From major box office hits to cult classics, Austin has provided a spectacular landscape for filmmakers to bring their vision to life. Visitors have flocked to destinations featured in iconic locally made films like "Dazed and Confused" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." With over 50 years of production, there are many film tourism locations in the Austin area to experience including those seen in "Song To Song."

About "Song To Song"

Set against the Austin music scene, the film follows two entangled couples— struggling songwriters Faye (Rooney Mara) and BV (Ryan Gosling), and music mogul Cook (Michael Fassbender) and Rhonda (Natalie Portman), a former kindergarten teacher working as a waitress— as they chase love and success through a rock 'n' roll landscape of seduction and betrayal.

Details: Broad Green Pictures / Rated R / 129 minutes / Musical, Drama
Director: Terrence Malick
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Lykke Li, Val Kilmer, Bérénice Marlohe, Holly Hunter, Tom Sturridge, Austin Amelio, Linda Emond, Alan Palomo, Brady Coleman, Florence Welch, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, John Lydon, Flea, Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Josh Klinghoffer, Erik Sprague and Big Freedia.
Streaming On: @YouTube, @PrimeVideo, @GooglePlay, @VuduFans

Locations

Scene: ACL Live at the Moody Theater

Song to Song screengrab, showing Faye's back as she walks through the outdoor terrace at ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Faye (Mara) and BV (Gosling) walk through the patio of ACL Live at the Moody Theater, one of Austin’s most famous music venues.

Location: ACL Live at the Moody Theater (310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX 78701)
 

Scene: Fun Fun Fun Fest

Song to Song screengrab showing Val Kilmer at the Fun Fun Fun Fest

There are a number of musical performances filmed at the Fun, Fun, Fun Fest, a music festival that used to take place at Austin's Auditorium Shores. Faye (Mara), BV (Gosling) and Cook (Fassbender) hang out back stage and watch the artist from side stage, including a band fronted by a wild Val Kilmer.

Location: Auditorium Shores (900 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704)
 

Scene: Omni Austin Hotel Downtown

Song to Song screengrab, showing Rooney Mara overlooking the interior of the Omni Downtown Austin Hotel

Faye (Mara) wanders through the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown property after ending things with BV (Gosling) and Cook (Fassbender). Scenes from "Spy Kids" were also filmed at the Omni Hotel.

Location: Omni Austin Hotel Downtown (700 E Eighth St, Austin, TX 78701)
 

Scene: ASTI Trattoria

Song to Song screengrab, showing Cook sitting in a booth inside ASTI Trattoria while looking out the window behind him

ASTI Trattoria in Austin's Hyde Park neighborhood is where record executive Cook (Fassbender) meets Rhonda (Portman), who is waiting tables at the amazing Italian restaurant.

Location: ASTI Trattoria (408 E 43rd St C, Austin, TX 78751)
 

Scene: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium

Song to Song screengrab, showing a wide-angle shot of the DKR Texas Memorial stadium during a crowded UT football game

Cook (Fassbender) and Rhonda (Portman) take in a University of Texas football game.

Location: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (2139 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78712)
 

Scene: Mueller Austin

Song to Song screengrab showing Miranda looking towards lots of new homes under construction in the Mueller neighborhood

Rhonda (Portman) and her mother Miranda (Hunter) look on at the construction of the house that Cook (Fassbender) bought for Miranda. This location is part of the (now completed) Mueller Austin neighborhood which includes residential, shopping and dining options and is just east of the beautiful Mueller Lake Park walking trails.

Location: Mueller Austin (4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723)
 

Scene: Enchanted Rock

Song to Song screengrab, Faye and BV run together on top of Enchanted Rock at sunset

Faye (Mara) and BV (Gosling) have a romantic adventure dancing on the large granite rock in the heart of the beautiful Hill Country, just outside Fredericksburg.

