malancro55

My girlfriend and I, both pushing 30, are staying with some friends in the Austin area for a long weekend in August and, while most of the plans will be made by our local friends, I would still like some ideas. Neither of us have been to Austin before and we want to take as much in Friday afternoon - Monday morning as possible. I definitely want to indulge in local food and drink, including bbq, Tex-Mex, etc. I know we will check out 6th Street, the UT campus, and hope to see the bats. I believe we also have a Follie show planned and have considered eating at Oasis. With the heat, I have a feeling our plans will be indoor, water related, or after dark. Our group likes night life, live music, art, sight seeing and imbibing. Live music suggestions are greatly appreciated. We tend to listen to alternative, rock, classic rock, and oldies music, but are pretty open-minded as long as it is good music.

volcanogirl

I also think Mt. Bonnell is worth going to - beautiful views from up there. We love The Oasis as well - again amazing views, and sometimes they have live music. Chuy's is a fun place to grab Mexican. We like going to the Salt Lick in nearby Driftwood for BBQ; it's has a very Texasy atmosphere and good brisket - cash only there. We've done one of the Capital Cruises to see the bats and enjoyed that since it can get crowded up on the bridge. Hula Hut is another fun place to eat. Schlitterbahn in nearby New Braunfels is a great way to cool off if you have time or go tubing, depending on river levels.

longhorn55

FYI--Move in for the dorms at UT will be taking place from August 16 -21 (with the majority of move-ins occurring on August 20 and 21st), so be prepared for that if you go to campus.

TravelGirl1

All of your suggestions & those listed by volcanogirl are excellent & will certainly provide you with a fun-filled weekend. Esther’s Follies is still side-splitting funny! To add to your mix of pleasure, there are tons of eclectic shops & original restaurants along South Congress (SoCo), Blue October will be performing outdoors at Stubb’s BBQ, & the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum and Blanton Art Museum near/on UT campus offer visual culture in refreshing air conditioning. Mayfield Park’s beautiful peacocks are very, very close to Mt. Bonnell. As for BBQ, there are dozens of restaurants & their flavors are all unique. Salt Lick is wonderful with traditional Texas Hill Country atmosphere but if time isn’t on your side (it's a good 30-40 mins drive from downtown), then you might consider these downtown spots: Stubb’s, Ironworks, House Park, Green Mesquite & the latest buzz is Franklin’s. The Tavern in downtown boasts not only “Air Conditioning” but the biggest, best hamburgers with homemade buns. Live music is everywhere & it's probably best to grab that week's free issue of the Austin Chronicle (or check online) for show listings.

SiteC_er

Barton Springs is great on hot Austin days!

spirobulldog

The Schlitterbahn would be a drive, but it is awesome.

apseals

For indoor culinary greatness, you must try Second Bar and Kitchen on 2nd and Congress. Drinks that are unique and fantastic, a menu that boasts what I think is now the best burger in Austin, and pizzas and other small and large plates to die for. The Pomme Frites with truffle aioli are to die for too. Can go casual there for sure.

The bats are flying earlier because of the drought and that enables you to see them much better than usual. There is a bat-line you can call to get the current flight time. Seeing them from a "bat boat" is the best way if you have time.

The Mighty Cone food trailer on South Congress is also an Austin staple. It is not ice cream but chicken or shrimp in tortilla "cones" with spicy slaw and sauce. The line is always long but moves quickly. Amy's Ice Cream is located around the city and is a great way to cool off too.

To avoid the heat completely head indoors to see a movie at one of the Alamo Drafthouses. They were recently in the news for their "no texting/talking" policy. Do a google search. Good food and beverage. Go early for great pre-movie clips...very Austin.

volcanogirl

We like the Mighty Cone too and Hey Cupcake for dessert. We also bought some fresh hill country peaches at a stand nearby.

Cranachin

The sunsets viewed from the Oasis can be pretty, but I have always thought their food is just so-so (and overpriced). Plus, isn't the water level down a good bit now?

