HOW TO SPEND A 24-HOUR STAYCATION IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN
Vacations are fun and relaxing... in theory. Planning takes time, and flights are expensive, and car rides are so long. But there is an easy solution to nixing those issue: the staycation. It allows you to switch perspectives and view your familiar city through a tourist lens.
So we here at Eater put together this handy 24-hour staycation guide to downtown Austin with suggestions for restaurants, bars, activities, and hotels. Keep in mind that this specific guide entails lots of walking — don’t bother with your car — so wear comfortable shoes. Or, alternatively, take rideshares if you so choose for some of these ventures.
9 a.m. — Coffee and breakfast at the Brew & Brew
Start off your vacation-at-home with a fantastic cup of coffee and breakfast at the Brew & Brew, one of the city’s best coffee shops. The cafe takes the utmost of care when it comes to sourcing and preparing its beans, so try a simple espresso. As for food, be sure to order a bagel from Rosen’s Bagels with lox and cream cheese. Grab a seat on the patio and take in the morning sun to prepare for your fun-filled day.
500 San Marcos Street, East Cesar Chavez; takeout orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas; open daily at 7:30 a.m.
11 a.m. Book-browsing and wine at Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar
Take a little walk up to East 11th Street to stop by the adorably chic Eater Award-winning bookshop and wine bar Vintage. Wander the historical building to find a book that calls to you, especially for lounging purposes later. There are loads of new titles, as well as full sections for romance and fantasy. Grab a glass of Texas wine — it’s a staycation! — while you browse around.
1101 East 11th Street, Central East Austin; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas; opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday
1:30 p.m. Lunch at Koriente
As you make your way to check into your hotel (see below), stop by the pan-Asian casual restaurant Koriente for a lightish refreshing lunch. The japchei — clear sweet potato noodles accompanied with vegetables and optional meats — is an easy choice to make.
621 East Seventh Street, downtown; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or over the phone at (512) 275-0852; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas; opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 1 p.m. Saturday
3 p.m. Check into the Fairmont Austin
You’re indulging in a hotel for the day, so you might as well go luxe with the Fairmont Austin. The rooms have comfortable beds, often beautiful views of the city, and great bathrooms with extravagant tubs. And did you know there’s a 10 percent off rate offer for Austinites all year-long or the 10 percent off rates for Texas residents available through the end of August)? Now you do.
101 Red River Street, Downtown; book reservations online
4 p.m. Activity option one: pool at the Fairmont
Okay, now that you’re all checked in and settled into your fancypants room, it’s time to have fun. There are two options we’ve got for you now. First, if you feel like relaxing and unwinding, change into your swimsuit and head to the rooftop pool. The pool itself is large, with many areas for chilling out in, say, those slightly submerged lounge chairs. If you’re hungry and/or thirsty, take advantage of the food and drink services, especially the queso-loaded fries and a frozen cocktail.
101 Red River Street, Downtown; opens at 6 a.m. daily with food and drinks service starting at 11 a.m. daily
4 p.m. Activity option two: play games at the Texas Toy Museum
If you’d rather do something fun that’s indoors, walk over to the Texas Toy Museum, a nostalgic paradise filled with toys from the 1980s, 1990s, etc. The scavenger hunt — a list of specific toys and characters — is a great way to explore the jam-packed space. And if you feel like another drink, the museum sells canned beers, wines, and ciders. Bonus: tickets come with unlimited access to arcade games.
312 Congress Avenue, Downtown; there are indoor areas; tickets are $17 for adults; opens at 10:30 a.m. daily
6 p.m. Cocktails at Small Victory
Now that you’ve either dried off after the pool or you’re done traveling back in pop culture time, it’s time for a drink. And luckily in downtown Austin, there’s an Eater Award-winning cocktail bar: Small Victory. Grab a bar stool within the intimate indoor space and ask the bartender to make you one of the best martinis of your life (perhaps a very, very dirty gin martini). And if you’re feeling peckish, order some excellent cheese and charcuterie.
108 East Seventh Street, Downtown; there are indoor dine-in services; opens at 5 p.m. daily
7 p.m. Dinner option one: a low-key meal at Fukumoto
It’s dinner time! We’ve got two options for you here, the first being a comparatively more casual yet still high-quality meal at Eater Award-winning Japanese restaurant Fukumoto. The izakaya serves up amazing sushi — the nigiri is decadently simple — alongside oh-so-fun yakitori and tempura. Do not miss out on the sawagini — little crispy river crabs that you should eat whole. Round out the meal with a bottle of sake.
514 Medina Street, East Cesar Chavez; reservations can be made over the phone at (512) 770-6880; there are indoor dine-in services; opens at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday
7 p.m. Dinner option two: a high-end meal at Garrison
Alternatively, if you’re looking to keep the fancy vibes going, it’s worth dining at New American fine-dining restaurant Garrison within the Fairmont Austin. Keep in mind that the windowless aspect of the dining room might seem off-putting, but the food and service are absolutely top-notch. The tater tots topped with a foamy gruyere cheese and shaved black truffles have been on the menu since it opened back in 2018 for good reason — it’s delicious. The entrees made using the kitchen’s post oak grill are wonderful, especially the mushroom and the steak. Ask your server for wine recommendations because they know what they’re doing.
101 Red River Street, first floor of the Fairmont Austin, Downtown; book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services; opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
10 p.m. Post-dinner drinks at Dirty Bill’s
Walk off the dinner by trekking out to the western end of downtown Austin for one of the best littlest bars in Austin: Dirty Bill’s. It’s tiny, fun, and an industry favorite.
511 Rio Grande Street, Downtown; there are indoor areas; opens at 4 p.m. daily
Midnight: Dance party at Barbarella
If you’re still raring to go, make your way to nightclub Barbarella to dance the night away with well drinks at hand. Typically, there are themed nights, like the totally emo Jimmy Eat Wednesdays or the ’80s nights.
611 Red River Street, Downtown; there are indoor and outdoor areas; check its Instagram for hours and events
The next day
11 a.m. Check out of the Fairmont Austin
Self-explanatory.
11:30 a.m. Late breakfast/early lunch/brunch at Veracruz All Natural
You’re probably going to want to eat and the finest refueling meal around downtown is the Line Austin Hotel location of Austin’s best taco chain Veracruz All Natural. Get yourself some migas tacos and an agua fresca and now you’re ready to go home.
111 East Cesar Chavez Street, Downtown; takeout orders can be placed in person or online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas; opens at 7 a.m. daily