Explore Austin
Austin is Texas with a creative streak — live music, world-famous barbecue and spring-fed pools, all under a 'Keep Austin Weird' spirit. Its music venues and food trailers sprawl across town; Chauffyr links a Franklin brisket lunch, a Barton Springs dip and a South Congress evening in a fixed-price black car.
Live-music culture as the 'Live Music Capital of the World', legendary Texas barbecue, spring-fed swimming holes, and a booming tech scene.
The facts, upfront
The best restaurants in Austin
Franklin Barbecue
Texas BBQ · $$ · East Austin
Aaron Franklin's James-Beard-winning barbecue — widely called the best brisket in Texas, if not America.
Uchi Austin
Japanese · $$$$ · South Lamar
Tyson Cole's flagship contemporary-Japanese restaurant, in a converted South Lamar bungalow.
Loro
Asian smokehouse · $$$ · South Lamar
A collaboration between Franklin and Uchi's Tyson Cole — Texas smoke meets Southeast-Asian flavour.
Matt's El Rancho
Tex-Mex · $$ · South Lamar
A beloved family Tex-Mex institution since 1952, famous for its Bob Armstrong queso dip.
Veracruz All Natural
Tacos · $ · East Austin
The taco truck turned local legend — its migas taco is an Austin breakfast rite.
Home Slice Pizza
Pizza · $ · South Congress
A cult South Congress pizzeria slinging proper New-York-style pies.
What to see in Austin
Texas State Capitol
Downtown
The grand 1888 pink-granite Capitol — taller than the US Capitol in Washington.
Lady Bird Lake & Zilker Park
Zilker
A reservoir ringed by a 10-mile trail beside sprawling Zilker Park — Austin's outdoor heart.
South Congress (SoCo)
South Congress
Austin's most iconic strip — vintage shops, murals, food trailers and a skyline view up Congress Avenue.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
Downtown
At dusk from March to October, up to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats stream from under the bridge.
Barton Springs Pool
Zilker
A three-acre, spring-fed natural swimming pool in Zilker Park, cool and clear year-round.
Bullock Texas State History Museum
Downtown
The state history museum telling 'the Story of Texas' across three engaging floors.
One perfect day in Austin
9:00 · Morning
Texas State CapitolDowntown — The pink-granite dome
11:00 · Late morning
Lady Bird Lake & Zilker ParkZilker — The hike-and-bike trail
13:00 · Lunch
LoroAsian smokehouse · South Lamar — Smoked brisket
15:00 · Afternoon
South Congress (SoCo)South Congress — Boutiques & food trucks
18:00 · Golden hour
Congress Avenue Bridge BatsDowntown — 1.5 million bats at dusk
20:00 · Dinner
Franklin BarbecueTexas BBQ · East Austin — Brisket
Book this day, one chauffeur
One fixed-price car and driver for every stop — no parking, no waiting, no surge.