Best Nightlife in Lake Austin

"Designed to feel more like a Hill Country ranch than a restaurant, Contigo is just north of much of Austin's action, drawing families on the weekends with kids who love to run around its outdoor space. The steaks and burgers are well worth going out of your way for, as are the cocktails, which are mostly seasonal. You'll feel like a real Austinite here, surrounded by locals from the neighborhood at one of the family-style tables and chatting up the staff that seems to know every anecdote about what's served here and where it comes from."

"Contigo is a choice location just outside of downtown for amazing, well, everything. The completely outdoor rustic eating area is true to Texas and very rancho-chic. The food offerings are farm to table and as such, vary often based on ingredient availability."

"Situated on Anchor Lane just by the Southwest Greenway, the first thing diners notice about Contigo is the fantastic open front and huge outdoor dining area. This is because the ow..."

"You can sit outside in Austin almost any month of the year - with a short break in the summer for 110 degree days and that one week in January when it drops below 40. So it makes sense that there’s no shortage of great patios, but there are few better spots to eat and drink outside than Perla’s. You’ll sit under a large tree while servers bring you oysters and make you feel like you’re vacationing in a small beach town - despite being able to hear the traffic of South Congress and see a guy testing out his “Cowboy Mime” act for tips."

"Congress, 512/291-7300www.perlasaustin.comHours: Brunch Sat.-Sun., 10:30am-3pm; lunch Mon.-Fri., 11am-3pm; snacks & raw bar daily, 3-5:30pm; dinner daily, 5:30pm-close. Happy hour weekdays, 3-6pm. To say that McGuire Moorman Hospitality group has the Midas touch would be an understatement."

"Austin might be miles from the beach, but you would never know it while eating at Perla’s. The seafood is fresh, the nautical interior is fun and food is consistently top-notch."

"4710 E 5th St, Austin | Ask nearly anyone that’s been living in Austin longer than 5 years and they most likely have at least one story that involves a fun night of mischief at Justine’s. The patio and interior proudly boast its old-world French-inspired bungalow, meshed with the liveliness of New Orleans bar to set the mood for a fun night. The incredibly playful service team, coupled with a delicious menu of French snacks and creative cocktails will keep you and your friends coming back for the party."

"Location & ParkingSouth Austin (off Congress) // Parking lot available but limited spots. DetailsI used to head over here ALL THE TIME for happy hour, but unfortunately they recently changed the happy hour prices so I can’t consider this a go-to anymore. However, it is still stunning and features beautiful gardens and fire pits."

"Lenoir is the refined madame to Justine’s sultry mademoiselle. With the beautiful, romantic decor and cozy dining room, Lenoir is an impressive first date venue. Opt for the four-course tasting menu, which makes ordering a breeze, freeing up the rest of your time to chat away."

"Chez Zee was almost instantly loved when it opened in 1989, and its popularity has never waned. Part of the appeal is due to a leafy central courtyard, local art, and live piano music several nights a week. Lunch and dinner consist of casual American dishes, including salads and pastas, and there's a fantastic weekend brunch, too."

"Hailed as one of the best brunch restaurants in America, the whimsical walls of Chez Zee have been welcoming hungry Austinites since 1989. Full of fun and warmth, fairy lights and ..."

"A post shared by Li C01 (@li_c01) on Aug 21, 2018 at 9:27am PDT. If you are looking for what we call fine dining followed by a sweet gastronomical treat, then look no further. Copper Restaurant & Dessert Lounge brings a Texas twist in their southern dining, while their menu features lunch specials, delicious snacks, burgers, wraps, various brunch plates, and eclectic cocktails."

"Start your weekend brunch with a Copper House Coffee (for those 21+ peeps) and get to brunchin’ with your friends!. We can confirm that the Creme Brulee French Toast is actually sent from heaven!. And we can’t forget about the Honey Dipped Fried Chicken & Biscuits."

"This place takes the humble banana and turns it into a work of art by stabbing it with the non-business end of a spoon and dipping it in deliciousness. Many of their menu items are naturally gluten-free, but if you’re willing to go forth with gluten, then there’s nothing more delicious than peanut butter and banana — except maybe peanut butter and banana and chocolate and graham crackers. You’ll find this flavor combo in the Peanut Butter Pie Banana."

"Come see us from 6-10 pm this Thursday at our Space 24 Twenty location (2420... This ‘revolutionary’ dessert shop is the only banana frozen stand in Austin, that actually operates year-round for catering, and occasionally during the off-season. The company operates from two stands and holds a rather eco-friendly approach, using bananas predominantly from socially responsible brands, and also composting and recycling banana peels whenever possible."

