Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Water Tank is a neighborhood bar located at the border of Austin and WilCo
McNeil Drive acts as the dividing line between Austin and Cedar Park, and The Water Tank sits on the Austin side. You can sit on the front porch of this welcoming neighborhood bar and throw a Shiner bottle into the next county.
BYOB setup on the back patio at Phara’s Mediterranean Restaurant in North Austin (Credit: Jason Babos)
One of the best policies in Austin is our BYOB policy. All over town, plenty of restaurants offer some sort of BYOB. Whether it’s bring your own beer and wine, or beer, wine, and liquor, there’s BYOB fun for every taste.
Here are my top picks for BYOB in North Austin, in alphabetical order.
Hookah Buzz combines traditional and modern approaches to its hookah lounge experience
I’ve been going to hookah lounges in Austin for years, and I love them. From their advent, they’ve offered a casual atmosphere where people can meet to discuss business, politics, or art. That is still the case in Austin. But I think my favorite aspect of local hookah lounges is the fact that I can meet individuals from all over the world when I visit.
Hookah Buzz is a new hookah lounge in way North Austin. It was founded in January 2017 by my new friend, Audi. A blend of Turkish and Moroccan-style hookah lounges is evident in the atmosphere. Think about the hanging lights and rugs you tend to find in hookah lounges–those come from Turkey. You won’t have to sit on the floor like they do in Turkey, though. Hookah Buzz adds modern elements from Moroccan culture into the lounge through music, sofas, and tall tables. [Read more…]
Arriving at Carousel Lounge (Credit: Wright Sulek)
There is a diminishing number of places in Austin that are truly and wonderfully weird. Carousel Lounge is one of them. Located at 52nd Street and Cameron Road in North Austin, Carousel Lounge is home to one of the most authentic atmospheres in all of the city.
You may have been there before, or your alternative buddy at work may have mentioned it a few times. No matter what day, month, or year you go, it’ll likely be an experience you’ll never forget. Here are a few reasons why Carousel Lounge is one of Austin’s most beloved offbeat bars. [Read more…]
Lala’s Little Nugget is the definition of “hole in the wall”
Drive around Austin with anyone who has been here more than five years, and you’re likely to get into the I remember whens. I remember when downtown was boarded up and always quiet. I remember when The Domain was a field. The frenetic pace of Austin’s growth has a lot of us wishing time would stand a little more still.
Luckily, there is Lala’s Little Nugget. With all of the young, trendy bars that come and go all the time, Lala’s feels like a relic trapped in time. It’s an “old Austin” bar that has switched ownership in recent years, been renovated and somehow managed to survive in today’s bar scene. Undoubtedly one of my favorite bars in North Austin. [Read more…]
Austinites can access authentic Peruvian cuisine at Lima Criolla
Austin is known for Tex-Mex. Much less noticeably, there has been a recent surge in other Latin American cuisine. It’s about time we start branching out to try these restaurants inspired by Central and South America.
Lima Criolla is one such restaurant. Small and tucked away in North Austin, it’s owned by a family that moved here from Peru. They’re dedicated to introducing Austinites to the authentic food of their home country. [Read more…]
Chocolaterie Tessa is not your usual chocolate store (Credit: Jessica Pino)
Finding the perfect gift can be a struggle. You want to give something thoughtful, but also something that won’t go to waste, or worse, be re-gifted. I’m happy to announce I’ve finally found the perfect gift! It can be given on any occasion, to men and women. It’s a gift guaranteed to be shared, but never re-gifted. And, best of all, it’s made right here in Austin, Texas. I’m talking about handmade chocolates from Chocolaterie Tessa.
This local chocolate shop in north Austin will protect you from any gift-giving faux pas. I recently met with Tessa Halstead for a tour of her factory, and to learn more about her handmade, small-batch chocolates. [Read more…]
The Park at the Domain (Credit: Eric Highland)
Is brunch about the type of food you eat, or is it about the experience? For General Manager Robert Van Delden and the rest of the team at The Park at the Domain, it’s definitely the latter. This Austin-based restaurant has a mission to cultivate a relaxing, memorable brunch atmosphere every weekend in North Austin, and at their second location on South Lamar. Fortunately, the importance of delicious comfort food isn’t forgotten along the way. [Read more…]
Viva Day Spa opens at Domain Northside on Sept. 14
Austin’s Viva Day Spa is celebrating the opening of its third location at Domain Northside this Wednesday, Sept. 14, with a grand opening party! From 5-8 p.m., guests can enjoy cocktails by Deep Eddy Vodka, hors d’oeuvres, spa specials, package giveaways and complimentary services like chair and foot massages, mini manicures, mini facials and more. [Read more…]
Chinese-American meets po’ boy fusion at General Tso’Boy, located within Domain Northside’s Rock Rose district
Editor’s Note: General Tso’Boy is closed. The last day of service was Dec. 14, 2017.
Domain Northside’s Rock Rose district in North Austin is making a name for itself as Austin’s newest entertainment destination with bars, cafes and restaurants debuting constantly. General Tso’Boy, helmed by owners Jessica and Gary Wu, added their po’ boy fusion restaurant to the mix on June 21 of this year.
Pairing classic Chinese-American dishes like General Tso’s chicken with Easy Tiger toasted French bread, General Tso’Boy offers a complementing combination of salty, sweet and spicy flavors. [Read more…]