Downtown Walking Tour

Description:

The 1886 was once the gathering point for pretty much all of Austin. With its diner-cafe feel, most flocked to The Driskill's lobby for wholesome food, the quality bar and the friendly atmosphere. The now revived 1886 Cafe and Bakery is no different. Walk across the chequered tile floor and take a seat beneath the art-deco chandeliers. The 1886 Bakery opens early and offers great chocolate croissants, muffins and aromatic coffee. If you're in for breakfast, the cast iron skillets or benedicts are just what you need. The lunch and dinner menus cover a good range of pasta, salads and steaks. It may say 1886, but step in and enjoy the Austin chic.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Second Street District is a great area for people watching. Weekend mornings draw the downtown dwellers out for coffee, dogs in tow. The area also holds a number of special events, like the annual Barkitecture doghouse-building competition, throughout the year.

Description:

Austin's city center holds more than commercial high-rises and government offices -- urban lofts, sidewalk eateries and local boutiques abound, particularly in the Second Street District. Running from the Austin Children's Museum west to the Ballet Austin headquarters, the three-block area provides an alternative shopping experience to the standard indoor mall. Trendy clothing, home decor and one-of-a-kind jewelry stores are interspersed among health food cafes, coffee shops, wine bars such as Cru and Malaga, and gourmet restaurants like Cantina Laredo and Three Forks. Many of the shops and some of the restaurants are locally owned and operated. City officials and local businesspeople invested heavily in Second Street as a way of encouraging people to live, play and work downtown. Austin's City Hall complex adds a funky element to the Second Street District (the building has an armadillo tail), while another popular shopping area, South Congress Avenue, is just a few blocks south.

Our Local Expert Says:

Dine amid pop culture history. This old warehouse transformed into an eclectic loft for the 16th season of MTV's "The Real World" before becoming this trendy Mexican eatery.

Description:

Rio Grande celebrates the tradition of gathering around a meal. That, and margaritas. Lots of margaritas. Try a mango margarita with your choice of many fine tequilas. If your buzz gets too wild, cool it down with one of their fresh salads or signature fajitas.

Description:

As one of Austin's most important streets, Congress Avenue's entire district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings that frame the street are full of distinctive beauty. The oldest documented building is the Robinson-Rosner Building at 504 Congress (1856). Starting at the Capitol, the street continues south, passing fabulous little shops and eateries. Stop in at Hickory Street for a quick lunch, check out The State Theatre or Paramount Theatre to see what fantastic production is going on in the evening, or wander into Starbucks for coffee and treats.

Description:

The Paramount Theatre has stood on Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin for nearly 100 years. The site of the Paramount Theatre was once home to Sam Houston's office and the War Department of the Republic of Texas and later the Avenue Hotel. As Austin's oldest surviving theatre built in 1915, the Paramount has a long history of entertaining Central Texas audiences.

Description:

With award-winning exhibitions focusing on American art and its significance to the region, this museum hosts fabulous works by contemporary artists. Along with the fantastic touring shows, this museum often has professionals speak about the works and their significance. The Austin Museum of Art is also involved with the television series The Territory, which showcases independent film and video broadcasts through the Public Broadcasting System stations. A free docent-led tour is available to the public at 2pm every Saturday during exhibitions; group tours require special arrangements. Groups of ten or more are asked to reserve a time to visit the Museum.

Description:

Originally housing the first classes ever held by the University of Texas at Austin in 1894, the remains of Austin's first state house is directly across from the current State Capitol Building. Once serving as a temporary capitol building after a fire destroyed the original, the only remains are the foundation and cistern. Take a moment and consider the great achievements, trials and tribulations that have molded Texas into the state it is today.

Our Local Expert Says:

Though any time at the capitol is awe-inspiring, seeing the Texas State Capitol during the holiday season is magical. Be sure to traipse through the vibrant green grounds—this is a perfect spot for a super cheap but utterly romantic date.