If you go to Hula Hut, try the Hawaiian fajitas.

Austin

The Oasis food is mediocre at best. I see people waiting in line just for the view. If you have to go out there, I'd suggest Soliel next door instead. Same awesome view, much better food. I will say that there is good music at the Oasis at times. We saw Alpha Rev there Saturday night for free. But there is no AC so be prepared. With that said, there atre countless great restaurants in Austin and lots of music venues.

You might like 6th street - I'd leave that up to your hosts. it is mostly a college age, drinking crowd.

For real Austin vibe, hit South Congress ave (SoCo). Jo's for coffee or some acoustic music, the Continental club for music, Homeslice pizza for the best in Austin (and occasional Gleeks breaking out in song), Gueros music outside, and the lot full of trailer food. (not to mention funky shops)

Barton Springs for lazing and water, and for awesome meal ($) the Driskill.

apseals

I totally agree about the mediocre food at Oasis and the alternate suggestion of Soliel. I have to disagree with the Driskill though. It used to be top notch but has fallen from that perch, easily eclipsed by Uchi and most recently Congress that is the upscale section of Congress Austin (Second Bar and Kitchen being the cafe of the complex). Chef Bull made Driskill relevent again several years ago, then left for Dallas and is back in full force with the Congress complex. If you are looking for high end food that is not quite as expensive, head over to the ATT Conference Center by the UT campus at Carillon. REasonable priced prix fix meal...the crispy pork belly is to die for.

malancro55

Thanks for all of the great responses. It's unfortunate that I won't have time to critique each suggestion.

Austin

Apseals, have you been to the Driskill lately? We have been twice in the last 3 months and it has been just about perfect - the food, the service, the drinks. Better than any dining experience in Austin in recent memory. They are making a huge effort to be back in the top restaurants of Austin and we totally think they are there.

volcanogirl

I just love the atmosphere of the Oasis - so much fun to go get drinks and listen to the music and sit on the decks. Definitely not up to gourmet standards, but we've been going there since college.

What kind of food does Soliel have - I can't find a listing for it - is that the correct spelling? Is it casual like the Oasis?

williamscb13

I was in Austin a few weeks ago and finally went to Uchi after hearing about it for weeks. My group was not impressed and thought it was overpriced though its obviously still very popular as the wait for a table was an hour and a half. Definitely not worth the wait.

Apparently, the Oasis has some newer restaurants with it that are better than the original Oasis.

But the best find was the gluten-free cupcakes from Delish cupcakes on 3rd street downtown. The best gluten free baked good I have ever had. and my group agreed that you would never know it was gluten-free. They also have regular cupcakes, and will frost your cupcake to order with different bases and frostings. I'd drive back to Austin just for that cupcake.

williamscb13

That should be that I'd heard about Uchi for years not just for weeks because its been around for a long time.

apseals

Austin: I have not been back to Driskill in over a year and very excited if it is making a comeback. Thanks for the tip.
Williamscb13: If you make a reservation for Uchi, you don't have to wait at all. I have dined there many times and the Omakase meal with wine pairings is a splurge but still best bite for bite experience we have had in Austin with the exception of Congress. The two are really comparing apples to oranges so I will take both!

williamscb13

I told my sister who lives in Austin to make a reservation but she didn't. We got into a huge fight about it at the restaurant. And I am gluten-free and I was very surprised but there was very little on the menu I could eat.

You can have your Uchi, I'm never making that mistake again and will always vote for a place where I can actually find something I can eat.

Cranachin

volcanogirl - I'd say the food at Chili's is better than the food at the Oasis!

volcanogirl

But the view is better at the Oasis - lol! I poked around a little and assume you guys meant Soleil - the food does look awesome, and if it's a Robert Del Grande restaurant I bet it will be a hit. He owns a lot of highly regarded restaurants in Houston including the former Cafe Annie which was always popular.