"Even if you don’t stay here you can marvel at the architecture and the creepy vibe, and get a confection at the 1886 Café & Bakery. Cross over Lady Bird Lake and keep going until you arrive at the city’s most popular strip, South Congress Avenue, which is lined with funky shops, trendy boutiques, and restaurants. If you get hungry, order a margarita with shrimp fajitas at popular Güero’s Taco Bar. Check out the oddity shop Uncommon Objects and marvel at the $3,000 cowgirl boots at Allens Boots."

"Located downtown in the historic Driskill Hotel is this elegant little cafe. While partaking in some food and bubbly, be sure to save some room for the decadent chocolate cake with rich chocolate ganache. View this post on Instagram"

"Downtown's 1886 Cafe & Bakery, located at 604 Brazos St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the bakery, traditional American breakfast and brunch eatery four stars out of 415 reviews."

"The Wildflower Center is a wonderful place to visit any time of year, but the season when its namesake flowers are abloom is pretty special. Founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes with the mission of conserving native plants, creating sustainable landscapes, and conserve resources, it features nine acres of gardens, a 16-acre arboretum, a large and impressive rainwater collection system, 800 species of native plants, and landscapes that, as its website notes, “support a vast web of life, and have recorded more than 143 species of birds, 15 species of mammals, and 1,800 species of insects.”. View this post on Instagram"

"The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin is great for exploring the beautiful flora and fauna native to the Lone Star State. It also offers family programs that allow children to get hands-on experience with gardening. Take your toddlers to Sprouts, an ongoing preschool program that leads you through its Family Garden, with each week focusing on a specific theme, such as “insect investigation.” For older kids, it provides free magnifying glasses, books, binoculars and more to enhance the possibilities of discovery."

"Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildflower Center is the home to sustainable, native plant gardens and education, conservation, research and consulting programs. The Wildflower Center is always blooming with plants that are in season. 4801 La Crosse Ave, wildflower.org"

"Cosmic Coffee is one of our favorite South Austin coffee shops to work and meet up with friends for an evening drink. Whether you’re looking for coffee, kombucha on tap, or an ice-cold beer, this is your place. They have an array of food trucks parked outside every day with more than enough picnic tables for you to spread out and keep your distance from others."

"There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, but the outdoor area is particularly magical with plants, rocks, and a chicken coop that serve as endless entertainment. There’s also food trucks parked on the property so you can make a meal of it. (photos by Chase Daniel of Greater Goods Coffee for Arch Daily)"

"Mayfield Park started life as the Mayfield Gutsch Estate, a lovely historic cottage that was built in the 19th century on 21 acres of natural land, including a beautiful 2 acre garden. Mayfield Park is quiet, peaceful, and beautiful, with walking trails and community garden space often filled with flowers and veggies, depending on the deason. The trails are short, perfect for families or people looking for a quick stroll."

"Why You’ve Got to Go: Laguna Gloria and Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve is among the fun places for kids in Austin. This is a two-in-one destination that includes learning as well as play. What to Do: The Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park is one of my favorite aspects of the Laguna Gloria museum."

"Right next door to Laguna Gloria, Mayfield Park is a small and magical park that’s ideal for picnicking. However, Mayfield’s biggest attraction is the flock of gorgeous peacocks that roam freely. Best of all, this unusual park has no admission fee."

"August to December, the University of Texas’ indomitable football team, the Texas Longhorns, play at the top level of college football in the United States, in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. In its time, this member of the Big 12 Conference (the country’s strongest athletic colleges) has taken four national titles and another six that are unclaimed. A team with this kind of pedigree has a stadium to match, at this 100,000+ arena, one of the ten largest stadiums in the world."

"They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that even applies to their football games. Before kickoff, you’ll see the world’s largest Texas flag and Big Bertha, the world’s largest bass drum. Don’t expect a mascot clad in polyester to come out and hype the crowd."

"There’s also the University of Texas campus and a couple interesting post graduate neighborhoods like Hyde Park. To be honest, most of North Austin, apart from UT, is pretty boring to me. The Domain is kinda cool, and it has things like Topgolf, but The Domain seems like every other city in the states. It’s not very unique."

"Wander about this historic college campus for a fun and free activity. You can see the University of Texas tower, which is the center point of the university. Check out the behemoth football stadium, which serves as home to the Texas Longhorns."