"Austin is the city that proves creative energy is the most valuable resource in America right now."
Austin has been the most talked-about city in America for a decade, and the conversation shows no sign of slowing. The city has absorbed an extraordinary influx of talent — from Silicon Valley, from New York, from everywhere — and the result is a food scene, a music scene, and a cultural energy that is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the country. The hype, for once, is earned.
The best Austin experience is built around the city's outdoor culture. Swim in Barton Springs, kayak on Lady Bird Lake, eat breakfast tacos on South Congress, and spend the evening moving between live music venues on Sixth Street. The city is most itself outdoors, in the warm Texas evenings, with a cold Lone Star in hand.
"Franklin Barbecue — arrive by 7am. The line forms before the doors open at 11."
TastesOf Editorial
At a Glance
What Not to Miss
6th Street Live Music
Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World — a title it has earned. Sixth Street and the surrounding blocks contain more live music venues per square mile than anywhere in the United States. The range is extraordinary: country, blues, jazz, rock, and everything in between, every night of the week.
Texas BBQ Trail
Central Texas barbecue is one of America's great culinary traditions — and Austin is its capital. Franklin Barbecue remains the benchmark (arrive by 7am; the line forms before the doors open at 11). La Barbecue and Terry Black's are excellent alternatives with shorter waits.
South Congress Avenue
Austin's most characterful street — a mile of independent restaurants, vintage clothing stores, bookshops, and music venues stretching south from the Colorado River. The breakfast tacos at Juan in a Million are legendary.
Barton Springs Pool
A natural spring-fed swimming pool in Zilker Park, maintained at a constant 68°F year-round. Swimming in Barton Springs on a hot Austin afternoon — surrounded by pecan trees, with the city skyline visible in the distance — is one of the great urban pleasures in America.
SXSW (March)
South by Southwest — the world's most important music, film, and technology festival — takes over Austin every March. The official programming is excellent; the unofficial showcases and parties are where the real discoveries happen.
The Blanton Museum of Art
The University of Texas's art museum houses one of the finest collections in the American South — particularly strong in Latin American art and European Old Masters. The Ellsworth Kelly chapel on the museum grounds is one of the most beautiful spaces in Texas.
Where to Stay
Hotel Saint Cecilia
Boutique IconThe most romantic hotel in Austin — a collection of bungalows and suites set around a pool in South Congress, with a music-inspired design and a guest list that reads like a festival lineup. Adults only.
Four Seasons Austin
LuxuryThe finest full-service hotel in the city — on the banks of Lady Bird Lake, with a pool deck that overlooks the water and the Austin skyline. The best base for business and leisure travellers alike.
The LINE Austin
Design HotelA beautifully designed hotel on the shores of Lady Bird Lake, with kayak rentals, a rooftop pool, and a restaurant that is one of the best in the city. The most design-forward hotel in Austin.
The Verdict
America's most creative city — eat the barbecue, swim in the springs, and stay for the music.