Curator’s statement
I grew up in Houston, which means Austin is the place we drove up to for birthdays, long weekends, and any excuse to round up the group. Over the years, I have learned that the Austin worth visiting lives a few turns off the tourist trail: in spring-fed swimming holes, in East Austin taquerias grinding their own masa, and out where the Hill Country wine country begins. This guide is built for crews, because Austin is at its best when you take it on together. Bring your people, and let’s make it a proper Texas weekend.
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Things to do in Austin, TX
Views from Mount Bonnell on an early fall afternoon.
Cool off in the Barton Creek Greenbelt
The closest thing Austin has to a wild backyard, the greenbelt boasts miles of limestone trail wind along Barton Creek, with swimming holes like Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls that fill in after a good rain. Go as a group with water shoes and a dry bag, claim a flat rock, and spend the afternoon swimming and scrambling. Water levels shift with the seasons, so check recent conditions before you go, since the holes can run low in late summer. It is free, central, and feels a world away from the city.
Paddle Lady Bird Lake, then sprawl in Zilker Park
Lady Bird Lake sits right downtown, and renting kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards is one of the best ways to take in the skyline as a group. Paddle past the cypress trees and the Congress Avenue bridge, then trade the water for the grass at neighboring Zilker Park. Zilker is Austin’s communal front lawn, ideal for a picnic, a frisbee, and some of the best people-and-dog-watching in Texas. If the heat climbs, the spring-fed Barton Springs Pool inside the park stays a constant 68 to 70 degrees year round. Pack a cooler, bring a blanket, and let the afternoon unspool.
Catch the sunset from Mount Bonnell
Mount Bonnell is one of the highest points in Austin, and climbing its short stone staircase rewards you with a sweeping view over Lake Austin and the hills beyond. It is a quick stop rather than a hike, which makes it easy to fold into a group’s day. Time it for golden hour and watch the light go pink over the water. Parking is limited along the road, so carpool or rideshare if you can—or come early. It has been a local lookout for well over a century, and the view explains why.
Find the prairie at Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park
Commons Ford is a 215 acre park west of the city with a beautifully restored native prairie that explodes with wildflowers and grassland birds in spring. There is a wide open field that rolls down to Lake Austin, a dock for fishing, historic ranch buildings, and shaded trails, all of it free and rarely crowded. Bring a wagon for your coolers since it is a bit of a walk to the water, and arrive before midday on weekends if you want a picnic table. For a group that wants nature without the tourist crowds, this is my quiet favorite.
Browse Downtown's small museums
Mexic-Arte and Brush Square When the Texas heat sends you indoors, downtown holds two small museums I love. Mexic-Arte Museum on Congress Avenue is the official Mexican and Mexican American fine art museum of Texas, with rotating exhibitions and a Día de los Muertos celebration each fall that is one of the largest in the country. A few blocks away, the free Brush Square Museums preserve the former home of writer O. Henry alongside the home of Alamo survivor Susanna Dickinson. Both are quick, characterful, and easy to pair on a single downtown stroll. Admission is modest at Mexic-Arte and free at Brush Square.
Shop and brunch on South Congress
South Congress, or SoCo, is Austin’s most walkable stretch for a group morning. Start with brunch, then drift in and out of the vintage shops, boutiques, and Texas-made goods stores that line the avenue, with the Capitol framed in the distance behind you. It is people-watching at its finest, and there is enough variety that everyone in the group finds something. Weekend late mornings are liveliest, so expect a happy crowd. Wear comfortable shoes and give yourselves a few unhurried hours.
Make a day of Texas Hill Country wine
West of Austin, the rolling Hill Country has quietly become one of the country’s fastest growing wine regions, and a day trip out is one of my favorite group plans. Around Fredericksburg and the Highway 290 wine trail, I love the Tuscan-style estate at Grape Creek Vineyards, the European grandeur of Barons Creek Vineyards, and the soaring two-story timber tasting room at Augusta Vin. Hire a shuttle or designate a driver so everyone can relax, and have your travel advisor make reservations ahead of time for any group over six, since tastings fill up on weekends. If your crew would rather hike than sip, swap in a climb up the massive pink granite dome at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, one of the most beautiful spots in Texas. Either way, it is worth the drive.
Wander the Bee Cave Sculpture Park
On your way out toward the Hill Country, the Bee Cave Sculpture Park is a lovely and unexpected stop. Spread across seven wooded acres with a spring-fed pond and some of the area’s oldest oak trees, it holds dozens of rotating and permanent sculptures along easy walking trails. It is free, open from sunrise to sunset, and welcomes leashed dogs, which makes it an easy add for almost any group. Give yourselves an hour to wander, then continue on to lunch or a winery. It is the kind of small local treasure most visitors never hear about.
Zipline over Lake Travis
About forty-five minutes from downtown, this promising group adventure is not to be missed. The three-hour tour includes five ziplines, with the final stretch launching you off a cliff and across more than half a mile of Lake Travis on the longest and fastest zipline in Texas. Between lines, two guides lead short Hill Country hikes, and the price includes the boat ride out plus all-day access to a private lakefront spot with hammocks and swimming. It is a real team-building day, equal parts adrenaline and scenery. Book ahead, wear closed-toe shoes, and note the weight limit when you reserve.
