When I only had a few days for a long weekend with my old work wife, we took off to Austin, TX to meet up. Mid-summer in July is probably the hottest and most uncomfortable time to go to Texas but was also pretty affordable and quiet in the city.
We stayed at The Line Hotel. Such a beautiful boutique hotel, with a few restaurants in the hotel including Arlo Grey, Dean’s One Trick Pony, plus a cafe (Alfred’s), a rooftop (P6). Dean’s was a dive type bar which had poolside service and happy hour deals, my favorite of them all. Above all, I loved the infinity salt water pool at this hotel. We stayed in there for hours tanning, drinking, talking and by a sheer miracle did not ever prune or get sunburnt. This hotel is also right next to the Bat Bridge and very close to South Congress.
Besides the pool literal highlights were brunch and hunting for murals. Sure we did the 6th Street partying on Friday night but it …
A.) Never truly got popping & drinks were crappy at every place… AND
B.) I’m not 21 anymore. But I did learn that I love to live my best Tina Belcher life.
Where We Brunched:
South Congress Cafe
We landed at this restaurant right after we landed and were starving. Since it was a Thursday afternoon it was pretty slow but were told it gets super busy for weekend brunch.
I got started here with a frozen peach bellini and Miga’s dish which had farm fresh eggs, corn tortillas, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, three cheese blend, refried black beans, and smoked gouda potato pancake.
Miga’s dish at South Congress Cafe
Cenote
This place was an adorable cafe and served delicious food, however we decided to walk and not only was it hot but the walking trail was not in the greatest part of town… as an FYI I’d take a Lyft next time.
Avocado Toast with Egg at Cenote
Irene’s
This brunch spot is an instagramers dream. Very cute decor outside, inside, to even the mugs and food. I got the Chilaquiles which had pork, salsa, tortilla strips, sour cream, feta, and sunny side eggs. First of all how have I never had Chilaquiles before and WHY ISN’T THIS ON EVERY MENU. I mean eggs and tortilla strips such a good combo!
Chilaquiles at Irene’s
Other Excellent Eats:
Donuts - Gourdough Big Fat Donuts
I went to their 1st Street location which was an Airstream “food truck” with some outdoor seating. Really big delicious donuts with a crispy edges and soft on the inside. I got the Miss Shortcake -Cream Cheese Icing With Fresh Cut Strawberries.
Ice Cream - Amy’s Ice Cream
I absolutely LOVED this ice cream. There were so many delicious flavors and combos to choose from. Most of all I appreciated their keen sense of relevancy of current events. Stranger Things had just streamed their 3rd season and they decked out all their chalk signage, decor, and flavors (even tip jar) to a Stranger Things theme.
Food spots I didn’t care for:
Arlo Grey - I love the decor but I’m not a big fancy restaurant with tiny expensive portions type of girl and ultimately thought all the food was VERY salty.
Home Slice Pizza - Being that I live in NY, this is NOTHING like a NY style slice, like they claim…
Little Lucy’s Donuts - This was a small food truck on Rainey St. They were tiny $6 donuts with flavored sugar on top, tasted very artificial yet this was the only dessert spot (besides one other small ice pop cart) on Rainy Street. More dessert shops need to come to this street!
Austin Murals:
I’m very big on graffiti, street art, murals. I love finding them and on this trip it felt like a scavenger hunt. Most images from the gallery wheel below were found randomly but the tops ones are below:
I Love You So Much Mural (on Joe’s Coffee Wall)
Greetings From Austin Postcard Mural (1720 S 1st St - on Roadhouse Relics shop’s wall)
Won’t You Be My Neighbor Mural (behind Home Slice Pizza/parking area)
Overall I had a blast in Austin. Usually when I go on vacation I need to be active and try to do a million things. This trip was a really nice chance to just relax, hang out by the pool, eat, drink margaritas, and catch up with an old friend. Sometimes you need that break from digital or social media and time for yourself soaking up some Vitamin D. Did I mention how much I miss my hotel’s infinity pool!