Location: Enchanted Rock (16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg, TX 78624)
 

Scene: Austin City Hall

Song to Song screengrab, Cook looks down at the atrium inside Austin City Hall

Cook (Fassbender) looks down into Austin City Hall from the third floor. Austin City hall was also a location in "We Can Be Heroes" as home-base to the superheroes.

Location: Austin City Hall (301 W Second St, Austin, TX 78701)
 

Scene: ACL Fest

Song to Song screengrab, Cook and Rhonda watch the crowd at ACL Music Festival

During a sequence filmed at the annual ACL Festival, BV (Gosling) hangs out with musician/actress Li Lykke and Faye (Mara), while Cook (Fassbender) charms Rhonda (Portman) as they watch the show from the VIP area above the stage. Cook and his friends also wander around the Zilker Park crowd and meet up with the Red hot Chili Peppers. Scenes for the first episode of "Walker" were also filmed at Zilker Park during a quieter time.

Location: Zilker Park (2207 Lou Neff Rd, Austin, TX 78746)
 

Scene: Abandoned Building

Song to Song screengrab, showing two women inside an abandoned building with a wall of glass windows

Rhonda (Portman) and her mom Miranda (Hunter) are working on rehabbing an empty building. A few years later, this location became the amazing YETI Austin Flagship store, just south of the famous Congress Avenue Bridge where the Austin colony of bats make their nightly outing for dinner from May-September.

Location: YETI Austin Flagship Store (220 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704)
 

Scene: Hike-and-Bike Trail Pier

Song to Song screengrab, showing Faye and her dog on the pier along Lady Bird Lake on the Hike and Bike Trail

Faye (Mara) walks her dog along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, onto one of the wooden piers on the north side of Lady Bird Lake. Located almost directly behind the Four Seasons Hotel, the spot is a fantastic place to view the Congress Avenue bats from Spring through early Fall.

Location: Hike-and-Bike Trail - Pier
 

Scene: The Long Center for the Performing Arts

Song to Song screengrab, BV and Faye on the terrace at the Long Center. It is night, and the downtown Austin skyline is visible in the background

BV (Gosling) and Lykke Li dance on the Long Center lawn, with the beautiful Austin skyline in the background.

Location: The Long Center for the Performing Arts (701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704)
 

Scene: Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Song to Song screengrab showing Faye's back as she walks around the outside of the Mexican American Cultural Center

Faye (Mara) and Cook (Fassbender) wander through the grounds of the Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center.

Location: Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (600 River St, Austin, TX 78701)
 

Scene: Downtown Austin Sequences

Song to Song screengrab, showing BV and Faye in a top-down convertible driving through Downtown Austin

Song to Song screengrab, showing Amanda walking through Downtown Austin

Song to Song screengrab, showing BV on a paddleboard on Lady Bird Lake.

There are so many wonderful, quick shots highlighting downtown Austin in "Song To Song," it’s worth mentioning a few that stand out (if only for a glimpse), including:

  • Faye (Mara) and BV (Gosling) driving down Sixth Street in a convertible.
  • Amanda (Blanchett) walking down Second Street.
  • BV rowing on Lady Bird Lake underneath the MoPac Bridge.

Location: Sixth Street and Congress Avenue (600 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701)
Location: Second Street and Congress Avenue (200 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701)
Location: Lady Bird Lake under MoPac 

Scene: Under I-35

Song to Song screengrab, showing Faye and BV walking on a gravel trail under an IH35 overpass

At sunset, Faye (Mara) and BV (Gosling) watch two swans swimming under the duel north and south IH35 bridges, located on the Hike-and-Bike Trail at East Avenue.

Location: Under I-35 at East Avenue
 

Scene: Vespaio

Song to Song screengrab, showing Faye talking to her father inside Enoteca Vespaio

Faye (Mara) and her father (Coleman) can be seen dining at Vespaio, a popular wine bar and Italian restaurant on South Congress. Visit the restaurant yourself, which is regarded as one of the best Italian spots in Austin.

