Austin, TX
What to do in Austin, Texas | Now To Love
There are many things that Austin, the capital of Texas in the USA, is well-known for, but one reigns supreme – barbecue. Indeed, the whole state is obsessed with the stuff, and Texans really do it bigger and better than anyone!
That’s why, on a 35-degree day, we’ve joined a long queue at famous food joint Franklin Barbecue to get our hands on their brisket.
Shuffling slowly towards the door, we can see people coming out with trays of meat, coleslaw and potato salad, and it looks delicious.
Finally it’s our turn and the food does not disappoint – the brisket is cooked for hours in the restaurant’s smoker, it falls apart as you touch it and tastes amazing.
We add a pork rib and some turkey to the mix (well, we had to try it, right?) and all of it was sublime.
Stuffed full, we step back out into the heat to head towards some more of the Austin landmarks – although we’re taking them in from the comfort of a bus with Austin Detours’ The Real Austin tour.
Our driver takes us to the imposing pink granite Texas Capitol building, and we head inside to see the impressive and historic place for ourselves.
A drive around some other hotspots – including the famous Greetings From Austin mural, food trucks and well-known stores – gives us a great overview of the city and introduces us to yet another Austin must-see – the bats!
Every summer night at sundown, thousands of bats fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge, and tourists flock to see the spectacle – it’s certainly impressive!
Back to food and it’s time for dinner. We hit up Kemuri Tatsu-Ya – a restaurant we had seen on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil.
A fusion of barbecue and Japanese cuisine, this place is well worth a visit, with the brisket and gouda stuffed tofu pockets a real highlight.
Once again full to the brim, we hop on some electric scooters to ride to our next famous Austin landmark – The White Horse Honky Tonk bar in East Austin.
Austin is a music town, and this place is the real deal, filled with couples doing the Texas Two Step to live music. It’s great fun, and if you’re feeling brave enough, you can head out on to the dance floor, too!
If you’re not done after a boogie here, head to 6th Street. This is where you’ll find more bars, clubs and restaurants, and music playing every night.
Another favourite is the fun Rainey Street, where houses have been turned into bars and a host of food trucks feed the partiers. Both places will have you out ’til late!
Of course, there is far more to the city of Austin than just booze and barbecue, so we also make sure to head to Blanton Museum of Art.
This impressive museum houses the famous art and architecture work ‘Austin’ by Ellsworth Kelly, and is great to get to if you’re in the area. An afternoon spent here is a nice way to beat the heat, and see a different side to the town the locals want to “stay weird”.
An Uber ride to the super cool shopping district of South Congress, including the famous Allens Boots store where we try on a load of boots, tops off the day.
Wandering through boutiques and trying on Stetsons is fun, and there are plenty of food stops and bars should you get tired.
While famous for its barbecue and bats, adding great shopping, music and art to the mix means that Austin, in fact, has something for everyone.
Where to stay
The Loren at Lady Bird Lake is the perfect place to rest when you’re in Austin. It’s across the lake from the city, so you get great views of the skyline AND you’re a little removed from the action.
This luxe hotel also has a fitness centre with a yoga studio, and rooftop pool – great for when the temperature rises and that Texan sun hits hard.
We had a king room complete with a great view over the trees to the water, and the most comfortable bed we have ever slept in!
The restaurant Nido is well worth a visit too – combining Texan cuisine with fine dining and really, really good cocktails.
A walk (or ride) across the bridge and you’re firmly in the action of downtown Austin, plus you’re also close to the water if you’re keen on paddle boarding (or a swim in Barton Springs pool).
You can watch “Texas Eats” on Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KSAT 12, KSAT.com, and KSAT Plus, our free streaming app.
This week on Texas Eats:
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1600 E 6th St., Austin, Texas 78702
Ramen Tatsu-ya is an Austin staple known for serious Japanese ramen, crafted by chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto. Their broths are slow-cooked, complex, and authentic, and their noodle bowls are rich, comforting, and widely praised by locals and critics alike.
Otto’s Ice House
111 Newell Ave., San Antonio, Texas 78212
Otto’s Ice House, located in the Pearl District, mixes the chill vibes of a Texas ice house with upscale touches. From street tacos and bratwurst to creative cocktails and live music, it’s a place to kick back with friends outdoors or by the river. The menu is casual but well-executed, and the owner Levi Goode brings in a reputation for quality and storytelling.
Texas Bistro
1932 S Seguin Avenue #209, New Braunfels, Texas 78130
Texas Bistro is a New American restaurant in New Braunfels that focuses on fresh, thoughtfully prepared dishes in a relaxed but refined environment. It draws praise as one of the area’s standout places for dinner.
