The Ultimate Austin Bucket List: A Guide to the City’s Most Iconic Spots
Austin’s charm endures in the places that have shaped its culture for decades. This curated guide offers a starting point for those looking to explore the city’s most iconic and must-see spots.
Live Music Landmarks
The Continental Club
1315 S Congress Ave.
Opened in 1955, this popular South Congress bar served as a supper club and then a burlesque before finding a happy medium as a live music mainstay featuring blues, rockabilly, country, garage and more.
Antone’s Nightclub
305 E 5th St.
Born in the 70s of Clifford Antone’s passion for the blues, this beautiful Fifth Street room still gets wild when many of the same rowdy, music-loving crowd who attended back then show up today.
RELATED: 13 Must-Visit Intimate Music Venues in Austin
The Broken Spoke
3201 S. Lamar Blvd.
Expect sassy two-step lessons in this honky tonk. Opened in 1964, The Broken Spoke still serves chicken fried steak up front and dance hall madness in the back.
Dive Bar Essentials
Lala’s Little Nugget
2207 Justin Lane
Christmas never ends at Lala’s Little Nugget, a quinquagenarian bar with festive Christmas lights and decorations up all year long.
Deep Eddy Cabaret
2315 Lake Austin Blvd.
Location isn’t everything but this tiny bar from the 1950s still sits perched on a hill over two gems: Deep Eddy Municipal Pool and Pool Burger.
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Sam’s Town Point
2115 Allred Drive
A South Austin gem from the 80s with lots of live country music to love, Sam’s Town Point gets downright sweaty with dancers two-stepping and twirling, especially in the summer.
Austin’s Culinary Institutions
Sandy’s Hamburgers
603 Barton Springs Road
A longtime favorite for frozen custard and hamburgers after a day at Barton Springs Pool, Sandy’s has been serving nostalgia since 1946.
Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
2305 E 7th St.
Recognized as an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation, Joe’s Bakery is a go-to for beans and eggs at breakfast. Add barbacoa and menudo to the mix, and it’s clear why this Austin staple has stood the test of time.
Texas Chili Parlor
1409 Lavaca St.
A longtime favorite among legislators, this neon-lit, dark-wood hideaway was born in the late ’70s—the same era chili became Texas’ official state dish. Its global spotlight came with a feature in Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof,” but the real stars here are the Tex-Mex menu and the legendary Frito pie.
Outdoor & Scenic Must-Sees
Barton Springs Pool
2131 William Barton Drive
Arguably the most wonderful piece of Austin’s urban parkland, Barton Springs Pool could hardly be more magical. A natural spring keeps the oasis sparkling fresh and cool, though residents must protect and clean it.
Congress Avenue Bats
100 S. Congress Ave.
Each spring and summer, millions of Mexican free-tailed bats leave their roosts under the Congress Avenue Bridge to hunt their weight in insects by the cover of dark. The dark cloud they make in the sky on emergence is unforgettable.
Mount Bonnell
3800 Bonnell Drive
Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1969, Mount Bonnell is one of Austin’s most popular scenic overlooks, offering panoramic views of Lake Austin. Featured in Richard Linklater’s “Slacker” and the Coen brothers’ “Blood Simple,” it draws visitors who climb 106 stone steps to take in the sweeping landscape and the multimillion-dollar estates below.
RELATED: Top Austin Trails for Hikes & Nature Walks
Cultural & Arts Destinations
The Paramount Theatre
713 Congress Ave.
Built in 1915, this antique theater saw Vaudeville rise and fall and South Congress go from a dirt road with horse-drawn carriages to our modern city center. Today, The Paramount hosts live music, comedy and films from every era. Catch Moontower Comedy events here or visit during the Summer Classic Film Series.
The Blanton Museum of Art
200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Opened in 2006, this landmark Austin museum just keeps getting better. Anchoring one side of the University of Texas campus, the museum curates excellent rotating exhibits through galleries focused on contemporary art, art from Latin America, film and video and more. Newly added “Petals” and Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” immerse visitors in art all the more.
RELATED: A Guide to Austin’s Best Art Galleries
Texas State Capitol
1100 Congress Ave.
The Texas Capitol stands larger than its counterpart in Washington, D.C., with immaculate grounds and grand architecture. Its history and political significance are striking, and visitors can gain deeper insight by joining a free tour.
Must Visit Shops
The Herb Bar
200 W Mary St.
Eighties baby The Herb Bar offers bags of dried herbs for infusions or incantations and quite a bit more. Visit the botanical wonderland to browse natural ingredients and products, set a new moon intention, or ask for help from an herbalist.
Toy Joy
5501 Burnet Road
403 W 2nd St.
Toy Joy, founded by two University of Texas students in the late ’80s, is an Austin staple where anyone can find a playful treasure. Stocked with sensory toys, Barbie dolls, classic favorites, Hello Kitty collectibles and a generous selection of candy, the vibrant shop is just as popular with adults as it is with kids.
RELATED: Top Gift Shops in Austin
Waterloo Records
600 N Lamar Blvd.
Waterloo Records is an Austin institution. Live in-store performances and event ticket sales make it a hub for music lovers, while its well-stocked vinyl section and expertly curated selection make it one of the city’s most beloved record shops.