Destination: Austin, Texas | Revised: September 03, 2009
Sixth Street is famous for its 19th-century buildings.
We asked Chef Concierge Lorley Musiol at Four Seasons Hotel Austin to gather the savviest sightseeing suggestions she could find—not just her own but also those of the other local connoisseurs, including some she works with every day at the Hotel. Head to the Hill Country for fine dining, great shopping and plenty of live music.
Identifying the best barbecue in Texas has caused many a Capitol filibuster. The Austin area sizzles with candidates, from the warehouse-retrofitted Lamberts downtown (try brown-sugar-and-coffee-rubbed natural brisket and a side of jicama and carrot slaw) and the Iron Works BBQ, (zesty beef ribs) to nearby small-town joints, such as the served-on-butcher-paper gems like Kreuz Market in Lockhart (no-sauce spare ribs and jalapeno cheese sausage, side of German potato salad) and Cooper’s in Llano (lean brisket and goat ribs).
Like most of Texas, Austin has killer Mexican food. For classic Tex-Mex, the spicy grilled steaks and enchiladas at Matt’s Famous El Rancho downtown have been a local favourite since 1952. Curra’s Grill in south Austin calls itself “the Mother of all Mex,” and its monster homemade tamales are all the convincing you’ll need.
Austin has more live musicians—mainly alternative, blues and jazz—in more local venues than anywhere else in the world. Antone's nightclub, the first club on Sixth Street, has packed in talent since the summer of 1975, helping launch the career of such Texas artists as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Los Lonely Boys. Even record stores get into the act here, as Snake Eyes Vinyl offers free shows you can listen to on its viewing deck, a roomy porch or under the big tree in the parking lot.
For a traditional country-and-western dance experience that dates back to Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, the Broken Spoke on Lamar is just the ticket (you can even sign up for the two-step lesson). Things get a bit grittier at the Continental Club, a South Congress venue that evokes rock-n-roll memories of old Cadillacs and Fender guitars.
Austin style is as eclectic as its music and culture. The city boasts its Lone Star share of Western wear and cowboy boots—Allens Boots is famous for traditional cowboy attire, and Cowboy Cool and Heritage Boot offer flashier interpretations. Estilo is a relative Austin newcomer but its Second Avenue store offers some of the city’s hippest fashions. The South Congress zone, or “SoCo,” is home to a raft of specialty shops that offer everything from Bohemian clothing and retro furniture to offbeat toys and outlandish costumes.
The best leg-stretcher near Four Seasons is just out the back door, one of the most scenic urban trails in the country, around Lady Bird Lake. One of the best ways to appreciate the city’s beauty and layout is by climbing the 100 steps to the top of Mount Bonnell, where you’ll find a sweeping panorama. The heart of Austin’s outdoor soul is Zilker Botanical Garden and the adjacent Barton Springs Pool west of downtown. The gardens are spectacular, and the nation’s largest natural urban swimming pool maintains an invigorating 68-degree water temperature.
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum provides insight into Texas politics, culture and that Lone Star essence. The three floors of interactive exhibits are easily navigable and its IMAX theatre immerses visitors into “The Story of Texas,” from the fury of the 1900 Galveston hurricane to a gusher from an East Texas oil derrick.
Photography Stockxpert/JupiterImages
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