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What are some of the best restaurants in downtown Austin?
You're in luck – downtown has great eats for all budgets. Start your day with some of the best breakfast tacos in Austin at Tacodeli or Veracruz All Natural. Enjoy a slice of old-school Austin at P. Terry's Burger Stand and the Texas Chili Parlor (delicate tongues, mind the spice levels). If you prefer a hip spot with cocktails, opt for Swift's Attic or Péché. Client to impress? Get a table at Roaring Fork.
What kind of festivals does Austin have?
Beyond its big-ticket, uber-popular festivals (you know the ones), Austin delivers on its promise of a good time through the year. Two of the city's biggest passions, great food and live music, mingle at the Hot Luck Festival (May), Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival (August) and Quesoff (October). At the Austin Food & Wine Festival in November, local chefs take top billing – and have a taco contest. And all you film lovers are spoiled for choice with Fantastic Fest (September), the Austin Film Festival (October) and several others.
Where in Austin can I get a good cup of coffee?
Unique cafes are all over the city. In downtown, choose Houndstooth for an excellent cuppa, or Halcyon if you're feeling like a boozy coffee. Enjoy a creekside cappuccino at Once Over in cosy Bouldin Creek. Or head east for some of the hippest, best coffee shops in Austin, like Greater Goods Coffee, Dear Diary and Flat Track Coffee.
What are some of Austin's best live music bars and venues?
If you want a guaranteed class act, score tickets to an Austin City Limits performance at the Moody Theater, a few minutes' walk from citizenM. Looking for less polish, more grit? Take a walk along Red River Street, home to several of the city's top venues (like Elysium, Cheer Up Charlie's and the Empire Control Room & Garage). For an old-school Austin experience, you want the Broken Spoke, Continental Club, Saxon Pub or Hole in the Wall.
What are some of the best brunch places in Austin?
Try as you might, maybe having tacos for every meal just isn't possible. Instead, join locals at one of the Kerbey Lane cafes (start with chips and queso – you'll thank us later). Order pancakes the size of your head at Magnolia Cafe. If it's the weekend, visit Tamale House for an authentic, unforgettable Mexican brunch. For a more upscale and original Sunday brunch, check out Honey Moon Spirit Lounge.
What are some unique museums in Austin?
Did you know Austin is weird? There's even a museum to prove it. Located in downtown, the Museum of the Weird showcases the strange and uncanny – but we won't spoil the surprises for you. Near Barton Springs, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum is a tactile treat – here, you're encouraged to touch and interact with all the sculptures. If you (and your camera phone) are seeking color play, wade in a pool of giant sprinkles at the Museum of Ice Cream, or have an introspective moment at Ellsworth Kelly's luminous installation at the Blanton Museum of Art. Craving some quieter time outdoors – or you just really, really like flowers? Head to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in South Austin.
How about some free things to do in Austin?
At sunset, catch the locally famous flight of the Congress Avenue Bridge bats (trust us, it's impressive). Get your body moving with free dance lessons at the White Horse bar, then grab a snack from the taco truck right outside (not free, sadly). Summertime visitors can enjoy two free outdoor events – Blues on the Green at Zilker Park, and Sound & Cinema at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Good to know: several of the city's top museums charge no admission at all, or they have at least one day a week when entrance is free.
Is the Texas State Capitol building worth a visit?
Yes, if you're interested in history or architecture. It's the largest state capitol building in the US and an unmissable landmark for strolls on Congress Avenue. Pop in to the visitors centre first to pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour, join one of the free 40-minute tour groups, or just pick up some Texas-themed trinkets.
What is the best way to get around Austin?
This is Austin, Texas – the auto is king. Don't want to rent a car? Taxis and rideshare apps work here (and there are several). The city also has a commuter rail line and a bus network. If you want to try something different (and more eco-friendly!) while in Austin, reserve a ride on a pedicab ride – a pedal-powered taxi.
What is airport access like in Austin?
citizenM Austin Downtown hotel is about 11 miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA), the city's major airport. There are heaps of rideshare and taxi options, or opt for the bus service that takes you right to downtown. Private aircraft can fly in to ABIA-adjacent runways with JSX, Atlantic Aviation, Million Air, and Signature Flight Support, or choose Austin Executive Airport in north Austin.