The hangouts are casual in East Austin. Palm Springs of the 1970s meets Austin at Kitty Cohen’s, complete with a wading pool. At Lustre Pearl East, visit the original Rainey Street bungalow-turned-bar — the owners moved the whole building across town.

La Perla Bar is the ultimate neighborhood spot for a cold beer after a long day. For a local drink, head to Zilker Brewing Company for one of their classic, mainstay brews or a seasonal pint. Wine lovers must check out LoLo Wine, where you can sip natural wines on the patio. 

Courtesy De Nada Cantina.

Hit three spots within walking distance on East Cesar Chavez Street. De Nada Cantina serves up frosty (and strong) margaritas and killer blue corn tortilla tacos. Across the street you'll find Central Machine Works, a brewpub located in a repurposed airplane hangar. Chill in their backyard while bands play on the outdoor stage. Ready for more? Head next door to Lil' Easy's breezy patio for Cajun cuisine and Southern hospitality. Order the painkiller! 

Find more East Austin bars & music venues here.

Visit Six Square, Texas’ first Black cultural district. Tour the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center for educational exhibits honoring the history of Black Texans, plus rotating art exhibits. The African American Cultural and Heritage Facility develops art and cultural programming within the district.

Voyage to Soulsville mural. Credit Javier Wallace, Black Austin Tours.

Austin’s first institution of higher education, Huston-Tillotson University, has been an important HBCU and a cornerstone of East Austin since the late 1800s. Take a tour of East Austin with Black Austin Tours and learn about the stories, people and places that contribute to Austin's culture. 

For more ways to celebrate Black culture and business owners in Austin, check out our guide to Black-Owned Austin.

Bring your appetite to East Austin. Huge portions and Texas-sized hospitality await at Southern mainstay Hoover’s Cooking. Feast on the enormous Don Juan taco at Juan in a Million, or visit food truck Cuantos Tacos for Mexico City-style street tacos on nixtamal tortillas.

The Tatsu-ya team can’t miss, with chewy noodles and hearty broth at Ramen Tatsu-ya and Japanese curry at Domo Alley-Gato. Try their Texas take on izakaya at Kemuri Tatsu-ya. Bakery and cafe Sour Duck Market serves sandwiches and cocktails on its shaded patio. Launderette turned an old laundromat into a New American marvel, while Italian favorite L’Oca d’Oro rolls their pasta by hand. 

Courtesy of The Cavalier.

Casual pub The Cavalier serves scratch-made bar fare like po’boys and fried shrimp. Sexy restaurant Justine’s dishes up French cuisine late into the night. Historic Sam’s Bar-B-Que has remained steadfast through two fires and is still dishing out legendary ribs.

Life’s a beach at Grizzelda's, where the kitchen whips up Central and Coastal Mexican cuisine. Head to South America at Buenos Aires Cafe for Argentinian empanadas, or back up to Northern Mexico for “cowboy wok” cooking at Discada.

Vegans rejoice at Rebel Cheese, where they magically turn nuts into plant-based cheese. Stop by Cisco's for a Tex-Mex breakfast of migas and huevos rancheros, or get a cup of specialty coffee and a taco to-go at Try Hard Coffee Roasters. Meat is the star at la Barbecue, with simple rubs and tender brisket. Butcher shop and eatery Dai Due works with local farmers and ranchers to highlight the best of Texas’ bounty.

Find more East Austin restaurants here.

Shop local boutique Altatudes for chic women’s pieces, or get eclectic at funky Charm School Vintage. For unique apparel, housewares and gifts, visit soothing shop Take Heart. Immerse yourself in Latin American culture at Red Salmon Arts/Casa de Resistencia Books, a combination bookseller and cultural center. Shop handcrafted jewelry, accessories and decor by Latin American artists at Corocoro.

Take Heart is the perfect place to find gifts with thoughtfully designed objects created by local and US artists, with an emphasis on Japanese design. The Little Gay Shop features works by LGBTQ+ creators and artists including apparel, art, home goods and more. 

Find more East Austin shopping here.

Get little minds working at Thinkery, an interactive kids’ museum full of educational fun. Catch a new release or a film classic at Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In. At Ground Floor Theatre, productions amplify the stories of under-represented groups, including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. 

The White Horse. Credit Arts+Labor. 

Head to honky-tonk The White Horse to do a little two-steppin', or stop by Butterfly Bar @ The VORTEX for colorful cocktails in an actual butterfly sanctuary. While there, snack on house-made meatballs from Patrizi’s food truck.At Hotel Vegas, you’ll find DJs, live music and a huge patio for spreading out with your crew.

A cluster of bars on 12th and Chicon Streets includes Full Circle Bar (with Brewskee-Ball®), blues venue/cocktail bar King Bee Lounge, Skinny's Off Track Bar. Play pool and catch a show at homey dive Skylark Lounge. Or check out Africa Night at Sahara Lounge and feast on the free buffet. Rock-and-roll bar The 13th Floor is a musicians’ hot spot, thanks to its quality vinyl and playlist.

Find more East Austin attractions here.