AWESOME ATX
There are so many reasons to love Hill Country. Whatever you are into – Austin has it. Yes, we all know Austin is the live music capital of the US – but did you also know that you can get your water fix here because - wonderful Lakes everywhere! Yep – these lakes offer watersports and lake life is fun/ lake towns are charming- if you come from the coast you won’t even miss that salt water! In addition to central Texas having affordable waterfront second homes, the ranch life is big here, think Fishing, Hunting, Shooting, etc. The outdoors of ATX offer all kinds of activity - Golf, Tennis, Hiking, Biking, Running, and even the new racket sport Padel, and a huge Pickleball ranch. Culture in so many forms in Austin – my favorite is great food and drink; there are truly incredible restaurants here from fine dining, to little hole-in-the-wall joints- which serve burgers and authentic pizza and many places specializing in Austin’s 2 food groups – Queso and BBQ. Truly Tex-Mex and Tacos shine here and there is no other city that serves it up like Austin.
Many people relocating want to know the “vibe” that the neighborhoods give – and below is simply my perspective.
Neighborhoods
DOWNTOWN
lakeway
OLD ENFIELD
Bouldin Creek - minutes from Lady Bird Lake and Downtown – in the thick of everything! Hotspots: Lenoir & Fresa’s as well as the Food Truck park: Bouldin Creek Acres
Downtown – think high rises and views of the lake – hot restaurants and walk everywhere. Hotspots: Bobs Steak House, Hestia, and Red Ash- 2 of my favorite restaurants in America – not just ATX. FIXE and Olamaie is also fab for upscale southern fare.
Travis Heights – Walking, biking, and running – check out Stacy Park and Blunn Creek Hotspots: ABA, Summer House. Perla’s and Café NoSe on South Congress
Holly/ GoValle – East of the 35 - this area is rising in popularity due to its “creative business” as it boasts a cool community vibe now along with longstanding Austin joints (& multi-million dollar houses pop up daily) Hotspots: Laundrette, La Barbeque
Tarrytown – Long established neighborhood with wide streets and a lot of character- lovely homes!
Rosedale/ Brykerwoods – just north of Downtown with a cool neighborhood vibe and some of my favorite restaurants! Hotspots: Rosedale Kitchen & Bar, Olive & June, and Tiny Boxwoods (Chocolate chip cookies!)
Old Enfield /Pemberton Heights – Historic and charming – think streets lined with majestic trees – some of the most beautiful homes in Austin; the area borders Shoal Creek and Pease Park. Hotspots: Cipollina, Jeffreys (true French), and Josephine House (Steak Frites on Mondays)
Clarksville – yep, everything you could want – walking distance to shops – the BEST restaurants and luxury homes. Hotspots: Swedish Hill, Clarks Oyster Bar (The Lobster roll!) and Lin (Soup dumplings!) and Galaxy Cafe, Cipollina Italian is a must
South Lamar/ Zilker -Eclectic and casual giving out fun vibes with something for everyone. Hotspots: Loro (Asian BBQ Fusion, Elizabeth St. Café (French Vietnamese fusion), and the iconic Matt’s El Rancho (which has the best queso & tacos on the planet)
Hyde Park /Brentwood- From Funky bungalows to large Victorian beautiful homes – these neighborhoods are loaded with character! And loaded with great restaurants. Hotspots: Asti Italian and Antonelli’s Cheese shop (they have events and tastings – truly the best CHEESE Shop in the Southwest).
East Austin – FUNKY and Fun! With great restaurants and hangouts. Hotspots: Juniper and Il Brutto which both have incredible Italian experiences)
Mueller – Urban and it offers incredible walkability – complete with a farmers market, parks and restaurants. Hotspots include Halcyon Coffee, Colleen’s Kitchen and the best Italian all of in TX- L’Oca D’ Oro!
Northwest Hills – Central to everything including downtown, Tech Corridor, tennis and many golf courses and lotsa Hill Country views! Hotspots: Juliet Italian Kitchen Domain + - Fun and urban near the best outdoor mall in the world (just my opinion) as for Hotspots -the Entire Domain has a zillion – personal favorites are MIA Italian Tapas, NORTH, and Sprinkles cupcakes is not too far as it’s at the Domain (which is the best mall with everything.)
Bee Cave /Lakeway – West Austin wrapping around Lake Travis this family-oriented area loaded with golf and tennis/pickle ball and the lake is truly paradise (yep, I am biased as I live in Lakeway and enjoy all it has to offer). Hotspots: Baguette au Chocolat, PLATE (best Tuna Tar-tar!), Santa Caterina for interior Mexico, Nest Indian Kitchen, and Sakura for Sushi, Cookies I love for fresh and frozen cookies that will blow you away!
