Crossed off a new state on the bucket list this week: Texas! Touched down in Austin after a long travel day for a busy (and fun) work trip for a client at SXSW. Most of the trip was dedicated to supporting this client, but we still made time for fun. Keep reading for my mini Austin travel guide.
WHERE WE STAYED
We stayed at the cutest Airbnb that my coworker booked, and after staying here, I would highly recommend for your next trip to Austin! The Cherrywood Palace is a guest house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and it was amazing. It was decorated so beautifully and the host was so accommodating. There’s even a heated pool and hot tub outside if you get a chance to use it!
Also – I’ve never had a hosted hotel or Airbnb stay for a trip but I am considering this blog post me manifesting that one day!
FOOD + DRINK RECOMMENDATIONS
For the most part, we explored East Austin and South Congress. Our activation was on Brazos so we went to a few spots there as well. Overall, we just followed my coworker’s recommendations because she used to live in Austin!
Velvet Taco
On our first full day, Shaydah and I didn’t get a chance to stop for food until around 4PM, and we knew we wanted something nearby, convenient and delish. We decided to stop at Velvet Taco which is a chain that started in Dallas and has since expanded to a few states. I wasn’t eating meat since it was a Friday in Lent, but their vegetarian menu was so flavorful. I grabbed their combo which was two tacos, a side and a fountain drink. The buffalo cauliflower taco was delicious but I can’t stop thinking about the fried paneer. So unique and would be worth trying even if you typically eat meat!
ATX Cocina
We were able to eat at our activation most days, but a few times we needed to grab food elsewhere. On Sunday, we stopped by ATX Cocina for a late snack before grabbing dinner and split a few appetizers. This place was amazing. The hamachi crudo was some of the best I’ve ever had, and the guacamole and queso fundido were just as delicious. So recommend coming by here if you get a chance—just don’t skip that hamachi!
Salty Sow
Our coworker who used to live in Austin made a few dinner reservations, and Salty Sow was one of her favorites! We came here for dinner one night and I had one of my favorite dishes of the trip: sweet and spicy chicken bites with a blue cheese cole slaw. We also split the duck fat fries and truffle deviled eggs. Those deviled eggs were so good… I will be dreaming of them.
Café No Sé
After a full day at our activation, we spent a few hours on South Congress popping in and out of stores. We were starving so we found a place along the way for a light bite, and it was the exact thing we needed after a lot of walking around. We started with the malt fries which were my favorites of the trip, and I ordered their seasonal chicken tortilla soup. It was one of the most refreshing chicken tortilla soups ever! It had a cilantro crema and pieces of avocado throughout, and even though sometimes a soup makes me feel super full and heavy, it was actually really light.
Perla’s
I can never skip the chance to have a few oysters on a sunny day, so Shaydah and I had a snack there. I asked for a half-dozen of their most popular oysters and a side of the fries and wow. They had a variety of oysters from Canada, Massachusetts and Prince Edward Island. This patio was so dreamy for a warm afternoon.
Stubb’s BBQ
Obviously I had to get some barbecue while I was in Texas, and on our last full night, a coworker and I went to Stubb’s. This is their original location, and the barbecue didn’t taste too different from what I’m used to in Alabama, but it hit the spot. I got a pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese and potato salad on the side, and it was really the perfect meal to end the trip.
Quickie Pickie
On our way to the airport, we stopped by Quickie Pickie for a coffee and breakfast taco. We all got the avocado taco that had beans, cheese and avocado, and it was the best final bite of Texas! This was a fun 24/7 bodega with a full menu, coffee, beer and grab-and-go products. I got an iced vanilla latte here too which was pretty good but not the best of the trip.
COFFEE SHOP RECOMMENDATIONS
Revolución
What kind of Austin travel guide would this be without a few coffee shops? I loved Revolución so much I grabbed it twice! Their signature latte with a lavender honey was my favorite, but we also grabbed fresh-pressed juices there one day.
Houndstooth
I’ve never had so much caffeine in my life, but we were working (speaking with attendees and capturing content) for long hours every day, so I kept wanting more of it! On one day, I took a break to find a vanilla matcha latte and stumbled upon Houndstooth Coffee. It has no affiliation with Nick Saban or the Crimson Tide (lol), and it was actually one of the best matchas I’ve had. So much matcha and not watery at all!
Civil Goat
This coffee shop was a quick walk from our Airbnb so I spent one morning caffeinating and working there. I went classic with an iced vanilla latte and ended up grabbing a brunch salad too after working for a few hours. If you live in Austin, I’m jealous of this patio situation! The doors were open and you could feel the fresh air from outside. It was truly just the perfect morning setup.
AUSTIN TRAVEL GUIDE: WHAT TO WEAR
One of the things I was most excited about for this trip: the fashion! South by has so many different vibes, so I knew I pretty much couldn’t go wrong with any style, but I was really excited to bring some fun outfits. Here were a few of my favorite things I packed:
- Comfortable, cute tennis shoes: I wore a comfortable, colorful pair of Sam & Libby tennis shoes every single day and was so impressed with how comfortable they were! Austin has so much walking around that I’d recommend using your cowboy boots for cute photos but sticking with comfy tennis shoes for your day-to-day.
- Fun jumpsuits: My most-complimented outfit was a jumpsuit, and it’s also so easy because you’re not choosing multiple pieces.
- Neck scarves: If you love a bandana tied around your neck or purse, this is definitely the place to pull them out. I love purchasing bandanas as a souvenir, and this was the perfect place to wear them.
Thank you for reading my Austin travel guide! This was a work trip but I’m already itching to go back to Austin… maybeee for a much longer time next time, haha. It was truly my ideal city: tons to do, color everywhere, and friendly and welcoming people on every corner!
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