The retail-and-tourist strip south of the river. Magnolia Cafe, Joann's, Hopdoddy and Jo's anchor the food corner; the hotel patios at Austin Motel and Hotel San José run the brunch trade.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Austin is the South Congress flagship since 2010, a counter-order burger room that grinds chuck daily and built a national chain.
OrderThe Llano Poblano with house-ground chuck and truffle fries on the side.
TipThe line moves; queue at 5pm or 10pm. The Sack of Sliders is a four-burger flight worth ordering once.
Joann's Fine Foods in Austin is the Bunkhouse Group's Tex-Mex diner at the Austin Motel on South Congress, a palapa-bar patio of fajitas, queso and frozen.
OrderWood-grilled fajitas and a frozen margarita; the tortillas are pressed in-house each morning.
TipThe Austin Motel pool is members-only but the diner patio runs walk-in; arrive 5pm Saturday for shade.
Magnolia Cafe in Austin is the South Congress 24-hour diner, a counter institution running queso, migas and pancakes through the night, weekends round.
OrderMag mud queso and the Love migas; both run 24 hours, 7 days a week.
TipOpen 24 hours Thursday through Saturday; otherwise closes at midnight. SXSW makes Friday 1am a scrum.
Perla's in Austin is the McGuire Moorman South Congress seafood patio, a Gulf-leaning oyster bar with dozens of half-shell varieties and a wraparound porch.
OrderHalf-dozen Gulf oysters and the whole grilled snapper; the patio at sunset is the room's signature shot.
TipWeekend brunch from 10:30am; reservations a week ahead for the patio or walk in at 11am Monday for the quiet oyster hour.
Sagebrush on South Congress in Austin is the south-side honky-tonk from White Horse owner Denis O'Donnell, with live country, dance lessons and pool tables.
TipDoors open 15:00 daily; dance lessons on Wednesday nights, live bands from 21:00. Food trucks park on the lot; no cover most nights.
The Continental Club on South Congress in Austin opened in 1955 as a supper club, the city's historic landmark for roots, rockabilly, country.
TipTwo sets nightly with a cover that varies by act. Toni Price's Hippie Hour at 18:30 Tuesdays is the long-running residency to know.
Equipment Room beneath Hotel Magdalena on Music Lane in Austin is the kissa-style vinyl listening bar with 1,200 records, acoustic-foam ceilings.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Reservations via Resy; the room is small and seating limited, no song requests by tradition.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Six East Austin smokehouses in three hours, including a MICHELIN One Star pitmaster and three Bib Gourmands. Skip every line, ride in an air-conditioned van, and come hungry.
11 hours
Get ready to have a road trip experience to the Capital of Texas. We will enjoy the beautiful hill country stopping at wonderful places.
Water activity · 6 hours
Join a guided boat tour of Lake Travis in Austin. Enjoy a BBQ lunch, swim in the lake, and learn about the area's history. Choose this tour to join a group and to meet...
