It seems like everyone is moving to Austin lately, doesn’t it? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it’s the fastest-growing metro — particularly now that a lot of people are looking for a change of scenery during pandemic times. It’s no wonder it’s not slowing down in popularity: Austin is known for its eclectic music scene (the yearly South by Southwest Conference and Festival is held there), inventive food options (it’s not just all barbecue!), and cool vintage shopping. And while it’s a city with a bustling downtown, the nearby parks and lakes make it great for feeling like you’re still a part of nature with plenty of opportunities for getting outdoors and staying active. You don’t necessarily need to move there to reap the benefits, however: All you need is a few days to see what all the hype is about. Check out the Sunday Edit’s first-ever city guide — Austin, TX edition — and find where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.
Where To Stay
Miraval Austin ($$$)
To make the most of the 18 and over wellness escape that overlooks Lake Travis, consider the Miraval Unlimited Package which includes three gourmet meals and access to over 20 fitness and meditation classes, two resort pools, a yoga barn, a body mindfulness center, and dozens of daily wellness activities (like curated experiences with well-being counselors, chefs, and astrologers). Named North America’s Best Destination Spa by the World Spa Awards, the Life in Balance Spa features a menu of over 60 offerings. You can also create a wellness itinerary based on the desired intention of your time away, whether you’re recovering from loss, you want a couples’ getaway, or you’re on a leadership retreat. Each spa-inspired room features a private balcony that overlooks the landscape. Stay a day, or make the weekend out of it with easy trips to downtown Austin just half an hour away.
Hotel San José ($$)
This 40-room, the minimalist hotel is located in the South Congress district — a vibrant and popular hangout area for visitors and locals alike. The aesthetic, which was designed by Liz Lambert, the founder of hotel company hospitality organization Bunkhouse Group, has an Austin-meets-Tokyo vibe (think: vintage posters, concrete floors, and colorful kimono-style bathrobes that are also available for purchase in the hotel’s boutique gift shop). The hotel has a private garden courtyard with a pool to get a reprieve from the Texas heat. You’ll also get convenient access to Jo’s Hot Coffee Good Food next door and curated in-room minibars. Famous for their frosé, the hotel’s courtyard is also a great place to wind down after a long day.
Heywood Hotel ($)
Walking distance from downtown Austin, you’ll find this woman-owned boutique hotel with seven guest rooms that feature a lot of personality. Throughout the space, you’ll find local Austin artists, tastemakers, and designers featured in the decor and design. Rates include free parking, craft beers when you check in, hand-crafted chocolates, and locally roasted Heywood Blend coffee. You’ll also find a variety of Austin-made goods in the on-site boutique like T-shirts, accessories, and lotions — you can even buy the same plush, sateen bedding that’s used in each room.
Where To Eat and Drink
Summer House on Music Lane
This lively restaurant which opened late last fall, is part of Hotel Magdalena (another charming Bunkhouse Group property). Enjoy al fresco garden views for breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch, or dinner with a menu that focuses on bright salads, rotisserie cooking, and wood-grilled meals. Or, enjoy small bites and drinks like their fan-favorite Summer House Colada or extensive wine list at their new poolside hangout. Only registered guests at the hotel can enjoy the pool but non-registered guests can purchase a pool pass Monday through Thursdays. The executive chef, Jeffrey Hundelt, joined the kitchen after being the culinary director of Launderette, which was once named Food & Wine’s Restaurant of the Year.
Arlo Grey
This lakeside restaurant (located inside The Line Hotel) is the debut of Top Chef season 10 winner Kristen Kish who had an instinct for cooking even as early as the age of seven. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a bright, airy feel to the dining space and a view of the outdoor pool. Kish calls the menu “elevated Midwestern” (where the adopted Korean chef grew up), and fuses French and Italian ingredients sourced from local farms. Check it out for dinner from Wednesday through Sunday, then head on up to the hotel’s P6, a former rooftop parking garage that has been reformed into an open-air lounge space with amazing views of the Austin skyline.
Suerte
Getting buzz was not an issue for this traditional Mexican eatery. After opening in July 2018, it landed on Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America list, Bon Appétit’s Top 50 Best New Restuarant’s list, as well as nailing a James Beard Award nomination. Open for dinner, weekend brunch, and “lucky hour” (a.k.a. happy hour), customers will write home about the homemade masa and you can order some of Mexico’s best mezcal straight to your table. Owner Sam Hellmann-Mass brought on executive Fermín Núñez (also formerly of Launderette), who grew up in Mexico and South Mexico and South Texas to bring the menu to life.
Bar Peached
Come for the Korean chicken wings, stay for the bingsu. Equal parts cozy and modern, Bar Peached is first a bar with a wide selection of cocktails, wines, and beers, but it’s also a restaurant serving Asian fusion small plates that are meant to be shared (kind of tapas-style). The porch along the restaurant gives you an option to eat outdoors and enjoy the scenery, or you can dine indoors among the quirky, homey decor. And about that bingsu, which is a creamy, shaved ice Korean dessert that serves two to four people: It gets an interesting twist with versions like the Birthday Cake that features mochi, cake ice cream, birthday cakes, and sprinkles. Closed on Mondays, you can visit for dinner, plus Sunday brunch.
What To Do
Chapel Dulcinea
Chapel Dulcinea became the first free wedding chapel in the world. But even if you’re not getting married, the open-air venue is on top of an ancient walking trail that makes it a great hike to see panoramic views overlooking Texas Hill Country. About 20 minutes outside of Austin, the chapel was built on an ancient Native American trail. Before you visit, feel free to view its livestream, where you can likely catch a happy couple tying the knot.
Lady Bird Lake
If you want to enjoy some fun in the sun, there’s no shortage of outdoor activities over at Lady Bird Lake — named after Lady Bird Johnson who devoted much of her time to preserving nature. Whether you’re into kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, the lake banned personal motorized boats so it’s the perfect place to hang out lakeside at any time of day. If you don’t feel like being super active, you can simply walk the boardwalk, take one of the cruises (the lake is so big, it looks more like a river), or go bat watching at sunset if you happen to be there between March and November.
Uncommon Objects
This hipster flea market is sort of like the Disneyland of antique shopping. Snap up old neon signs, vintage tech relics, old-school toys, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and so much more. There are 24 on-site antique sellers that can offer you tips and background on the pieces, but you won’t feel pushed to purchase. If you have a love for history (and green shopping), you’ll feel nostalgic as you take your time browsing this mecca of antiques. Throughout the year, on the last Sunday of every month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Uncommon Objects expands their backyard into a flea market where other vendors can participate.
Austin City Limits (ACL) Live at The Moody Theater
Since 1974, the PBS music series Austin City Limits has given performers a platform and viewers an opportunity to watch amazing, full-length performances. For just $6 a person (under five years old are free), this 90-minute music tour lets you go behind the scenes where the longest-running TV music series in our country is taped. You’ll also get exclusive access to ACL Live merch at the end of the tour.
Zilker Summer Musical
Take in a free Broadway-quality outdoor show during this annual event held at the Hill Country Galleria from July-August. You just grab a blanket to sit on the lawn or covered patio seating (which is furthest from the stage). The performance has been a beloved Austin event for the last 62 years and has carved a path for actors who want to make it to Broadway.
