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When I walked into Central Machine Works, the first word to leave my mouth after picking up my dropped jaw was, “Whoa!” The sheer size of the place, along with the hustle and bustle, compels you to see what all the buzz is about. Turns out it’s quite a lot!
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There are three sections of Sixth Street in Austin: West, East, and what locals refer to as Dirty. West Sixth is the section of Sixth Street that runs west from Congress Avenue. For the most part, the nightlife scene ends at North Lamar Boulevard.
For locals, Dirty Sixth runs from Congress to I-35 even though technically, and according to street signs, East Sixth Street starts at Congress Avenue and runs east. But when you hear locals talk about East Sixth, we are referencing anything east of I-35. Don’t get confused by the street signs; you’ll be talking like a local in no time.
East Sixth as we know and love it today is an eclectic blend of shops, restaurants, dives, and cocktail bars. It’s also quite new–in relation to Dirty or West Sixth–with the gentrification of east Austin surging in the past 10 years.
Here are 15 of my favorite East Sixth Street establishments you won’t want to miss.
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Austin patios are joyous gathering places for eating, drinking, people-watching, and–ideally–basking in the golden glow of the setting sun with a glorious view. Happily for us, we have Gabriela’s Downtown for all of the above.
Gabriela’s seems to have hit the ground running, almost immediately attracting friendly crowds to its beautiful patio. Besides tasty margarita flights, massive micheladas with over-the-top extras, and homemade horchata that alone is worth a visit, Gabriela’s also has great food.
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If you’ve talked to anyone about east Austin, then the name “Springdale General” has probably popped up more than once. This 15-building complex is home to some of Austin’s well-loved creatives and nonprofits.
One of my favorite things about Springdale General is the variety of businesses and organizations that call it home. From creative studios to fun service-based businesses to educational opportunities, it holds a bit of everything. Keep reading to learn about some of the businesses you might want to visit next time you’re near 1023 Springdale Road.
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Cafe Nena’i is tucked away on the east side of Austin. Elena Sanguinetti and Gladys Benitez, mother-daughter duo and owners of the bakery, chose the location because it was raw and largely untapped at the time they opened in 2017.
Sanguinetti, the mom, was raised on a farm in Paraguay. Daughter Benitez grew up in Miami. When they arrived in Austin, they wanted to share the food of their heritage and melting-pot experience in Miami.
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Austinites get into a real lather when it comes to brunch. We love brunch! An Austinot favorite, Buenos Aires Café–Este, has begun serving brunch on Saturday. It’s a standout among local brunch menus, with delicious dishes you won’t find anywhere else.
I was invited to taste the brunch at Buenos Aires with owner/chef Paola Guerrero-Smith. She filled me in on what’s new with her 14-year-old Austin restaurant, including the Saturday brunch and revamped wine list.
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The rapidly developing east side of Austin is filled with just about everything you want in plain sight. Well, almost everything. In the case of Milonga Room, you have a speakeasy that resides underneath Buenos Aires Cafe, which is anything but in plain sight.
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Guest article by Ken Pishna
When Christian Cryder left Montana behind to open a brewery on East Sixth Street in Austin, he wanted to build a community around four key ingredients: coffee, beer, tacos, and joy.
Lazarus Brewing Company was born on Christmas Eve in 2016. With a talented head brewer, one of Austin’s finest Street-Mex food truck chefs, and a veteran coffee roaster; the beer, food, and coffee were givens.
The question was whether Lazarus could rise up and give new life to the Bike Texas building, and iconic Cool Store, as a brewery with plans to be more than a place to grab a cold one. [Read more…]
Guerrero-Smith and her team butcher a freshly roasted pig for the Wednesday night special
Buenos Aires Café, an east side favorite known for exquisite Argentian cuisine, now offers weekly El Gran Lechón Nights.
While the cozy cafe offers a popular platter of traditional grilled meats, “De la parilla,” the whole roasted pig feast prepared for El Gran Lechón Nights is a whole entity unto itself. You can taste it for yourself every Wednesday night at Buenos Aires. [Read more…]
Kimchi pancake at Kimchi Jon’s on East Sixth Street
Noticing a new food trailer on your block is like seeing a new neighbor moving in. Questions flood your mind. When should I introduce myself? Will I be stopping by often? Does this unformed relationship have long-term potential? Can they cook?
When I saw Kimchi Jon’s parked in front of Zilker Brewing Company on East Sixth Street in August, I was excited to have Korean food so close by. I was hopeful that “Jon” could deliver on supplying one of my favorite cuisines. [Read more…]