Westlake/Rollingwood – With Lake Austin to the North, and Downtown east – and lovely Lake Austin weaving through – not to mention some of the most spectacular homes and boasts the best school district in all of TX! Charming restaurants and the lake make the Westlake area the Beverly Hills of Austin. Hotspots: Susiecakes bakery (red velvet cake is off the hook), Jade- incredible dim sum, SWAY Thai.
Spicewood – on the outskirts of Lake Travis as you head west, this area offers more land and spectacular views and homes. Parts of Spicewood are still in Travis County and feed into Lake Travis school district but are less crowded. Hotspots: Sorellina Pizza, It’s all Good BBQ, and OPIE which IMO has the best BBQ in Austin - also the Farmers Market on Sundays has the best vendors - don’t miss The Pretty Farmer for the best honey and marinades.
FOOD AND WINE SCENES
all of the below have been featured in Tiffany’s #tastytuesdaywithTiffany - which is each & every Tuesday!
WU CHOW - DOWNTOWN
CHO - STEINER RANCH
EDDIE V’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE - DOWNTOWN
JOSEPHINE HOUSE - CLARKSVILLE
5 SOULS WINE; BEER & PICKLEBALL -SPICEWOOD
CARPENTERS HALL - DOWNTOWN
HABIBI AT PICNIC BC TRUCKS - BARTON/ZILKER
BLUE DAHLIA - WESTLAKE
VIA 313 DETROIT STYLE PIZZA - OAK HILL OR BEE CAVE
MIA ITALIAN TAPAS - THE DOMAIN
THE WINE CELLAR - LAKEWAY
PLANK - THE DOMAIN
SUGAR MAMAS BAKESHOP
SIENA TOSCANA RISTORANTE
DOC B’S @ THE DOMAIN
PAUL MARTINS @ THE DOMAIN
PERISSOS WINERY *KINGSLAND ON LAKE LBJ
CIPOLLINA ITALIAN - CLARKSVILLE
ASTI ITALIAN - HYDE PARK
34 TH ST CAFÉ - ROSEDALE
GUSTO ITALIAN - BURNET RD - BRENTWOOD
BOBS STEAKHOUE - BARTON CREEK AND DOWNTOWN
GUERROS - SO. CONGRESS
MATT’S EL RANCHO -
CLARK’S OYSTER BAR - CLARKSVILLE
LIN ASIAN - CLARKSVILLE
CASA NOSTRA PIZZA - SPICEWOOD - NOW CLOSED
EASY TIGER - MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
JUNIPER - EASTSIDE
CAROLINE - DOWNTOWN
SWAY - WESTLAKE
SAKURA -LAKEWAY
ELIZABETH STREET CAFÉ
COOKIES I LOVE - LAKEWAY
VERBENA - DOWNTOWN
SWEDISH HILL - CLARKSVILLE
BLUEBONNETT DINER & FRESH PIE - MARBLE FALLS
THE EDGE ROOFTOP BAR - DOWNTOWN
P6 THE LINE HOTEL - DOWNTOWN
DOGHAUS – BRATS AND BEERS - RIVERPLACE
HESTIA - DOWNTOWN
MONGERS FISH MARKET AND KITCHEN - CENTRAL AUSTIN
THE GROVE - MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
ACRE 41 - THE OTIS HOTEL
EMMER AND RYE - DOWNTOWN
VOODOO DONUTS - DOWNTOWN
LAS PALOMAS - WESTLAKE
HOTEL ZAZA ROOFTOP POOL AND BAR - DOWNTOWN
NEST INDIAN KITCHEN - LAKEWAY
CARVE- OFF SOUTHWEST PKWY
CHINATOWN - WESTLAKE
LIN ASIAN - CLARKSVILLE
OLIVE & JUNE ITALIAN KITCHEN - ROSEDALE
1417 - ATX
BLUEFIN RAMEN AND SUSHI - LAKEWAY
EPICERIE - ROSEDALE
HOUSE OF CHEESE *MARBLE FALLS
BUFALINA DUE - BURNET RD
BACKSPACE PIZZA - ANDERSON LANE
PERRY’S STEAK HOUSE - THE DOMAIN
DIA DUE - NORTH AUSTIN
GIOVANNIS TABLE (ITALIAN) - BEE CAVE
40 NORTH PIZZA (NOW CLOSED - May Reopen in 2023)
FAREGROUND AUSTIN (2 BARS, 6 EATERIES, CRAFT COFFEE) - DOWNTOWN
IL BRUTTO - EASTSIDE ATX
ANTONELLIS CHEESE SHOP - CLASSES AND CHEESE AND WINE - HYDE PARK
PATRIZIS ITALIAN - WESTLAKE-ISH - OFF CUERNAVACA
SIMPLY RAMEN & GYOZA - BEE CAVE
