The late, great comedian Bill Hicks once adroitly described Austin as “a bunch of cool people trying to make a difference.” In addition to being acclaimed as the Live Music Capitol of the World, and home to the University of Texas and the Texas State Capitol (not to mention the world’s best barbeque), Austin has become a hub for big business, with Bumble, Dell, Oracle, Tesla, and Whole Foods, based there.  Two of Downtown Austin’s neighborhoods—the Congress Avenue Historic District and the Rainey Street Historic District—are particularly pedestrian-friendly, featuring a bevy of boutique lodgings and eclectic shops, as well as a trove of restaurants that’ll please the palates of any foodie, and enough nightlife venues to shake even the most reluctant tail-feather.  

Hotel Van Zandt

Whether reclining in a poolside cabana on the rooftop, enjoying the nightly live music offerings at Geraldine’s, or simply using it as a convenient home base during the inevitable club crawl that beckons from adjacent Rainey Street, Austin’s Hotel Van Zandt has you covered.  And, for an ultimate Texas-y treat, envelop yourself in the eclectically-appointed Presidential Suite, where you can enjoy the expansive views while playing ZZ Top’s Tejas on the suite’s record player.

Hotel Van Zandt: 605 Davis Street; Austin, TX 78701-4212

Lucky Robot

Taking their cues from Nikkei cuisine—wherein the delicate culinary precision of Japan harmoniously converges with the bold and vibrant flavors of Peru—while viewing everything through the prism of sustainability; executive chef Jay Huang and chef de cuisine Julio-Cesar Flores have created something special with Lucky Robot.  And while the delectable nigiri and prime dry-aged fish are the rightful headlines, you won’t be burying the lede when you rave to your friends about the eyepopping décor and fabulously attentive service.

Lucky Robot: 1303 South Congress Avenue; Austin, TX 78704

Shopping on SoCo

South Congress Avenue (aka “SoCo”) features a delightful mélange of cool boutiques, including the cleverly curated mash-up of high, low, and unexpected fashions at Stag Provisions for Men; the many thousands of pairs of boots being purveyed under the iconic red boot sign at Allen’s Boots; and the singular selection of Mexican and Latin American folk art and religious items, metal sculpture, Talavera pottery, and a truly scent-sational potpourri made from citrus and cloves, at the Mi Casa Gallery.

Stag Provisions for Men: 1423 South Congress Avenue; Austin, TX 78704
Allen’s Boots: 1522 South Congress Avenue; Austin, TX 78704
Mi Casa Gallery: 1700 South Congress Avenue; Austin, TX 78704

Show Me Pizza

A transplanted NY duo has built a dedicated following with Show Me Pizza, where the Neapolitan pies are loaded with tantalizing toppings in cleverly conceived combinations, such as the ‘50 First Dates’ and the ‘Domo Arrabbiata Mr. Roboto’.  And, as you watch the pizzeria’s live Twitch broadcast, upon which they assemble and then cook your pizza for 90 seconds in one of their 800-degree ovens, you can almost hear the spirit of Family Feud’s original host, Richard Dawson, yelling “Show me PIZZA!”

Show Me Pizza: 2809 South First Street; Austin, TX 78704

Watch the Bats

The underside of downtown Austin’s Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is where the world’s largest urban bat colony—estimated at 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats—roosts.  These bats emerge each evening, roughly 20 minutes before sundown.  Meander along the walkway along the east side of the bridge for the best views of the bats as they fly east, over Lady Bird Lake; or hunker down on a blanket and enjoy a picnic, on the hillside, below.

Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge: South Congress Avenue; Austin, TX 78704

Just be safe in the knowledge that when they say, “Keep Austin Weird,” it’s in the most charmingly wonderful way.

Congress Avenue Historic District & Rainey Street Historic District
Downtown Austin, Texas

Get into it!
#AustinTX

[Editor’s Note: A version of this article was published in Business Traveler, July 2023 (ink Global)]