Navigating Austin during SXSW can feel like Dorothy’s journey on the yellow brick road in search of the Emerald City: it’s disorienting, kind of magical, and filled with both wonder and anxiety (in this case FOMO). If you find yourself wandering the city with a couple of vagabonds you picked up along the way, then treat this guide like a beacon to illuminate your journey. For the very best recommendations, we sought local artists that know the ins and outs of Austin including Walker Lukens, Israel Nash and Nina Diaz to name a few. From coffee joints to secret caverns, take in all the sights and sounds Austin and SXSW have to offer.
photo by: Brian Dooley/Flickr
Curated by: …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Alejandro Escovado, Austin Basham, Bee Caves, Ben Kweller, Bob Schneider, Curtis Roush, Elijah Ford, Gary Clark Jr., Israel Nash, MISSIO, My Jersualem, Night Beats, Nina Diaz, Okkervil River, Particle Kid , Ringo Deathstarr, Sailor Poon, Shakey Graves, Shy Beast, Sweet Spirit, The Bishops, The Black Angels, The Cuckoos, The Sword, Walker Lukens, Wild Child, Wildfires , William Harries Graham
Steaks & snails plus wine & cocktails in a little bungalow with a light-strung patio.
Cozy record store stocking a diverse array of new, vintage & rare vinyl records, plus CDs & DVDs.
Farm-to-table fare from locally sourced ingredients served in a rustic space with a butcher shop.
Bar in an old-school club space with vintage details, plus original cocktails & housemade pizza.
Lakefront off-leash dog park with 13 acres of recreational space, plus hiking, canoeing & kayaking.
Laid-back live music venue with an African twist featuring an eclectic lineup & signature cocktails.
No-frills Mexican joint known for its tacos, beer, booze & live music on the patio on weekends.
Multilevel space with a bar, roofdeck & indoor/outdoor stages hosting local & touring acts.
Rustic spot serves coffee, beer & cider around the clock in general-store digs with a back patio.
Casual spot with a big patio offering Tex-Mex classics & burgers, plus live music under pecan trees.
Hip cafe & nighttime lounge with mismatched furniture serving globally inspired fare & craft drinks.
Operating since 1946, this cash-only pair of courses features whales, castles & giant shoes.
It's BYOB at this venerable cash-only, BBQ spot with a rustic setting & live music outdoors.
Standards like curries & noodles, plus some uncommon dishes, in a modern space accented by parasols.
Beer, brisket and music Downtown with a renowned Sunday gospel brunch.
A large menu, salsa bar & hand-shaken margaritas in a landmark building with a patio.
This popular urban natural area offers opportunities for biking, hiking, swimming & rock climbing.
Sizable gay bar offering a lodge-like indoor space, outdoor music, drinks, drag shows & more.
Boisterous, spacious gay dance club with theme nights & a weekly late-night drag show, plus a patio.
No-nonsense beer-focused hangout with a jukebox, billiards & a popular back patio.
Long-standing nonprofit chain with a range of pre-owned clothing, furniture, housewares & more.
A pub menu with all-natural meats, a large beer selection & the signature martini plus a large deck.
Booze, tattoos & plenty of daily live music, both inside & out on the patio.
It is housed in the former studio of sculptor Elisabet Ney and is dedicated to showcasing her life and works.
Cozy watering hole known for its global nibbles, dog-friendly patio & recycled wood & stone decor.
Sushi, unusual rolls & other Japanese entrees are washed down with sake in a traditional setting.
This light-filled, casual Vietnamese eatery for pho, banh mi & desserts, plus takeout deli counter.
Known for its small plates & extensive drink menu in a setting that's upscale for 6th Street.
Roller skating rink with a game arcade, snack bar & private party rooms available for rental.
Hip 24-hour cafe serving fair-trade coffee, sandwiches & pastries, plus live music lounge with bar.
Strip-mall tavern with year-round holiday decor, an old-school jukebox, cash-only drinks & games.
Laid-back drinking den featuring pool tables, arcade games, a jukebox & vinyl records on the walls.
Buzzy chain serving Mexican street-food-style tacos in inventive varieties, including for breakfast.
Homey cafe featuring classic Ethiopian dishes & an ample lunch buffet, plus beer & honey wine.
American eats, jazz brunch & weekend country music in a rustic spot with a patio & an amphitheater.
1000-person space hosts hip-hop, new rock & electronic dance music shows, with covered patio & bar.
The Paramount Theatre is a live theatre venue/movie theatre
located in downtown Austin, Texas. The classical revival style structure
was built in 1915. The building was listed in the National Register of
Historic Places on June 23, 1976.
Stylish theater chain for new & classic films features cocktails & creative bites served seat-side.
Eco-friendly, bohemian cafe offering hearty meatless meals, coffees & a rotating monthly art show.
Intimate reservations-only lounge known for its hip speakeasy vibe & old-school cocktail menu.
Funky-chic spot for global fusion fare & cocktails in a modern setting with an airy feel.
Longtime hot spot with in-store performances, local artist compilations & concert ticket sales.
Bi-level club hosting weekend performances on the main floor with a Japanese-American bar upstairs.
Offers organic coffees, medium and dark roast coffee and espresso.
Piano bar with live music, 2 dance floors & a diverse crowd, set in old rail cars & a former depot.
Live hip-hop, rock, funk, reggae, Latin & more attract music-lovers to this 6th Street club.
This hip brewpub's vast craft-beer menu includes a few made on-site, plus food-truck grub outside.
Coffee kiosk within Farewell Books serves up craft beverages in small digs with limited seats.
Locally owned cafe featuring coffee drinks, sandwiches & baked goods, plus a free conference room.
A venue decorated with gold wallpaper & taxidermy features DJs, live music & a patio.
Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater hosts diverse performers, from Belle & Sebastian to ZZ Top.
Food-truck spin-off featuring sushi & homestyle Japanese plates in a bamboo-accented, stylish space.
Health-minded chain serving juices, smoothies & hot drinks, plus noodle bowls & salads.
The Texas State Capitol, completed in 1888 in Downtown Austin,
contains the offices and chambers of the Texas Legislature and the
Office of the Governor.
Popular concert space with free weekday happy hour shows, a listening room & an intimate atmosphere.
Popular South Congress eatery drawing long lines with rustic cooking, great wines & elegant space.
Eclectic performance space featuring diverse events (live music, DJs & comedy), a full bar & patio.
Venerable stop for CDs, used vinyl records & accessories, with an emphasis on blues & local artists.
French-pressed coffee blends plus a selection of single-origin & sustainable, direct-trade options.
Chicken-fried steak, pork ribs, sandwiches & sides are the calling cards of this Southern kitchen.
Hip spot for coffee, beer & pastries in wood-paneled digs, plus tables & a taco truck out back.
Emma Long Metropolitan Park is a large municipal park in northwest
Austin, Texas. The park is on the shores of Lake Austin and was
originally called City Park.
A retro-style bar known for its jukebox & 1960s decor, with billiards, skeeball & other games.
Look for exotic hot dogs & sausages - from venison to veggie - plus sides, cocktails & brunch.
Live country music is served up in this hip, upbeat, sprawling honky-tonk with a taco truck outside.
Offshoot of the famed Uchi restaurant with upscale sushi & small plates in a farmhouse-chic space.