L’OCA D ORO ITALIAN - MUELLER
FIXE - DOWNTOWN
EBERLY - DOWNTOWN
LAZY HERON COFFEE HOUSE - KINGSLAND ON LBJ
MONUMENT CAFE - GEORGETOWN
SALTY SOW - EASTSIDE
BETTER HALF COFFEE & COCKTAILS - DOWNTOWN
SAFFRON INDIAN KITCHEN - WESTLAKE
JJIM KOREAN BBQ - AUSTIN LAMAR
FOX TROT - AUSTIN BURNET RD
LING WU ASIAN KITCHEN - SOUTH AUSTIN
THE OG BLACKS BBQ - DOWNTOWN
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC
HOOPERS - KINGSLAND on LBJ
GRACIA TAPAS AUSTIN BURNET RD
BIRD BIRD BISCUIT - NORTH AUSTIN BLACKLAND
RED ASH - DOWNTOWN
ATX COCINA - DOWNTOWN
MAPLE STREET BISCUIT CO. - BEE CAVE
ABBY JANE BAKESHOP - DRIPPING SPRINGS
BALDINUCCI PIZZA- WESTLAKE
TULUM MEXICAN - LAKEWAY
SPREAD & CO - ROSEDALE
UCHI - LAMAR
BOAT TOWN PIZZA - KINGSLAND LBJ
FLOS WINE BAR - TARRYTOWN
MASON’S FAMOUS LOBSTER ROLLS - DOWNTOWN
SHORE RAW BAR & GRILL - OAK HILL
TILLIE’S RESTAURANT AT CAMP LUCY - DRIPPING SPRINGS
BLURRED VINES WINE BAR - EAST AUSTIN - NOW CLOSED
YUKI HAND ROLLS & SUSHI - WESTLAKE
TRATTORIA LISINA - DRIFTWOOD
THE GRAMMERCY - LAKEWAY
BILL’S OYSTERS - DOWNTOWN
WINSTONS COFFEE & PIZZA - LAKEWAY/SPICEWOOD
MORNING GLORY - LAKEWAY
SAN FRANCISCO BAKERY AND CAFE
JEW BOY BURGERS
STELLA SAN JAC
WINSTONS IN 78738
TRULUCKS
NEIGHBORHOOD VINTNER WINE BAR
DECKHAND SEAFOOD
J PRIME STEAKHOUSE
HOUSE OF THREE GORGES CHINESE
LOTUS HUNAN
TILLIE’S AT CAMP LUCY DRIFTWOOD
PICNIK
THE ROSE BAKERY
WILLIAM CHRIS VINEYARD
MALA CHILI
JUNCTION PRIME - KINGSLAND
BRIGHT HOSPITALITY CATERING
JESTER KING BREWERY & PIZZA
ARTIPASTA
YAMAS GREEK
MAIE DAY CHOPHOUSE
BARETTO BISTRO
LAS PALOMAS
TACO DELI
PINTHOUSE PIZZA
NEIGHBORHOOD VINTNER WINE BAR -WESTLAKE
THE HIDEAWAY
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE TO GO?
BRUNCH: Hillside Farmacy, Josephine House, Mattie’s, Suerte, The Wayback, Foreign & Domestic, Eberly
COFFEE MEETINGS: Better Half Coffee & Cocktails, Greater Goods Coffee Co., Hot L Coffee, Halycon, Houndstooth, The Meteor
WORKING LUNCH: Cafe No Se, Hank’s, Spread & Co., Swedish Hill, Jack Allen (many locations), The Grove
BREAKFAST & TACOS: Counter Cafe, Paperboy, TacoDeli (many location) Bird Bird Biscuit, VeraCruz All Natural
QUICK & HEALTHY: Sweetgreen (multiple locations) Baby Greens, Maryes in Westlake, Juiceland, Picnik, Fareground ATX - underground
HAPPY HOUR: Bar Peached, Clark’s Oyster Bar, Hotel San Jose, Lenoir, P6, Carve off Southwest Pkwy, Jeffreys, Carve, Maudies (2 locations)
FAVORITE DINNER: ATX Cocina, Bufalina Due Pizza, Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, Red Ash Italian, Sway, Bobs, J. Carver or Eddie Vs steaks, Josephine House -Monday Steak Frites night, Tiny Boxwoods
FAMILY FRIENDLY: Banger’s, Contigo, Fresa’s Chicken, Loro, Sour Duck Market
SPECIAL OCCASION: Comedor, Emmer & Rye, Il Brutto Italian, Juniper Italian, Jeffrey’s, Olamaie, UCHI sushi
PATIO: Easy Tiger, Juliet Italian Kitchen, Justine’s Brasserie, Ranch 616, Perla’s, Clarks Oyster Bar, Tiny Boxwoods
WATERING HOLES: Central Machine Works, Donn’s Depot, Garage, Whisler’s, The White Horse
STEAKHOUSE: J Prime, J Carver, Eddie Vs, Perry’s Steakhouse (get the pork chop), Bob’s -2 locations
