Late Night Things To Do In Austin

A Tour Of Austins Best Spots For Vegetarian Tacos And Sample Sips So Good They Dont Need Booze

Im going to try to support as many restaurants as I can. First, Im gonna go on a vegetarian taco tour starting with Bouldin Creek and Veracruz All Natural. And, since Im celebrating eight months of sobriety, Im looking forward to mocktails at Midnight Cowboy. I also cant wait to get back to hugging. – Robert Bjorn Taylor, Assistant General Manager, ARRIVE Hotels & Restaurants

Scream Out Your Feelings At A Haunted House

House of TormentFor the Tinder date youve spent hours debating the pros and cons of the recent Halloween installment with, House of Torment might just bring you two ghouls together. Talk about a great excuse to jump into the arms of the man of your dreams, without having to define the relationshipand, with three different spooky spaces, theres multiple chances for you to casually brush up against each other. Themes include The Boogeyman, which features the main character from your childhood nightmares, and Operation: Laughing Place, which is probably one to avoid should you want to be able to look at clowns in a positive light ever again. Afterwards, grab a beer and a slice at nearby Little Deli & Pizzeria, and try to discuss some happy topics to, you know, even things out.

Watch The Bats Fly Out From The Congress Bridge

Wondering why there are hundreds of people standing at Congress Bridge at sunset? Over 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats fly out from the Congress Avenue Bridge almost every night. Austin has the largest urban bat colony! Its a pretty incredible sight to watch the bat colony fly out thats worth standing for.

Walk over to the Mexic-Arte Museum to see an evolving collection of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino and Latin American art .

Koko Tip: Go to P6 at the Line Hotel to watch the bats fly out with a cocktail.

Congress Ave

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Enjoy An Outdoor Performance

Enjoy free shows in beautiful outdoor settings around Austin. The annual Zilker Summer Musical offers live theater from July-August on an outdoor stage at the Hill Country Galleria. ACL Radio and the Long Center have teamed up to present a free, weekly outdoor live music series. The Drop-In will showcase a diverse lineup of Austins favorite and emerging artists from May September in the heart of downtown.

Ranch Rider Migas Fest

Everyone knows Austinites are serious about their Tex-Mex, so serious in fact that theres a day-long event dedicated to determining who has the best Migas in town. Hosted by Ranch Rider hard seltzer, five competitors will be serving their Migas all day and attendees will vote on their favorites.

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Wine Bars & Breweries

Austin may be better known for its craft brew obsession than its wine bars, but there are several noteworthy spots in town to grab a great glass of wine and plenty of breweries to pick from. Heres just a smattering of places to get you started:

• House Wine: For great wines that wont break the bank, in a cozy, homey setting, House Wine fits the bill nicely. Sink into a plush armchair, order some charcuterie, and enjoy a glass or two.
• LoLo: Austins first natural wine bar, LoLo is equal parts hip wine shop, bar, and organic wine education hub. To round out the excellent vino selection, there are plenty of gourmet snacks to enjoy, like a crusty baguette with Spanish olive oil, a variety of tinned fish, and a delectable flourless chocolate torte.
• Austin Beerworks: In North Burnet, Austin Beerworks is a local favorite, beloved for its highly popular core brews, sizable outdoor space, and unpretentious vibes.
• Austin Beer Garden Brewery Co.: A friendly, spacious venue with long wooden tables, delicious pizza, and award-winning beerwhat more could you need?

Cook Up Some Together Time With A Meal Kit

Various locationsWe dont blame you if 90% of your dates involve take-out and HBO Maxyoure only human after all. However, one of Table22s new local restaurant kits will allow you to step away from the Postmates for a night and get in some quality bonding timein addition to a home-cooked meal that wont have you grimacing while chewing. Created in response to the devastating toll the pandemic took on the restaurant industry, Table22 sources ingredients and recipe guides from some of Austins favorite places to grab grub. Take the Sojourn Through The South kit from Olamaie that, of course, includes their famous biscuits, or LOca dOros Regional Pasta and Wine Share kits, which will have you cooking with all the confidence of native Sicilian .

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Hang Out At Lalas Little Nugget

A fun, local bar, Lalas Little Nugget is a place to be festive year-round, but everything is stepped up a notch at Christmas. With lights, reindeer, Santa, and music blasting from a vintage jukebox, its not hard to see why Lalas has been an Austin favorite for nearly 50 years. Christmas-themed cocktails like the Snowball and Grandmas Boozy Eggnog, make it the ideal place to get into the holiday spirit.

The Best Things To Do In Austin During The Winter

Think about what makes Austin, Texas, such a great place to visit.

Texas-style barbecue comes to mind, as do live music, rollicking honky-tonks, sprawling South Congress Avenue, and pretty Lady Bird Lake just to name a few.

