Another Weekend in Austin, Texas- Why I can’t resist going back

When I graduated college, I thought I was done with Austin. For good. I was so tired of walking around the UT campus and seeing same old hills every day. I was ready for the next big adventure (which turned out to be New York!) and couldn’t wait to leave Texas. 4 years later, I’ve returned to my home state and can’t stop visiting Austin! I always get so nostalgic when I’m in town- so many of my memories from my college years reside here. I love grabbing a drink at the Tapioca House on the Drag aka Guadalupe Street (even though the cafe’s been cleaned up and remodeled), walking up the hundreds of steps to the top of Mount Bonnell, and stroll through the (upgraded!) Domain mall. In fact, I’ve missed Austin so much over the past 4 years I was away that since I’ve been back I’ve visited twice in just a few months and have plans for a lot more trips in the future. There’s just so much to do and eat in Austin and I can never fit everything I want to do in one weekend, hence the repeat trips. This past weekend I headed back to the city to attend a sorority sister’s birthday party for her newly turned 1 year old baby (there was lots of delicious cupcakes and even a fun piñata involved!) and had the chance to cross off a few more items on my Austin bucket list.

Pterry’s

The “healthy” burgers have been an Austin staple since I was in school, but I guess back then health was the last thing on my mind (oh too be young again!) so I never even bothered to try Pterry’s. So on this trip I made sure to stop by the blue burger drive through on my way to my friend’s house and picked up a cheeseburger and fries. While the casual fast food drive through is popular, I have to admit that the burger was underwhelming. It’s definitely a pass for me!

Knockout Austin

I’ve recently been on a workout studio kick and love trying out new unique studios in the different cities I visit. Even though I’ve been to Austin numerous times, I’ve never actually made time to check out any studios- mainly due to the round of friends I have to catch up with! So when I discovered the hip hop kickboxing class at Knockout, I knew I had to try it. It’s loud and fast and intense and there is a lot of kicking and punching involved, but I loved every single minute of it. Single classes cost $25 (although if it’s your first time there is a 3 for $50 deal) and wraps are available for purchase, while gloves are available to rent.

Better Half Coffee and Cocktails

I loved the vibe at Better Half! Located on 5th street, Better Half is near several workout studios (including both of the ones I went to on this trip) and near Lady Bird Lake trails and bike paths so its the perfect spot to start off your day. There is a decent sized parking lot out front, but it gets crowded fast (we arrived at 9:30 and it was already filling up at a rapid speed). The menu had so many yummy food items that I wanted to order, but since I had plans to also eat at Alamo Drafthouse later (see below) I kept my ordering to a minimum. I got the breakfast sandwhich on toasted an english muffin, an iced oat milk latte, and a deliciously sweet eggnog cake donut. I wanted to order the queso as well as the cauliflower tots and will have to keep them in mind for my next visit! In addition to the light filled dining area, there is also a spacious outdoor portion meant for bringing your doggies and enjoying the fresh air. The best part of Better Half was that it wasn’t just that the cafe’s aesthetics that made it wonderful, but also that the food served was so good!

Alamo Drafthouse

I’ve been dying to watch the Korean movie, Parasite, for some time now after realizing how well it was doing on the award show circuit- it was awarded the highest honor at the Cannes Film Festival where it debuted and most recently was nominated for 6 Oscars including best picture. However, since its not a mass produced American film, it was really hard to find it showing at a theater in Houston so when I discovered that the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar in Austin was showing, I knew I couldn’t pass by the opportunity. Every seat was filled and my queso was beyond delicious, but to be honest I experienced none of that because the movie was simply amazing. There aren’t enough words to describe how crazy and insane and just good the movie is. You’ll have to just see for yourself!

101 by Teahaus

Not the best bubble tea I’ve had in Austin, but 101 by Teahaus was still a nice quiet dinner spot where I enjoyed Asian fusion food and a cup of milk tea. Its located in the Crestwood plaza where a bunch of Asian themed businesses like 99 Ranch and 85 Degrees Bakery have popped up.

Love Cycling

Love Cycling was completely not what I was expecting at all. The music video spin class I took was full of an older (but extremely fashionable) crowd and a lot of head banging 90s music. And I have to say- watching the music videos did take my mind off the suffering my body was going through while spinning. After class, there are fresh smelling eucalyptus towels, bananas, and hot coffee. A wonderful start to a Sunday! Single classes are $23 (there are no new client deals unfortunately) and shoes are $2 to rent.

Fresa’s

I stopped here for a quick breakfast with a friend before heading out of Austin and while I would much rather have eaten here for lunch, the breakfast quesadilla and horchata cold brew I ordered did not disappoint. I loved the bright colorful interiors!

Fun fact- Austin is currently #27 on The New York Times’ 52 Places List for 2020. As you know from my previous post, I am obsessed with those lists! So its very fitting that my first trip of 2020 is to a spot on one of my favorite online publications lists. I’ll be back in Austin soon and can’t wait to explore more!