed public swimming hole fed by underground springs (and known for its year-round-68-degrees-bathing-suit-top-optional policy). For healthy drinks, fuel up at the hippy-flared JuiceLand or drop by Food ATX whose creamy, mineral-packed beverages feature soon-to-be-trendy sea moss. Emerging art aficionados should check out Martha’s Contemporary or venture 20 minutes outside city limits to Kyle Flea Market, where the art booth Dirty Dark Place displays some thought-provoking works.
Where to Stay
For a slice of cool sans hipster pretention, the Carpenter Hotel, set in a former ’40s union hall, features 93 rooms with concrete floors, outdoor terraces, platform beds and blue-tiled bathrooms. You’ll want to hang out in the common areas—the lobby’s grouping of low-flung leather seats doubles as a work space and place to sip local Merit coffee. There’s also a pool and a pavilion with biergarten-style tables—and shaded by sturdy pecan trees. Come evening, the namesake eatery is ideal for a Hall Pass—made with anejo tequila, pecan, and bitters—followed by chef Grae Nonas’s hearty chicken schnitzel (with black garlic chimichurri).
What to Do
In the midmorning, stretch your legs around Lady Bird Lake. Later, check out the rotating works at the Contemporary Austin (Jones Center) and then hop over to the University of Texas’s Blanton Museum of Art where Ellsworth Kelly’s recently debuted Austin, a freestanding, minimalist stone chapel that features rainbow stained-glass windows. For wearables, visit native jewelry maven Kendra Scott’s new gleaming flagship store along South Congress. Nearby, Sunroom stocks boho cool-girl brands à la Mirth and Natalie Martin. For dinner, procure a table at the dimly lit mainstay Jeffrey’s—start with popcorn and champagne, and then graduate to the Thai-influenced gulf snapper. Speaking of fish—the venerable sushi shrine Uchi still reigns as a temple of fresh delights. For late-night diversions, slip into the intimate Roosevelt Room and order a refreshing Death Valley, with Topo Chico, absinthe, and lime juice.
Where to Stay
Last year, the downtown mainstay Four Seasons Austin underwent a much-needed refresh of its 294 rooms (thanks in part, to Texas-based designer Michael Dalton, who employed a clean blue and gray palette). Request a serene lake-facing room—some have balconies—and later, nab a patio table at chefs James Flowers & Richard Sandoval’s Ciclo, whose local cuisine features Latin influences (sweet corn empanadas, achiote salmon). Downstairs, a reimagined spa hosts a purifying Himalayan pink salt wall, perfect for nagging travel stresses and soothing circadian rhythms.
What to Do
To look the role, you’ll need a pair of kicks—Allens Boots and Helm Boots have you covered. Meanwhile, Rainey Street, peppered with sleepy bungalows, laid-back vibes, and backyards, is perfect for cocktails, craft beers, and cornhole games. For outdoor grounds and art sculptures, the Contemporary Austin (at Laguna Gloria) is set on 14 acres with a café and roaming peacocks. Just south of downtown, rent a stand-up paddleboard or pedal along Lady Bird Johnson Hike and Bike Trail. Hungry? Tillie’s offers shareable lunch plates (e.g., corn butter biscuits, salt-and-pepper quail), and for proper sips on a working ranch, Jester King pours farmhouse ales, beers, wine, and cider—and has plenty of outdoor seating.
Where to Stay
A few months ago, Miraval, the popular wellness brand out of Tucson, opened a second location in the wide expanse of Hill Country. Located on 220 acres and overlooking Lake Travis, its 117 rooms are kitted out in cream, white, blue, and silver. If you’re not relaxing around the infinity pool, you are most likely in the spa for 50-minute crystal energy healing—using a mix of Reiki and guided visualization.
