Where to stay

Downtown is the best place to find historic, distinctive lodging in Austin—not to mention a front-row seat for all the action in town.


The Driskill Hotel

604 Brazos Street; 512-474-5911; driskillhotel.com


This lovingly restored landmark, built in 1886 in the heart of downtown, is a destination unto itself for discerning fans of historic grand hotels.


The Four Seasons

98 San Jacinto Boulevard; 512-478-4500; fourseasons.com/austin

A downtown lodging with the air of an exclusive resort, this expansive complex on Lady Bird Lake takes extraordinary care of its guests. Everything is exceptional, from the outdoor pool to the spa to the food.


Hotel San José

1316 South Congress Avenue; 512-444-7322 or 800-574-8897; sanjosehotel.com

The epitome of postmodern style, these restored 1930s bungalows wed high-tech touches with minimalist flair. The proprietors have mastered the art of pampering guests.


The Mansion at Judges’ Hill

1900 Rio Grande Street; 800-311-1619; mansionatjudgeshill.com

This stylish boutique hotel is housed in a 1900 classical revival mansion near the University of Texas, just north of downtown. An ideal romantic getaway, it’s also home to a small, superb fine-dining restaurant.

Where to eat

Food—cooking it, eating it, ordering it and seeking out more of it—is a major preoccupation for Austinites. Barbecue primarily means beef brisket (the purists eschew sauce), sausage, ribs (both beef and pork) and sometimes pork loin. Tex-Mex and barbecue will always rule, but the rest of the world is making greater inroads daily. Interior Mexican dining is well established, and you can also find decent Thai, vegetarian, Chinese, Italian and Brazilian eateries.


Fonda San Miguel

2330 West North Loop Boulevard; 512-459-4121; fondasanmiguel.com

For more than 30 years, this fabulously designed and decorated North Austin restaurant has been the city’s leading proponent of Interior Mexican cuisine.
It’s pricey but worth it.


Güero’s Taco Bar

1412 South Congress Avenue; 512-447-7688; guerostacobar.com

This friendly and now historic taco joint sports decor and photos from the Mexican Revolution. In addition to a traditional self-serve salsa bar, Duero’s offers sidewalk dining, a bright and airy enclosed patio and a private garden where you can enjoy fresh, authentic Interior Mexican dishes!


Jeffrey’s

1204 West Lynn Street; 512-477-5584; jeffreysofaustin.com

This established bistro is one of Austin’s fine-dining pioneers. Executive chef Alma Alcocer oversees a staff that works hard to ensure the restaurant continues to live up to its critical praise and awards.


The Roaring Fork

701 Congress Avenue; 512-583-0000; eddiev.com

Located on the ground floor of the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, this popular white-tablecloth eatery specializes in grilled and roasted meats and fish prepared with Southwestern flair, all bursting with flavor.