Austin, TX
Even though I spent the first two days of my trip bunkered down due to an ice storm, Austin was great! Here’s what we did and what we loved!
FOOD - Yum. Lots of good places to eat ya’ll!
Brew-Brew was perfect coffee stop with good music, breakfast options and lotsa dogs.
Pricey but super cute curated market where I got amazing chocolate and other little goodies.
Capital City Bakery where we got strawberry cupcakes for Gracie’s bday. This one was on E. Cesar Chavez and they kindly stayed open a few minutes late so we could snag the bday goods!
First night restaurant, recommended by one of Gracie’s friends. LORO It was convenient to our rental and it was packed. Super long waitlist and a staff that didn’t seem to know how to coordinate people when the weather wasn’t supporting outside seating. The hostess finally got us a table (we said we were fine with outdoor), when we were led back, the tent had busted open and there were lagoons of water all over it. We passed. It was a fiasco trying to get another table, so we ended up getting take-out. The manager was super sweet to us once he heard what was going on and added a bunch of chocolate chip cookies to our order. The food was better than expected and the cookies were absolutely irresistible.
Another spot, Casa De Luz, was recommended to me by friend Ashton who was in Austin at the same time - unfortunately it didn’t work to meet up, even after another friend was planning on heading to the same place for a song circle. One sister was a hard no for this location, so we skipped. I will 100% go here the next time I’m in town.
Farmers Markets!! We got to go to one and I hear that there are several great markets throughout the city. Check to see what’s happening when you’re in town.
On the recommendation of one of the women from Park Lane Retreats we headed to Bouldin Creek Cafe for lunch and we ALL loved it. Super laidback vibes, good food, fun waitstaff.
Best for last ya’ll. OMStinkinGoddex. Fonda San Miguel. This restaurant was GORGEOUS. GORGEOUS. Museum quality art - I mean stunning art (see the last pic in the gallery above). Delicious food with great vegetarian options. Fab drinks. So glad we saved this for our last night. I got some sort of veggie enchiladas and a salad and chips and guac and a mezcal drink with pineapple - yuuuum. Emmy got the pescado a la plancha and basically just said “this is sooo good” every 5 seconds for the duration of dinner. Our uber driver was from Venezuela and asked how we knew about this restaurant since tourists typically don’t. I have Marcia to thank - her sis lived in Austin for a long time and spilled the beans on this one.
Hotel Magdalena
DAY 1 - When I arrived and realized I wouldn’t be able to drive to dripping springs and stay in the unheated cabin I’d originally booked (I was SO SO SO looking forward to staying here - 100% going next time). With my outdoor adventure cancelled, I shifted gears and snagged a room in town, making sure that the hotel I chose had a restaurant! I was between The Line (we’ve stayed at the Line in Adam’s Morgan DC and enjoyed it), Soho House and Hotel Magdalena.
There was something about the retro vibes and historic ties to Willy Nelson that made it a winner for me. Upon entering the lobby I ran into a former yoga student from our old studio. This hotel is friendly and offers a kind of 70s, boho chic, goop-esque vibe. The food and drinks were fab and all the staff were very friendly. A bit on the pricey side, but I didn’t want to f * around with heat or food.
Not even a block off of South Congress - so very convenient to food, shopping and touristy treasures.
Park Lane Guest House
DAY 2 - Park Lane Guest House. This is a super cozy space. The website calls it “The Greenest Little Hotel in Austin” which is what drew us in. I can imagine this place being absolutely magical in warmer months! The hosts were kind and accommodating and the room had a really warm, welcoming energy.
There are chickens on-site and bikes to borrow and a beautiful swimming pool and chandeliers hanging from the gorgeous live oak. Naomi and I did help fish a large branch out of the pool that feel due to the ice storm.
Also super convenient to South Congress. Great neighborhood to comfortably bike through, lots of established trees and charming homes.
Our AirBnB
DAYS 3-6 The other sisters arrive! We switched to another AirBnB. This was a bit further afield, but certainly not inconvenient to the SoCo area. The neighborhood we were in seems like it’s in the midst of some sort of gentrification. Hodgepodge mix of homes, lots of new builds going up. Not quite McMansions, but you can tell they knocked down existing structures to build uber modern stacked box homes. Not my style, but loved by many. Anyway, our house was of the older style. From the outside it was not inviting. I think the pix on AirBnB showed it in the summer, looking more lush. When we arrived we were a bit worried…however the inside was super spacious and decorated with comfortable, stylish touches. If this place had a pool or hot tub I would go back in a minute.
What’s there to do?
We shopped and strolled on South Congress. Naomi and I loved Prototype Vintage Design - I bought my new favorite sunglasses and some subtly complex incense. The owner also shared a list of awesome consignment shops in Austin - score.
We spent an afternoon at the Fairmont Austin. When you book a spa service you gain access to their small, but stylish saline soaking pool, eucalyptus steam grotto and European dry heat sauna. There weren’t enough lounge chairs to accommodate all the patrons, which was disappointing, but it was a fun way to spend our afternoon - and peeps - I had the most relaxing facial of my life. If I lived in Austin, I’d got back to that chick in a minute! I’ll have to see if I can find the woman’s name.
We went out one night, I was inclined to go to 6th street, but we ended up on another street that was WAY too young feeling for me.
We also spent two nights in, laughing our butts off and playing board games dancing to Miley’s new flower song and generally goofballing around. Talking about relationships and childbirth and family. SOOSOOSOSOSOO grateful to have close connections with these amazing mammals.