Penn Alley Area Recommendations
Food scene
A ten minute walk from the house. Great for beer, wine and sandwiches. They have a deli-like set up for dining-in, or you can order ahead and pickup. quickiepickieaustin(dot)com
352 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Quickie Pickie
2027 E Cesar Chavez StA ten minute walk from the house. Great for beer, wine and sandwiches. They have a deli-like set up for dining-in, or you can order ahead and pickup. quickiepickieaustin(dot)com
Two blocks south of us. Great bagel sandwiches for the a.m. Order online and pickup. https://www.rockstarbagels.com/
88 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rockstar Bagels
1900 Rosewood AveTwo blocks south of us. Great bagel sandwiches for the a.m. Order online and pickup. https://www.rockstarbagels.com/
This is one of our favorite spots for day drinking when the weather's nice. They have a large outdoor area with tables and umbrellas where you can chat and people watch. They often have music and pop-up shopping on the weekends. Prepare to work for your parking space or park down the street and walk. I don't really drink beer these days, but we like to get a bottle of champagne and enjoy it with a bratwurst. I would imagine the house draft beers are great, though.
138 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Central Machine Works
4824 E Cesar Chavez StThis is one of our favorite spots for day drinking when the weather's nice. They have a large outdoor area with tables and umbrellas where you can chat and people watch. They often have music and pop-up shopping on the weekends. Prepare to work for your parking space or park down the street and walk. I don't really drink beer these days, but we like to get a bottle of champagne and enjoy it with a bratwurst. I would imagine the house draft beers are great, though.
Our favorite spot for Mexican food. The restaurant is in an old house on sixth and has a surprisingly large selection of Mezcals for the size of the bar. I highly recommend a reservation. Sit inside or out front, as the back patio is a little rough, and for the love of god order the Queso Fondido Chorizo.
198 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Licha's Cantina
1306 E 6th StOur favorite spot for Mexican food. The restaurant is in an old house on sixth and has a surprisingly large selection of Mezcals for the size of the bar. I highly recommend a reservation. Sit inside or out front, as the back patio is a little rough, and for the love of god order the Queso Fondido Chorizo.
This is a really popular taco truck. We usually call ahead with our order, as the wait can be up to 30 minutes. My husband likes the Migas Poblanos taco a lot, while I go with El Diferente because I love mushrooms. They have picnic tables for dining, and a juice/smoothie bar, too.
314 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Veracruz All Natural Food Truck
2505 Webberville RoadThis is a really popular taco truck. We usually call ahead with our order, as the wait can be up to 30 minutes. My husband likes the Migas Poblanos taco a lot, while I go with El Diferente because I love mushrooms. They have picnic tables for dining, and a juice/smoothie bar, too.
Upscale Mexican. This is the kind of restaurant that gets the fancy folk from the west side of town over to the east side. Reservations absolutely required. They have valet, but you might as well Lyft.
151 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fried and True Food Truck
1308 E 6th StUpscale Mexican. This is the kind of restaurant that gets the fancy folk from the west side of town over to the east side. Reservations absolutely required. They have valet, but you might as well Lyft.
If you're with us for a longer stay and adventurous in the kitchen, you might the nearby Poco Loco, which caters to those in search of authentic Mexican groceries.
Poco loco Supermercado #8
1148 Airport BlvdIf you're with us for a longer stay and adventurous in the kitchen, you might the nearby Poco Loco, which caters to those in search of authentic Mexican groceries.
Walk-up counter service with all outdoor seating. This is one of our favorite places for a casual dinner. We like the roast chicken, brussel sprouts and cuban sandwich. They have events during the week like trivia night and movie night. Also, 1/2 price bottles of wine on Tuesday.
55 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lou’s
1900 E Cesar Chavez StWalk-up counter service with all outdoor seating. This is one of our favorite places for a casual dinner. We like the roast chicken, brussel sprouts and cuban sandwich. They have events during the week like trivia night and movie night. Also, 1/2 price bottles of wine on Tuesday.
A laid-back spot about a 10 min walk away. They serve beer, wine and coffee drinks out of a 30's bungalow, with picnic tables out back and a friendly, neighborhood vibe. Micklethwait Craft Meats (see the entry in guestbook) trailer is on the property, and all in all, it's a great destination for casual dining and drinks.
Saddle Up Austin
1309 Rosewood AvenueA laid-back spot about a 10 min walk away. They serve beer, wine and coffee drinks out of a 30's bungalow, with picnic tables out back and a friendly, neighborhood vibe. Micklethwait Craft Meats (see the entry in guestbook) trailer is on the property, and all in all, it's a great destination for casual dining and drinks.