As winter weather approaches, heres another wonderful thing about the Lone Star States capital city: Most of Austins attractions are just as wonderful in the winter as they are during the more popular spring, summer, and fall seasons only with fewer people, milder temperatures, and lower prices. Add in the warm glow of the holidays, and a wintertime visit to Austin is sounding pretty amazing.

Although Austins weather can get hot and steamy from May through September, the winter months are all but guaranteed to be mild. But that doesnt mean cold: Austins average high temperatures in December are in the mid-60s.

That means that outdoor dining is still a possibility on a warm December afternoon, and the evenings are sure to be briskly cool while you soak up Austins epic Christmas lights and New Years Eve fireworks over the lake.

So, while the hot-weather months get much of the attention, Austin is actually a classic year-round destination.

Here are some of the best things to do in Austin during the winter.

Rudy Mareel / Shutterstock

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Dance The Day And Night Away At Acl Festival

Zilker ParkIts the event Austinites wait for all year-longand the one that inevitably causes your out-of-town friends to hit you up and ask if they can crash at your place. So pull out the air mattress, pre-hydrate, and pack your sunscreen, because its time for the two-week bender that is the Austin City Limits Music Festival. As per usual, the lineup is delivering all the variety weve come to expect over the years. You can go deep in your country feels with legend George Strait, get hungry like the wolf with Duran Duran, and impress your TikTok-loving little cousin by watching Billie Eilish do her thing. And it wouldnt be an Austin party without some local love be sure to catch Austin darlings Black Pumas and give them a big hometown welcome.

Catch A Free Show At Zilker Parks Hillside Theater

While visiting Austin, bypass Broadway in favor of a stunning outdoor amphitheater that hosts musicals, shows, and cultural performances from March-October.

Everything is free and open to the public. You can bring your own blanket or lawn chair and a snack bag or picnic dinner to munch on while you watch.

The iconic Zilker Summer Musical is a highly anticipated event every year. Past productions include classics like The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray, Oklahoma!, and more.

The venue also showcases family movie nights, Shakespeare in the Park, and live music. Make sure to check the schedule before traveling to Austin so you can work a show into your itinerary.

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Be Cute At Austins Rainbow House

Ive died and woke up in Instagram heaven.

Cute Nail Studio actively encourages you to come to see their bright and awesome salon!

This unique rainbow building just off East 6th is a wonder to behold.

Clever marketing by the Cute team and they are kick ass on Insta too.

If youre quite into unique architecture, check out our guide on treehouses in Texas you can book!

• 1211 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Annual Fall Festival Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze At Barton Hill Farms

Barton Hill Farms is one of the most scenic pumpkin patches in Austin with tons of fun for the family! Kids will love exploring the 5-acre corn maze, petting and feeding baby farm animals, taking train rides and hayrides around the farm, bouncing on the jumbo jumping pillow, climbing the Texas-sized tree fort and receiving fall-themed face paintings. The whole family can enjoy live entertainment on the TX Live Music Stage and delicious grub from one of the two restaurants on-site. Adults will love The Apfelwein & Biergarten, a special 21 and older outdoor hangout serving up multiple craft beers and ciders on tap from local breweries. The farm is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from late September to early November.

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Stroll Along Lady Bird Lake

Austins hike and bike trail is bustling come spring/summer.

What better way to blow the city cobwebs away than to hire a bike and pedal along the Colorado River?

This 2-hour sightseeing tour is done via bike and includes a ride along Lady Bird Lake.

Even better, why not hire a paddle board and get in?

During our first and third trip to Austin, we stayed at the HI Hostel which was an absolute steal during Austins South by Southwest festival.

Those who are familiar with the festival will know that accommodation prices triple during the 10-day tech, digital and music festival.

Since the hostel is located by the lake, we walked along the designated path cooing at the cute dogs and dodging the runners to get to the parties in the city.

The lake itself is dominated by kayaks, boats, river bikes, birds and turtles.

A stroll by the lake with the sun on your face is one of the more romantic things to do in Austin so much so, we returned in 2016 to say I do with the lake as our backdrop.

» We eloped to Austin!Read our wedding story here

Frequently Asked Questions And Answers

What are some popular services for escape games?

Some popular services for escape games include:

What are people saying about escape games in Austin, TX?

This is a review for escape games in Austin, TX:

“I don’t want to give away spoilers or the ghost stories of the night, but I will say BOOK YOUR TOUR! You won’t regret it. We spent three hours with Jane and Jolene and stopped at four haunted places. Jane’s storytelling was “hang on every word” legit enthralling. On the hearse tour we could BYOB, but Jane also had soda and water. Jane has photos, an EMF reader, and the best sense of humor. Seriously, what are you waiting for?”

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Jam Out At Austin City Limits

If you happen to be in Austin during ACL but for ACL, good luck. This is the biggest music festival that brings people from all over the world on two consecutive three-day weekends Oct. 6-8 & Oct. 13-15, 2017. If youre not here for ACL, avoid Zilker Park at all costs. If you want to check out, you can usually buy a wristband from someone at the entrance.

