Best Things to See in Austin (2025)

Austin’s classic room for roots, rockabilly, and country since 1955, praised by the Austin Chronicle and routinely cited by national travel editors. Nightly sets, an intimate stage, and the Gallery upstairs keep South Congress moving.

Family-run honky-tonk offering beginner-friendly two-step lessons and live country. Recognized as a Texas Historical Landmark and celebrated by Eater Austin, it’s a time-capsule dancehall with a tiny museum and classic chicken-fried steak.

Home of the blues since 1975 and celebrating 50 years in 2025, with packed calendars and citywide tributes. Documented by the Austin American-Statesman and the Texas State Historical Association for launching legends and nurturing new talent.

Austin’s signature record store reopened in a larger space with a stage, bar, and in-house audio studios. Covered by the Austin American-Statesman, it remains the place for in-stores, deep-dives, and discovering local sounds.

Texas’s largest independent bookstore and community hub with daily author events, lively book clubs, and a decades-long legacy. Named Bookstore of the Year by Publishers Weekly and beloved by local readers and writers.

A sprawling antiques emporium curated by 24 dealers, celebrated by Condé Nast Traveler for irresistible Americana—from neon to jewelry and oddities. It’s where Austin’s inventive aesthetic meets history you can take home.

The brisket benchmark. Awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand and repeatedly named Texas’s best by Southern Living, this East Side smokehouse still inspires lines, pilgrimages, and big grins.

A masa-driven taqueria with a Michelin Bib Gourmand and a Young Chef Award for Edgar Rico. Praised by Eater and Food & Wine, it pairs heirloom corn technique with vibrant Texas produce and community-minded ethos.

A south Austin beer campus with a live music stage, soccer leagues, family programming, and top-notch food trucks. Frequently spotlighted by local media and collaborators, it’s community-forward fun from afternoon to late.

Sunday market with 120+ vendors, SNAP matching, and kids’ activities. Repeatedly voted Best Farmers’ Market by the Austin Chronicle, it’s a weekly ritual for fresh produce, local bites, and live music.

Locally owned electric-boat cruises timed to the Congress Avenue Bridge bat emergence, complete with skyline views and lively narration. A classic experience often recommended by Southern travel editors.

A 1915 landmark hosting films, concerts, author talks, and Moontower Comedy. Its Summer Classic Film Series—covered by Axios—packs the calendar with hundred-plus screenings in a gloriously restored downtown room.