People ask all the time, is it worth it to stand in line for Franklin's BBQ? The answer is maybe, but why bother when Micklethwait is just a few blocks away with super tasty meats, dynamite sides and a great space behind Saddle Up to enjoy it all. Be warned, Micklethwait, too, often sells out, but it's a safer bet than Franklin's and the line is only rarely nuts. Be sure to order the barbacoa and the grits.
215 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Micklethwait Craft Meats
1309 Rosewood AvePeople ask all the time, is it worth it to stand in line for Franklin's BBQ? The answer is maybe, but why bother when Micklethwait is just a few blocks away with super tasty meats, dynamite sides and a great space behind Saddle Up to enjoy it all. Be warned, Micklethwait, too, often sells out, but it's a safer bet than Franklin's and the line is only rarely nuts. Be sure to order the barbacoa and the grits.
Our current fave taco truck. You can order ahead for pick up. They have a few picnic tables there, or you can carry your tacos a few doors down to Saddle Up and have a drink. It's about a 15 minute walk from the apartment. Be aware: These tacos come with pine apple, so if that's not your thing, take care to adjust your order accordingly.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Discada
1319 Rosewood AveOur current fave taco truck. You can order ahead for pick up. They have a few picnic tables there, or you can carry your tacos a few doors down to Saddle Up and have a drink. It's about a 15 minute walk from the apartment. Be aware: These tacos come with pine apple, so if that's not your thing, take care to adjust your order accordingly.
A bit of an old school-style bar. Small and bustling. The burgers are basic but good and the tater tots are the best ever. Thursday is $1 burger night and the first Tuesday of every month is steak night. They have lots of fancy cocktails, but I'm a fan of the boilermaker: A cold draft beer and a shot of whiskey.
97 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nickel City
1133 E 11th StA bit of an old school-style bar. Small and bustling. The burgers are basic but good and the tater tots are the best ever. Thursday is $1 burger night and the first Tuesday of every month is steak night. They have lots of fancy cocktails, but I'm a fan of the boilermaker: A cold draft beer and a shot of whiskey.
Unique & Intriguing
Just a collection of random ideas and experiences
If you want a photo more special than a selfie by which to remember your visit to Austin, book a portrait with Lumiere. The process is fun and the result is unique. We love ours. The Lumiere trailer is on the grounds of Justine's Brasserie, which is a great restaurant and a scene of its own. Make a reservation for dinner around your portrait time and make an evening of it.
Lumiere Tintype Photography
4710 E 5th StIf you want a photo more special than a selfie by which to remember your visit to Austin, book a portrait with Lumiere. The process is fun and the result is unique. We love ours. The Lumiere trailer is on the grounds of Justine's Brasserie, which is a great restaurant and a scene of its own. Make a reservation for dinner around your portrait time and make an evening of it.
Think Cirque de Soleil. Arial acrobatics and pole dancing. I've personally never done it, but my teenage daughter loves the silks. The offer classes in series and on a drop-in basis. Also, the complex in which it's located houses quite a few galleries and sundry shops. Make an afternoon out of it.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sky Candy
1023 Springdale RoadThink Cirque de Soleil. Arial acrobatics and pole dancing. I've personally never done it, but my teenage daughter loves the silks. The offer classes in series and on a drop-in basis. Also, the complex in which it's located houses quite a few galleries and sundry shops. Make an afternoon out of it.
Super fun (if you think throwing sharp, heavy objects is fun) and sooo much harder than you'd think. And just to add to the madness, BYOB.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Urban Axes Austin
812 Airport BlvdSuper fun (if you think throwing sharp, heavy objects is fun) and sooo much harder than you'd think. And just to add to the madness, BYOB.
Sightseeing
This recently re-imagined green space near the capital makes for a nice stroll. They also host concerts and special events, so keep your eye on their site for current information. https://waterloogreenway.org/
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Waterloo Park
500 E 12th StThis recently re-imagined green space near the capital makes for a nice stroll. They also host concerts and special events, so keep your eye on their site for current information. https://waterloogreenway.org/
Music
monks jazz club
501 Pedernales StreetImprovisational jazz your thing? Check Monks calendar.
Fun, hipster honky-tonk. They host lots of live music in the Amereican and country-western vein. They have lots of two-step lessons, too. Check their website for free, happy-hour music.
672 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The White Horse
500 Comal StFun, hipster honky-tonk. They host lots of live music in the Amereican and country-western vein. They have lots of two-step lessons, too. Check their website for free, happy-hour music.
Music nightly. It's, more often than not, local bands with a indie rock edge. However, they do host the occasional touring act or more singer/songwriter. They have a wacky patio out back and tend to do food specials See website.
193 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
HOTEL VEGAS
1502 E 6th StMusic nightly. It's, more often than not, local bands with a indie rock edge. However, they do host the occasional touring act or more singer/songwriter. They have a wacky patio out back and tend to do food specials See website.