What to do/eat in Austin, TX?

Akilae

I'm off to Austin for a convention, and was wondering about stuff to do on the off times. The schedule is pretty packed but I might have an afternoon and an evening to "see" Austin. Recommendations for good eats are more important. I'll be largely confined to around the Convention Center area, but if there is promise of good BBQ or something, I'm willing to catch a cab ride out to places. Any recommendations?

noir_blood

If you never been and don't have one near you, go to the Alamo Drafthouse. It's the best movie theater in the country and they have several locations in Austin (though the best one is sadly under renovations).

Salt Lick is pretty good for BBQ. Franklin is supposed to be heaven, but fuck waiting two hours in line for it.

Depending on what you like, 6th Street can be fun. Not a lot of good eats, but tons of fun, cheap bars.

I'm sure actual Austinites can chime in with even better recs.

TexiKen

Stick to the 78704 zipcode (South of the Capitol, not full of outside hipster transplants who swamped downtown/UT)

Hill's Cafe is great, it's on S. Congress south of I-71, great chicken fried steak and enchiladas.

If you have limited time just stick to S. Congress. It's just a straight line, and once you pass over the Colorado river you've got shops and restaurants that are more local and less annoying. You'll find something you like there.

6th Street kind of sucks now, but west of S. Congress along 2nd and 3rd street has some nice bars and restaurants.

Mad Jazz

Green Mesquite and Iron Works are two solid BBQ options right next to the convention center also. I love South Congress too, there's a bunch of great stuff there. Places I'd recommend: Home Slice (good pizza and good beer), Big Top Candy Shop (old school candy store with an old-style soda fountain and homemade chocolate truffles), Gourdough's (donuts, but donuts doesn't really describe what they are). If you like burgers, Hopdoddy is pretty tasty, and I'm a big fan of Nau's (this one's a cab ride; classic pharmacy with a flat-top grill and old-style soda fountain as well). P.Terry's is a good fast food burger, as is Sandy's and Top Notch. On the East side, Eastside Showroom has great food and a really good bar. That's all I can come up with off the top of my head.

Kyougu

If you find yourself in East Austin and want to try a food truck I can't recommend Via 313 enough. Detroit style pizza, some of the best I ever had.

If you want to take a year off your life have breakfast at 24 Diner and order the Waffle Sandwhich.

Damn..I'm really craving it now.

I Zimbra

Go to Mi Madre's for breakfast tacos and migas.

Pirusu

Sticking to South Congress, there's also a great cuban/latin/carribean place called "Habana". Food is good and it has, by far, the best tres leches cake I've ever had.

Honestly, outside of food, South Congress also has lots of cool little shops. If you're a fan of beer/brewpubs, Rainey Street is a short walk north of the convention center that has lots of great local brews, and the atmosphere is a lot more relaxed than 6th street.

Also, if you don't feel like waiting the million hours in line for Franklin's, Mueller Meat Co. is off of East 6th and is just as good (or good enough that it negates the wait time). This is a ways away from the convention center, though.

Kyougu

Ohh, I second Havana. Their Mojitos are fantastic, make sure to up for the good stuff.

Mad Jazz

Yeah, Havana is super good

Akilae

Thanks for the recs guys! Looks like Habana would be a place to go for dinner, but good heavens do those BBQ places have lines!