6 min
Updated: Feb 27
05/18/2022
We created this list of Austin MUSTS by compiling suggestions from local brides, vendors, and the most premium Austinites! Feel free to cut + paste directly to your wedding website so your out of town guests can experience the best of the city!
BARS
6TH STREET
‣ East 6th: The rowdier side, younger crowd, a lot of live music, very tame during the day, but at night turns into the epicenter of bachelor/ette parties.
Pro-tip: Wanderlust Wine Co. sits on the edge of 6th (with a second location in East Austin now) - it's a wine-on-tap room where you can grab a glass and taste anything you want. AND they have the best hidden-gem Italian food truck out back (The Heel of The Boot) which is a must try with the wine.
‣ West 6th: Known for having more upscale options, young professional type crowd, has great Sunday Funday options!
Pro-tip: Kung Fu Saloon is great for Sundays and Greenlight Social has boozy capri sun that is a MUST!
‣ *NEW* East 6th: On the other side of I-35 now lives a slew of modern bars, restaurant happy hours, and breweries that have all popped up within the last few years - a great part of the street for safe walking and finding late night food trucks.
Pro-tip: Whisler's has delicious cocktails, a Mezcal rooftop bar, and great outdoor tables for big groups & board games!
RAINEY STREET
Outdoor bars and restaurants, five minute cab ride to downtown, dining options
Pro-tip: Sunday morning at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden - enjoy a MANosa and get a bottle of champagne and a splash of OJ in a glass beer mug!
THE DOMAIN
Originally just your typical outdoor-shopping mall, The Domain now contains an entire street of bars called Rock Rose. Kung Fu Saloon has another location here (with arcade games!), and a fan favorite is Wonder Bar - where you can "spin the wheel" for a surprise shot or even a free T-shirt!
BREWERIES
NORTH AUSTIN
‣ Austin Beerworks
‣ Celis Brewery
‣ Circle Brewing
‣ Adelbert’s Brewery
CENTRAL AUSTIN
‣ Central District Brewing
‣ Oddwork Brewing
EAST AUSTIN
‣ Blue Owl Brewing Taproom
‣ Friends and Allies Brewing Company
‣ Lazarus Brewing Company
‣ Southern Heights Brewing Company
‣ Zilker Brewing Company and Taproom
SOUTH AUSTIN
‣ St. Elmo Brewing Company
‣ Austin Beer Garden and Brewery (The ABGB)
‣ Independence Brewing Co.
‣ Live Oak Brewing Company
WEST AUSTIN
‣ 12 Fox Beer Co.
‣ Fitzhugh Brewing *partnered with PEJ Kitchens*
‣ Jester King Brewery
‣ Vista Brewing
‣ Oasis Texas Brewing Company
MANCHACA AREA
‣ Indian Roller
‣ Moontower Saloon *you can play volleyball here!*
‣ South Austin Beer Garden
SPEAKEASIES/"UNDERGROUND" COCKTAIL BARS
Click here for the best secret bars in Austin!
‣ Firehouse Lounge
‣ Here Nor There
‣ Garage
‣ Midnight Cowboy
‣ Tiki Tatsu-Ya *from Ramen Tatsu-Ya!*
WINERIES
‣ The Austin Winery
‣ Duchman Family Winery *connected to Trattoria Lisina!*
‣ Fall Creek Vineyards
‣ Lewis Wines
‣ Pedernales Cellars
RESTAURANTS
BBQ
‣ Franklin Barbecue; 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Pro-tip: Bring a chair, a cooler of beer, and get in line three hours before opening because they serve until they run out!
‣ la Barbecue; 2027 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
‣ Terry Black’s; 1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
‣ The Salt Lick; 18300 Farm to Market Rd 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619
‣ The Switch; 166 Hargraves Dr Suite G-100, Austin, TX 78737
‣ SLAB BBQ *featured on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives!*
COFFEE
‣ Epoch; Multiple locations available
‣ Halycon; Multiple locations available *roast marshmallows and make S'mores here!*
‣ Mozart’s; 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
‣ Summer Moon; Multiple locations *an Austin classic!*
‣ Merit Coffee; Multiple locations
‣ Codependent Cocktails & Coffee; 301 West Ave Suite 110, Austin, TX 78701
TACOS
‣ Juan in a Million; 2300 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Breakfast or lunch, closes at 3
‣ Torchy’s Tacos; Multiple locations *must-try queso for your out-of-state guests!*
‣ Vera Cruz All Natural Tacos; Multiple locations
‣ Taquero Mucho *perfect for a bridal brunch - everything is pink!*
‣ Papalote
OTHER
‣ Hillside Farmacy; 1209 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
‣ Hula Hut on Lake Austin; 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
‣ Le Vacher; 136 Drifting Wind Run, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
‣ Magnolia Cafe; 1920 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 *an Austin classic!*
‣ Mattie’s; 811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704 *Victorian home offering Southern food for brunch & peacocks on property*
‣ The Oasis on Lake Travis; 6550 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732
‣ Thicket Food Park; 7800 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78745 *food truck park!*
‣ Via 313; Multiple locations available *authentic Detroit-style pizza - IT'S A MUST!*
‣ Il Brutto; East 6th *Happy hour even on Saturdays - with half priced bottles of wine!*
‣ Suerte; East 6th
‣ Ramen Tatsu-Ya; Multiple locations
‣ Home Slice Pizza; Multiple locations *an Austin classic!*
‣ Aba; South Congress (Music Lane)
SCENIC ACTIVITIES
‣ 360/Pennybacker Bridge
Park on the side of the Hwy 360, hike your way through the trail and semi-rocky terrain to get to the top of the cliff that overlooks the lake and the city
Pro-tip: Buy a pizza from Home Slice and take it to the 360 bridge to eat as the sun sets over Lake Austin!
