Tips for visiting Austin, Texas
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
From
DINING
Tex-Mex is the word here, but that's not all. Guero's Taco Bar (512-447-7688; www.guerostacobar.com) has great margaritas and traditional dishes. Around-the-clock Austin chain Kerbey Lane (www.kerbeylanecafe.com) serves killer queso, plus modern diner fare. The Salt Lick (512-858-4959; www.saltlickbbq.com) has been serving BBQ since 1969; there's even an outpost of it at the airport. For standard American food, South Congress Cafe (512-447-3905; www.southcongresscafe.com) does wonders with both brunch and dinner options, while its upscale comfort-food neighbor, Woodland (512-441-6800; www.woodlandaustin.com), is worth visiting for the decor alone. For burgers, Hut's (512-472-0693) is a must. It opened as a drive-through in 1939 and serves 20 different kinds of burgers, and the best onion rings on earth.
LODGING
Downtown Austin is home to the requisite chains, but the kitschy Austin Motel (512-441-1157; www.austinmotel.com; rooms from $86/night) in the hip South Congress 'hood is a 70-year-old establishment. Next door is the tastefully minimalist boutique-style Hotel San Jose (512-444-7322; www.sanjosehotel.com; doubles from $95 / night). (For more on Hotel San Jose, see Page 12.)
WHERE TO HEAR MUSIC
Everywhere, really. Some suggestions: In the Red River District: Stubb's Bar-B-Que (512-480-8341; www.stubbsaustin.com), Emo's (512-477-3667; www.emosaustin.com).
South Congress: Continental Club (512-441-2444; www.continentalclub.com), Ego's (512-474-7091), Guero's Taco Bar (info above), Jo's (512-444-3800; www.joscoffee.com).
South Austin: The Broken Spoke (512-442-6189; www.brokenspokeaustintx.com).
East Austin: Scoot Inn (512-478-6200; www.eastinns.com).
North Burnet: Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon (512-458-1813; www.musicroom.org/ginnys).
INFORMATION
Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-926-ACVB; www.austintexas.org. For an extensive list of which bands are playing when and where, check out www.do512.com.
—Lauren Viera
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