Pick your night out
Sixth Street or Rainey Street Austin’s nightlife has something for everyone, with the two most popular options decidedly asking what vibe you’re going for. Sixth Street, especially the historic “Dirty Sixth” stretch and the adjacent Red River music district, is loud, lively, and built for live music and dancing, and I love ending a big night on the floor at Barbarella, a beloved dance club known for its theme nights. Rainey Street is the dressier, mellower counterpart, a row of converted bungalow houses turned into craft cocktail bars with string-lit patios, and it shines for a more relaxed evening or a Sunday afternoon. Pick one as your home base, since both are walkable and close to downtown hotels.
Places to eat & drink in Austin, TX
BBQ smoke: Austin's unofficial dinner bell. Photo by Gabriel Tovar
Suerte (East Austin)
This is my pick for a celebratory group dinner, a Michelin Guide Mexican restaurant built around house-made masa from heirloom corn. The suadero tacos with confit brisket are the signature, the mezcal list runs deep, and the patio over East Sixth makes any night feel like a fiesta. Reserve ahead and plan to share.
Terry Black's Barbecue (Barton Springs Road)
No Austin group trip is complete without a tray of Central Texas barbecue, and Terry Black's delivers the goods without the legendary lines of some of its rivals. Pile your tray with moist brisket, a giant beef rib, and jalapeño cheddar sausage, add the mac and cheese, and creamed corn, and grab a picnic table outside. It is communal, casual, and exactly what barbecue with a crew should be.
Siti (East Austin)
Tucked into the base of the Frances Modern Inn, Siti is a Michelin-recognized Southeast Asian restaurant from chef Laila Bazahm, whose menu draws on Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and her own Filipino heritage. Nearly everything is designed to be shared, which makes it one of my favorite group spots in town, from the wagyu spring rolls to the duck-confit wok-fried noodles. The room can get lively, so ask about the patio if you want to hear each other.
Casa Bianca (East Cesar Chavez)
Here you’ll find delicious, playful, inventive Italian small plates made for grazing across a table. Come for oysters, cocktails (or mocktails) and snacks, settle in, and head up to the rooftop bar, Bar Alcina, when the weather is nice. It is more of a graze-and-sip spot than a sit-down feast, which suits a social group nicely.
Bureau de Poste (Hyde Park)
Set inside a restored Hyde Park post office, this charming French bistro from Top Chef alum Jo Chan does classics like steak frites, French onion soup, and escargot with real care. The large string-lit patio is a beautiful move for a group on a nice evening. Reserve ahead, since the indoor room is cozy.
Uchiko (North Lamar)
A local institution from James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole, Uchiko serves some of the most inventive Japanese cooking in Texas, from cool tastings to seasonal omakase. For groups, the 3-6-9 happy hour is a smart and lively way in, and the private dining rooms handle parties large and small. Reserve in advance.
Nixta Taqueria (East Austin)
Chef Edgar Rico won a James Beard Award for the inventive tacos and tostadas he turns out here, from duck carnitas to a now-famous roasted beet “tartare” tostada on fresh heirloom corn tortillas. It is small and beloved, so it is best for a smaller group, though they do take patio and private buyout requests for larger parties. Go hungry and order widely.
Hanghart (Downtown)
This lush, plant-filled downtown bar and restaurant has become a local obsession largely thanks to one item: a smoked-chicken kale Caesar wrap gone viral that lives up to the hype. The big menu and easy, leafy room make it a fun, low-key group stop for lunch or drinks. Order the wrap, obviously.
Gangnam Korean BBQ (South Austin)
For an interactive group dinner, this all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue spot lets everyone grill premium meats right at the table, with banchan, soups, and noodles included. It is spacious, lively, and made for big tables, and you must order the ribeye. If your group wants hot pot too, KPOT nearby lets you do barbecue and hot pot at the same table. If you’ve never tried either, you’re in for a treat.
Proud Mary (South Lamar)
This Australian-owned cafe brings serious Melbourne-style coffee together with a seriously good all-day brunch, from the roti and scrambled eggs to the hotcakes. The bright, high-ceilinged room and large patio give a group space to spread out, though weekends get busy, so go early or on a weekday. It is my pick for a great cup of coffee and for a slow morning before the day gets going.
Need to know
Austin is easy to take on as a group, but a little planning goes a long way. The most walkable, group-friendly home base is downtown, near Rainey and Sixth Streets and a short ride from South Congress and East Austin, where most of the restaurants above are clustered. That said, a more intimate stay outside of the city at the Inn at Green Pastures—and their charming on-site restaurant, Mattie's, which serves a brunch worth the trip alone—offers a quieter retreat beneath centuries-old oak trees. There is truly something for everyone in this city.
Summers are hot, which is exactly why the swimming holes, lakes, and Barton Springs are such a gift. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, and they are also festival season, so if you are coming during SXSW in March or Austin City Limits in October, book restaurants and hotels well in advance and expect higher rates.
Rideshares are plentiful in the core, but you will want a designated driver or a hired shuttle for the Hill Country wine country and the Lake Travis day trips, which sit thirty to forty-five minutes out.
For larger groups, call ahead about private dining and patios, since several of my favorite spots are intimate. If you would like, I can build a full day-by-day itinerary around your group’s size, dates, and vibe, and handle the reservations and hotel bookings for you. Let’s plan your unforgettable trip to Austin!
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Elizabeth Gonzalez
Elizabeth Gonzalez
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