My husband and I recently had a little quickie in Austin. Meaning a short weekend getaway, of course. And it was perfection.
We only had two days but decided that next time we need at least three or four to get to everything we wanted to do.
1. Stay a while
By now you probably know that I like a great hotel. People may say that you only sleep there, but if you choose well, you can do so much more. We stayed at the Austin Proper, and I selected it specifically because of the interior design by Kelly Wearstler.
The place was fabulous with a slightly louch je ne sais quoi. It was clubby and hip, and made you want to hang. And people did…after about 6:30, the bar was completely jammed for the night. The rooms were small but well appointed, and the pool and common areas were all a delight. I’ve also heard great things about The Thompson Austin, a Hyatt hotel.
2. So much great food
And sadly, so little time. I really, really wanted to try Otoko, a 12-seat Japanese restaurant that is supposed to be it, but “it” wasn’t meant to be. Instead I tried Barley Swine – and I assure you, it was delicious. It is a prix fixe menu, so a lot of small courses. You think you will be too full for dessert, but don’t skip it. Ours was a corn tres leches cake, and it was one of the best things to cross my palette in a very long time.
For breakfast, we hit Swedish Hill for delicious croissants and the perfect latte. It had great energy, with lots of families and people hanging out at the coffee bar. Plan ahead as the line can be long, but so worth it.
Some of the very best brands include Sferra and Pratesi, but my next set of sheets will be from Tribute Goods. They make beautiful Italian linens and collaborate with artists on their designs. What a special way to spend the night.
There are a few other spots I would happily go back to again and again.
The Grey Market Austin by recent James Beard award winner Mashama Bailey is one. Great comfort food. (I love The Grey in Savannah, and right now I’m reading the book about it titled “The Grey” – interesting insights into the iconic spot.)
ATX Cocina is buzzy and tasty and has great design.
I also really, really liked both The Peacock and La Piscina at The Proper.
3. Shop until you drop
Hands down, my favorite shop was ByGeorge. They carry so many great brands, and many that I’ve never heard of before. The dress in the shop window is by Molly Goddard, and I fell in love with the color.
A friend gave me her insider list before my visit, and she recommended two great spots that will be on my rinse and repeat list: Nest Modern and The Renner Project. Both are fun to visit and full of hip inspo!
You might also hit Kelly DeWitt’s place, KKDW (more of a studio than a shop). It’s an experience. Kelly, a hands on furniture maker who is no stranger to welding, creates custom pieces but also teaches visitors how to make their own! Women wielding power tools…love it!
4. Wear it out
Austin is dead casual, and you can wear pretty much anything you want even in the nicest places. There were lots of incredibly fit people hanging around in their exercise gear, but light linen pants or a little sundress would be more my daytime style.
Some dressing up does happen, but it still has a pretty relaxed feel to it. I found this adorable dress by Vince and it was just right. Light and casual, and super cute with flats. I wore it with a pair of Pedro Garcia satin sneakers and could not have been more comfy. And it goes in the wash! How perfect is that? This dress would also work with a heel and a little jacket when the nights cool down.
5. On the to-do list
A lot of “to do” lists include seeing the bats from the Congress Avenue Bridge. I will be perfectly honest with you and say that this wasn’t for me (really not a fan of the smell of bat guano). I mention it here to point out that there are many worthwhile things I opted not to do this time. Like visiting the capitol. Or go to a single museum.
But what I do highly recommend is to rent a kayak and enjoy Lady Bird Lake from the water. This felt quintessentially Austin to me–taking in the natural beauty and doing something super healthy.
Another favorite activity of mine was discovering local murals. Murals are everywhere nowadays, and Austin has some great ones.
You can book with viator.com and they can show you some gems, or just lace up the sneaks and go. We found loads of murals on our walks around town.
If you have gorgeous weather, Zilker Botanical Garden is a great way to spend a few hours. The Taniguchi Japanese Garden and koi pond are just the start. The butterfly garden and rose garden are lovely.
And on a summer night, try Laguna Gloria, an outdoor sculpture garden (okay, kind of a museum) along Lake Austin. They have extended hours, so you can tour after the sun goes down.