Goode Co. BBQ
5109 Kirby Drive, Houston, Texas 77098
Goode Co. Barbeque is a long-standing Houston institution (since 1977) specializing in Texas-style barbecue slow-smoked over mesquite wood. They serve tender brisket, ribs, sausage, and classic sides, often paired with their signature pecan pie. The vibe is down-home, rustic, and welcoming — a place built around tradition, smoked meats, and a sense of genuine Texas BBQ hospitality.
Canje
1914 E 6th St. Ste C, Austin, Texas 78702
Canje is a vibrant Caribbean-inspired restaurant founded by Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph. Located in East Austin, it blends Caribbean and Guyanese traditions with modern techniques, emphasizing fresh, regionally-sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. The atmosphere is lively and colorful, with bold flavors and inventive dishes that reflect the broader diaspora of island cuisines.
Best Quality Daughter
602 Avenue A, San Antonio, Texas 78215
Best Quality Daughter is an Asian-American restaurant in the Pearl, founded by Chef Jennifer Dobbertin. It showcases flavors from her heritage and her travels, offering dishes that blend comfort with creativity in a welcoming space. It’s earned acclaim locally and has become a key part of San Antonio’s emerging food scene.
McAdoo’s Seafood
196 N Castell Ave., New Braunfels, Texas 78130
McAdoo’s is an upscale seafood restaurant in downtown New Braunfels housed in the old post office building. They offer a mix of fresh seafood, authentic Cajun-Creole dishes, and Texas Creole favorites. The setting includes a courtyard and intimate bar, and the menu combines fine dining touches with hearty, flavor-forward preparations.
La Tequila Mexican Restauarnt
90 Crossroads Blvd., Balcones Heights, Texas 78201
La Tequila Jalisco offers auténtica comida mexicana in Balcones Heights with a menu full of Jalisco-style dishes like enchiladas, fried shrimp, and classic tacos. Its warm, family-friendly setting makes it a go-to for locals craving hearty, approachable Mexican food.
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AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) — The records in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s divorce case have been unsealed.
Judge Robert Brotherton, who is presiding over the case, signed an order Friday morning allowing the records to be made public. The decision came after Paxton and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, announced that they had come to an agreement late Thursday to unseal the documents.
Tyler Bexley, an attorney for a group of media organizations fighting for the records to be released, celebrated the decision as a win for transparency.
“We’re certainly pleased with the result,” Bexley said after the hearing.
The move was an abrupt about-face for the couple, who had fought to keep the records secret. It’s unclear exactly what brought on the change.
The records were released before noon. They show the Paxtons have entered mediation, and their blind trust had doled out $20,000 to each of them to pay for their attorneys. The documents also show that earlier this month, Angela Paxton asked her husband to produce records pertinent to the case. They also show multiple judges recused themselves from the case before it was given to Brotherton, a visiting judge based in Wichita Falls.
The Texas Newsroom previously published copies of several records — including Paxton’s general denial of his wife’s divorce petition — before they were sealed.
The records did not shed more light on the couple’s financial situation, division of assets or the alleged affair that led to the divorce — but additional filings will be made as the case continues. Bexley said the media organizations agreed to redactions only of personal information like Social Security numbers and home addresses.
State Sen. Angela Paxton filed for divorce in July alleging adultery. Soon after, she asked for the court record to be sealed. A previous judge handling the case agreed and put all of the records under seal. Ken Paxton initially supported the decision, filing a court document that accused the press of attempting to unfairly invade his personal life.
Eight media organizations and a nonpartisan nonprofit opposed the sealing. The media group argued Paxton’s divorce records should be public because he is an elected official running for office who has faced repeated allegations of corruption. The attorney general’s finances, which are a subject of the divorce case, have been central to the misconduct allegations against him. While he has been charged with multiple crimes during his decade in statewide office, Paxton has never been convicted.
Paxton is now challenging John Cornyn in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.
Laura Roach, one of Ken Paxton’s lawyers, said after the Friday hearing that the attorney general had always wanted the record to be unsealed.
“Mr. Paxton has always wanted us to actually unseal it,” she said. “Attorneys get on a path and we think that that’s the right way to go and we were finally able to get everybody on the same page.”
When asked why he initially opposed it so strongly, she added, “that’s just legal stuff. … His attorneys said that.”
Angela Paxton had asked the records be sealed because doing so would “not have an adverse affect on the public health or safety.” Her representatives declined to respond on Friday.
Michael Clauw, the communications director for the nonprofit Campaign for Accountability that also sought the release of the records, said he does not believe Ken Paxton actually wanted them to be made public.
“It’s ridiculous to believe that Ken Paxton ‘always wanted’ his divorce record to be unsealed,” he said. “Only when it became apparent he likely would lose in court did he change his tune.”
Roach said she expects the case to be resolved amicably soon. Neither Ken Paxton nor Angela Paxton appeared at the court.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at www.texastribune.org. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans – and engages with them – about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
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