If you want to experience live music, visit Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater.

Explore The Cathedral Of Junk

The amount of time Vince has spent putting together this cathedral is mindblowing. There are areas where specific colors are grouped together, lots of random objects that will likely spark nostalgia, as well as multiple staircases leading you to the top of the cathedral, which is three floors high.

How to do it yourself: To visit the Cathedral of Junk, you need to call Vince at 299-7413 to make a reservation. He understandably prefers to not have folks come unannounced, as it is in the backyard of his house.

It took us a couple tries to get through to him, but once we did, he was super friendly and happy to have us. Its a $5 cash donation per person to visit, so make sure to have some cash handy.

If you want to get a true taste of Austins quirky culture and the phrase Keep Austin Weird, the Cathedral of Junk is a must!

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Experience A Free Symphony

Classical music lovers wont want to miss Austin Symphony’s Concerts in the Park, held on the lawn at the Long Center. On Sunday evenings during the summer, bring a lawn chair or blanket and kick back under the stars, listening to classical music while soaking in city skyline views.

SFC Farmers Market. Courtesy of the Sustainable Food Center, credit Buff Strickland.

One Of Austins Best Burgers With A Boilermaker On The Side

I cant wait for the day that I get to sit at the corner of Casino El Camino, with a shot, a beer, and the fattest cheeseburger ever. I miss my bartenders and drink slingers that got me through all those nights working downtown. I long for the day we can get together with my podcast friends at Austin EastCiders. Or grabbing a delicious Brunch at Drinks Lounge on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. What Im most looking forward to though, is absolutely the feeling of a packed house to perform for. When this is all over, lets have a post-show beer together. – BeckiJo Neill, Cast Member, Esthers Follies, Host, Comedians Interviewing Musicians

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Hike Barton Creek Greenbelt

There are several different ways to get into the Greenbelt. My favorite entry point is past Loop 360 off of the Capitol of Texas highway. Hike one hour in and youll be greeted with waterfalls a relief from our humid Texas summers. Watch out for bikers as youre walking on the path . I like walking on the Butler Hike-and-Bike trail boardwalk!

Biscuits At South Congress Cafe

Cant say much for the front of house service. Im assuming the chick who served us our drinks was hungover.

Positively, the waiting servers were super friendly and the biscuits melt in your mouth. South Congress Cafe made it to our best restaurants post. Find out who else managed to take a spot on our Austin foodie bucket list.

• 1600 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

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Get To Know Local Government On A Tour Of The State Capitol

Austin is the state capital of Texas, which means the city is packed with historical sites and seats of government that are well worth a visit.

The most iconic building is the gorgeous red granite State Capitol, home to the offices and chambers of the Texas Legislature and the Governor of Texas.

Tours run regularly from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM on weekdays, as well as 9:30 AM-3:30 PM on Saturday and 12 PM-3:30 PM on Sundays. You can also take a self-guided tour if you prefer.

The visitors center always has fascinating exhibits on display. It offers a more in-depth look into state history and culture, including the Texas Revolution and cowboys.

Other Food Truck Options

If youre a bit taco and BBQed out, there are tons of other food trucks to try! We love:

• Boteco for its flavorful Brazilian street food,

• Via 313 for its authentic Detroit style pizza,

• Paperboy for its tasty breakfast sandwiches, and

• Jewboy Burgers for their juicy, cheesy burgers.

And if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth:

• try one of Gourdoughs Big Fat Donuts,

• the crispy and sweet churros from Churro Co,

• or the soft, fruity shave ice from Sno Beach.

Regardless of which spot you pick during your Austin adventure, we have one important piece of advice: show up hungry! Everythings bigger in Texas.

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Stroll Down The Main Street Of Texas

Austins Congress Avenue is a must-visit at any time of the year, but a winter walk down the street nicknamed the Main Street of Texas has a few things going for it.

For one, the crowds that regularly form on the Congress Avenue Bridge are much smaller.

You probably wont see the famous Mexican free-tailed bats that call the bridge home from spring until fall, but a morning or afternoon visit will still yield a wonderful view of the sparkling Lady Bird Lake. Or, go in the evening to take in a pastel-hued Texas sunset.

On a winter visit to Congress Avenue, youll see the citys 45-foot-tall Christmas tree near the Texas State Capitol. The stately building is visible for blocks on Congress Avenue, and during the holidays, the tree takes center stage with its thousands of LED lights, synchronized holiday music, and snowflake globe at the top.

While youre on Congress Avenue, dont forget to head south a mile or two to the lively section of Austin known as South Congress. There, youll find everything from Austins vaunted Tex-Mex cuisine at Güeros Taco Bar to handcrafted Mexican vanilla ice cream at Amys to virtually any cowboy boots your heart could desire at Allens Boots.

Cindy Barks