Location: Vespaio (1610 S Congress Ave S, Austin, TX 78704)
 

Scene: Hotel San Jose

Song to Song screengrab, Faye and her father walking through an outdoor corridor at Hotel San Jose

Faye (Mara) and her father (Coleman) visit her seemingly bare-bones apartment, which is actually a room at the chic bungalow-style Hotel San Jose. This hotel is located on the vibrant South Congress Avenue.

Location: Hotel San Jose (1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704)
 

Scene: Hotel Saint Cecilia

Song to Song screengrab, showing Patti Smith and Faye talking on the patio at Hotel Saint Cecilia

Hotel Saint Cecilia, a stylish boutique hotel off South Congress Avenue, served as a major set during the movie. Scenes included singer/songwriter Patti Smith and Faye (Mara) chatting at length as well as BV (Gosling) and Lykke Li playing the keyboard on the black-and-white striped terrace.

Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia (112 Academy Dr, Austin, TX 78704)
 

Scene: Lustre Pearl

Song to Song screengrab, two women inside the Lustre Pearl East bar

The scene where Rhonda (Mara) and Miranda (Hunter) talk near a jukebox was filmed at the original Lustre Pearl bar on Rainey Street. The structure was moved to East Austin after filming.

Location: Lustre Pearl East (114 Linden St, Austin, TX 78702)
 

Scene: Shangri-La

Song to Song screengrab, showing BV and Faye making out against the exterior wall of a bar with a mural that says Shangri-la

BV (Gosling) and Faye (Mara) make out in front of the distinctive Shangri-La bar on East Sixth Street.

Location: Shangri-La (1016 E Sixth St, Austin, TX 78702)
 

Scene: Neon Grotto

Song to Song screengrab showing Cook and BV talking on the rooftop at Neon Grotto bar overlooking downtown Austin

Formerly known as the Hangar Lounge, this rooftop bar on Colorado Street is where BV (Gosling) and Cook (Fassbender) get into an argument over the direction of BV's record. During the scene, BV smashes a beer bottle and spits on the ground.

Location: Neon Grotto (318 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701)
 

Scene: Rain

Song to Song screengrab, BV and Cook have an argument on the sidewalk outside of Rain

In the middle of the Warehouse District, BV (Gosling) and Cook (Fassbender) continue to have a drawn out argument over BV’s record. This scene was shot down the street from one of Austin’s best clubs, Rain on 4th.

Location: Rain (217 W Fourth St, Austin, TX 78701)
 

Scene: Cenote

Song to Song screengrab, showing Faye and Cook inside Cenote cafe

BV (Gosling) and Faye (Mara) awkwardly sip cups of coffee on the couch inside the East Cesar Chavez cafe, Cenote.

Location: Cenote (1010 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702)
 

Scene: Perla’s

Song to Song screengrab, BV and Amanda dine on the patio at Perla's restaurant

BV (Gosling) and Amanda (Blanchett) dine at Perla's, a laid-back seafood and oyster bar on South Congress with a shaded patio and distinctive blue-and-white striped umbrellas.

Location: Perla’s (1400 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704)
 

Scene: Home Slice Pizza

Song to Song screengrab two women dance in the crosswalk on South Congress near Home Slice Pizza

Faye (Mara) and Zoey (Marlohe) dance in the street on South Congress Avenue, just outside of Home Slice Pizza.

Location: Home Slice Pizza (1415 S Congress Ave, Austin TX 78704)
 

Scene: Mohawk Austin

Song to Song screengrab, showing Faye looking off-screen from the rooftop at the Mohawk

The film is bookended with Faye (Mara) at the Mohawk music venue. At the beginning, she is taking in a show from the patio deck at the Red River venue. At the end of the film, she is alone in the empty club.

Location: Mohawk Austin (912 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701)

Iconic Filming Location Map

 

Explore more iconic filming locations during your next visit to Austin. The Austin Film Tourism Guide has details on the where scenes from your favorite movie and television series were filmed in and around Austin.