Description:

The Texas State Legislature meets only once every two years, so if the cavernous building seems oddly deserted, the legislature is probably not in session. Considered one of the nation's most distinguished state buildings, the Texas State Capitol, with its strong red granite facade and Renaissance Revival architectural style, sits regally on a hill overlooking Congress Avenue. Largest of all state capitols and only second in size to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Texas State Capitol anchors the north end of downtown, just four blocks south of the University of Texas at Austin campus. Free tours of the capitol building cover Texas history, fun facts about the 17 monuments on the 22-acre, park-like grounds, and information about the Texas legislature, or take the self-guided tour to explore at your own pace. You'll need to go through a quick security check at the entrance, including having your bags scanned by a metal detector.

Description:

St. Mary's Cathedral, designed by noted Texas architect Nicholas J. Clayton, is the oldest Catholic church in Austin. Construction was completed in 1884, but exquisite French and German stained glass windows were added in the 1890s. A beautiful piece of Gothic architecture, this small cathedral now seems almost dwarfed by the high-rise buildings downtown.

Our Local Expert Says:

This haven of Southern comfort food offers an impressive brunch spread for $15.95 Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Description:

Moonshine Bar & Grill sits in the oldest building in Austin and the decor tastefully reflects that. The sweeping arches and exquisite mirrors on the brick and stone walls, not to mention the warm fireplace, all make for a cozy setting. The starters everyones raves about are the corn dog shrimp (skewered shrimp in cornmeal batter, served with honey and blueberry mustard). The choice entrées are the broiled rainbow trout and Texas flat iron steak. Don't miss out on the creamy macaroni and cheese topped with a bacon gratin. Behind the main restaurant is a refurbished carriage converted into a bar, making the his downtown restaurant an ideal setting, no matter the occasion.

Description:

Although Willie Nelson and crossover country-and-western bands such as the Austin Lounge Lizards have been known to turn up at Clifford Antone's place, the club owner's name has always been synonymous with the blues. Stevie Ray Vaughan used to be a regular, and when such major blues artists as Buddy Guy, Etta James, or Edgar Winter venture down this way, you can be sure they'll either be playing Antone's or stopping by for a surprise set. Clifford Antone died recently, and the response by the blues community was a large outpouring of performances to honor the man. Look for the club to continue the same trajectory set out by its former owner.

Our Local Expert Says:

This Sixth Street anchor and Austin landmark is said to harbor a handful of friendly ghosts, including the hotel's namesake himself, Colonel Driskill.

Description:

Location. Located in downtown Austin, Texas, the Driskill Hotel was once the showplace of a cattle baron. Located seven miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, this historic 12-story hotel is adjacent to Sixth Street entertainment district and less than one mile from the Texas State Capitol Complex.
Hotel Features. Gargoyles and busts of The Driskill Hotel's owner and his sons still peer out from high above each entrance, and shorhorn steer heads adorn the outer walls. The lobby's three-story columns reach to a stained-glass dome ceiling canopying marble floors. The hotel features a full-service business center, elegant meeting facilities wired with high-tech capabilities, and a fitness studio complete with stretching room and massage tables. The Driskill Grill offers contemporary American cuisine in elegant surroundings, while old Texas-style décor is found in the 1886 Café & Bakery, serving full breakfasts and light entrees daily. The Driskill Bar is furnished with cowhide couches and features an extensive wine list, native Texas brews, and live piano music.
Guestrooms. Palatial guestrooms and suites span from the Driskill's Traditional Wing, built in 1929 featuring the colorful surroundings of the Texas Hill Country, to the Historic Wing's vaulted decorative ceilings, detailed woodwork and balconies. Both wings include original art, lavish draperies, and opulent beds featuring Frette Italian linens. Bathrooms are outfitted with black Brazilian marble tile, brass fixtures and bathrobes. Nightly turndown service, minibars and expanded cable television are room standards. Complimentary guestroom amenities include coffee service, newspapers and high- speed Internet access.
Expert Tip. Built in 1886, the Driskill is rich in history and serves as a landmark of Texas hospitality. Its dark mahogany bar with brass railings, scrolled mirrors and crystal globes was imported from Germany and has been featured in many movies throughout the decades, including "Cabaret" in 1972. This hotel is non-smoking.