Be sure to bring your appetite when you come to Austin, as you’ll quickly find out there’s a lot to sip, sample and savor everywhere you go. From craft beers and creative cocktails to melt in your mouth brisket and savory breakfast tacos, we’ve got what you’re craving. Take it all in with this weekend itinerary. 

people dining family style around table at suerte in austin texas
Courtesy of Suerte.

Friday

Kick start your weekend with a must-try Austin specialty: breakfast tacos. Grab a flavorful chorizo and egg taco from the legendary Juan in a Million (offering takeout and local delivery), or grab a picnic table at one of Veracruz All Natural's food trailers, famous for its migas stuffed with eggs, tortilla chips, avocado, pico de gallo and Monterey jack cheese (online ordering for takeout available).   

Enjoy the outdoors (and maybe work off some of your breakfast) with an easy stroll along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, an urban green space along the scenic shoreline of Lady Bird Lake. Once you’ve worked up your appetite again, walk right on over to The Picnic, an outdoor food truck park offering a variety of local food trailers and plenty of spaced-out picnic tables. Must tries include Coat & Thai and The Mighty Cone.

After lunch, spend some time at Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool, where you can either take a dip in the cool waters or just relax on the grassy shoreline. Spend the rest of your afternoon sightseeing on an East Austin Cocktail & Bites Food Tour or Private Walking Food Tour with Austin Eats Food Tours, or on a self-guided bike tour with Barton Springs Bike Rental.

If you have space in your stomach to spare for supper, try one of Austin's hottest dining concepts. A few notable mentions are Sour Duck Market (open for takeout or dine-in with an expansive patio), Loro (dine-in, patio dining and takeout available), Suerte (limited indoor and outdoor seating), Arlo Grey (temporarily closed) or, James Beard Award-nominated Barley Swine for an Instagram-worthy feast (open Thursday-Sunday for dine-in or Friday for Barley Q Takeout) .

Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden and Patio in Austin Texas
Cosmic Coffee & Beer Patio. Credit Giant Noise/Julia Keim.

Saturday

Start your morning with indulgent dishes, such as ricotta hotcakes with bananas, pecan butter and maple syrup, at local fave Cafe No Se (dining room open Wednesday through Sunday). After breakfast, stroll up to the famous I Love You So Much mural for a picture, and then shop Big Top Candy Shop—boasting more than 300 varieties of bulk candies—to stock up on specialty sweets.

Continue your foodie shopping adventure by browsing the homemade treats, gourmet snacks and more at the SFC Farmers’ Market Downtown, open Saturdays at Republic Square Park from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., or the flagship Whole Foods Market on Sixth and Lamar, where all kinds of freshly made sandwiches, buffet items, baked goods and more await.

Spend your afternoon letting an expert show you around with a Live Music and Brewery Tour with Twisted Texas Tours. This 2.5-hour tour features a live band that provides entertainment on the bus ride to two breweries, where you can sample locally brewed craft beers. While public tours are temporarily canceled, private small group tours for up to 10 guests are still available.

After your tour, you can’t miss a taste of world-famous Texas barbecue. Sink your teeth into the ultra-tender brisket at Stiles Switch BBQ (limited indoor and patio dining open), or pair a local craft beer with decadent pork sliced belly from the new LeRoy and Lewis trailer at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden (online ordering available).

Once the sun goes down, get a taste of Austin’s vibrant nightlife scene and its incredible cocktail culture. At cocktail hotspot Whisler's, sip on creative, seasonal cocktails infused with unique ingredients. At the sultry Midnight Cowboy, enjoy the low-key speakeasy vibe while sipping on a classic libation (reservations required).

three biscuits in takeout bags from Bird Bird Biscuit in Austin TexasBird Bird Biscuit. Credit Chelsea Laine Francis.

Sunday

Before departing Austin, make your last day count by indulging in decadent breakfast sandwiches at Bird Bird Biscuit - think spicy breaded chicken with cayenne black pepper honey and bacon-infused chipotle mayo, or chicken sausage and egg with cheddar and basil pesto on a huge homestyle biscuit (order online). Or opt for reinvented Southern cuisine—dubbed Hill Country cuisine—at Pitchfork Pretty, serving up gourmet breakfast sandwiches, fresh oysters and seafood, and sweets such as pecan scones with maple bourbon glaze (temporarily closed).

If you’d rather sightsee and taste your way around Austin, don’t miss the 3 Winery Tour from Texas Wine Tours which includes pick up and drop off at your lodging (within Austin) and a 3-4 hour tour of some of the best wineries and vineyards in Texas Hill Country. Rather travel solo? Plan your own tour of nearby wineries and get the lastest information about current offerings and closures from Texas Hill Country Wineries.

Looking for even more fun ways to experience Austin’s culinary scene? Check the upcoming tasting classes at Antonelli’s Cheese Shop and Con’ Olio olive oil shop, shop for something sweet at the Maggie Louise Confections flagship store, or find more of our top restaurants in Austin this year.