‣ Austin Bat Tours
Watch them on the land or on a BYOB boat!
‣ Ladybird Lake + The Butler Hike and Bike Trail
Zilker Park Boat Rentals/Rowing Dock: Rent kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddle boards
‣ Mount Bonnell/Covert Park
Ascend 106 stone stairs to get to the summit where you can see panoramic views of Austin
‣ Take a self-guided mural tour around town
‣ Texas State Capitol
‣ Wildflower Center
The Botanic Garden of Texas - Become a member or visit as a non-members; reservation only right now
‣ Zilker Park & Botanical Gardens
The most loved park in Austin! Play disc golf, ride the miniature Zephyr train, fly a kite, play sand volleyball, access the Greenbelt, and take a dip in Barton Springs Pool!
SHOPPING
‣ 2nd Street District
Downtown shopping & dining options
‣ Barton Creek Square
South Austin
‣ South Congress
Experience what it's like to have to back your car into a diagonal parking spot and walk the shops on both sides of the street and enjoy the amazing restaurants!
Pro-tip: Grab some Amy’s Ice Creams, get a picture at the I love you so much sign, and enjoy the shops, find some free live music, and then grab a drink at the South Congress Hotel Lobby Bar!
‣ The Arboretum
North Austin
‣ The Domain in North Austin
Bars, shopping, indoor/outdoor dining, 24/7 cupcake ATM
WATER ACTIVITIES
‣ Barton Springs & Deep Eddy Pools
Outdoor pool with water fed from the nearby natural springs
‣ Big Stacy Pool
Small & shallow outdoor community pool with water fed from the nearby natural springs, covered by giant oak trees - great for families with kids!
‣ Blue Hole Regional Park
‣ Capital Cruises
Boat tour agency - personal boat rides, take a sunset ride, sightseeing tours, or book a larger boat for your rehearsal dinner!
‣ Float On
Lake Travis & Lake Austin boat rentals
‣ Hamilton Pool Preserve - temporarily closed
A scenic natural swimming pool in a canyon below a 50-ft waterfall, surrounded by a grotto
‣ Jacob’s Well
A perennial karstic spring in the Texas Hill Country flowing from the bed of Cypress Creek
‣ Zip line Lake Travis
NIGHT LIFE & OTHER ADVENTURES
‣ Austin Panic Room
‣ Broken Spoke *featured on Queer Eye!*
Two-stepping here is a MUST! *featured on Queer Eye!*
‣ The Continental Club
The grand-daddy of local and live music since 1955
‣ Esther's Follies
Catch a comedy show.
‣ Movie at Alamo Drafthouse
Enjoy a cocktail or a boozy milkshake and catch a flick. Check their schedule ahead of time to find older movies replay or sing-a-longs.
‣ The Escape Game Austin
Join an existing reservation or bring a crowd to work together to escape a themed room!
‣ Top Golf
‣ Unchartered Adventures
Used to be 512 Rage Room, make reservations to BREAK anything safely from technology to glass!
‣ Urban Axes
The new trend... axe throwing! Book in advance.
$10 admission to play all of the arcade games your inner-child heart desires, while sipping on cider
‣ Stubb's
There's a concert here almost every night!
Home of the mini-Monday - bring your most fun guests here after your wedding weekend (or go with your new spouse for matching tats!) and get $35 mini tattoos!
NEARBY DAY TRIP SUGGESTIONS
‣ Driftwood/Dripping Springs
The Hill Country is home to most of Austin's scenic wedding venues, but there are so many shops and restaurants you can explore!
‣ Fredericksburg
Known for wineries - take a wine shuttle or bus to enjoy everything it has to offer!
‣ Gruene
Just south of Austin, offering shopping, dining, and a historic dance hall
‣ Wimberley
Jacob’s Well & Blue Hole are here, on top of a lot of local shops and boutiques
‣ Waco
Home of Magnolia Market at the Silos