Austin for Kourtney

This isn’t a top top top recommendation but if you want a fancier/sleek environment with solid “Mexican inspired” food in the downtown area, this is your spot. Good people watching (think: Austin couples with money out for date night). If you want something more casual and affordable they have a good happy hour!

Upscale Mexican — hard to get a reservation but they do walk ups for tables by the bar.

This could just as well be in Brooklyn and I wouldn’t go out of your way. However our friend — a bartender who used to live in Austin — recommended it and we had a very well made cocktail and a generous charcuterie plate. It was cozy and a nice break from the mayhem that was F1 when we were in town.

Why get soup dumplings in Austin when we live in NYC? Well these are really well done regardless of where you are! The ambiance is interesting too … it’s in an old home and kind of feels like you’re in someone’s house. If you are craving Chinese food this is really good!

Just a classic spot for Tex Mex and drinks. People are snobby about the food but it’s more about the ambiance (live music, nice patio) and the queso is good! I wouldn’t come for a meal but I would stop by if you’re around South Congress, which you should end up on at some point.

This is a small pool right in SoCo but a fun spot for a drink and a swim. It’s $25 for non guests (via Resy) which is only worth it if you feel like hanging for a couple of hours. Also you can probably just walk in behind a guest if the hotel without paying.

Upscale Texan food with “open hearth” cooking, this is a good spot for an expense account with a nice per diem. Not *wildly* expensive but it is easily the priciest spot I’ve put on this list.

This is our local friends’ (the owners of La Barbeque) favorite breakfast spot, perfect for hungover micheladas and huevos rancheros. I loved it. Fun fact: LBJ used to eat here, which may be hard to believe considering what an absolute greasy spoon it is.

Friends with the owners so I’m biased but this is incredible BBQ. Leanne is from a BBQ family dynasty and it shows. The lines are ridiculous so I’d order ahead! Everything is amazing but for something unique get the shells & cheese as a side, which is a queso macaroni salad and surprisingly good. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

I love this place! It’s so unique. A public “pool” fed by underground springs, the water averages 68-70 degrees year round making it an always-lovely place for a dip. Open from 5am to 10pm daily so there’s no excuse not to go!