On average, around 100 people move to Austin every day—and for a great reason! Centered in the heart of Texas, the city has recently transformed from a sleepy college town to one of the largest, most vibrant cities in the country. The city was even ranked as the number one best place to live on U.S. News’ Best Places to Live in the USA list.
People move here for many reasons: the glorious weather, the warmth, and friendliness of the people, the promising job market, and the one-of-a-kind culture. You can’t go wrong with planting roots in the live music capital of the world. Lately regarded as “the next Silicon Valley”, the city is seeing a serious influx of new residents especially as we continue to watch the big tech companies pop over here.
Austin was settled around 1830 when the first pioneers called their village “Waterloo”. But in 1839, tiny Waterloo was chosen to be the capital of the new Republic of Texas. A new city was built quickly in the wilderness, and was named after Stephen F. Austin, "the father of Texas."
Nowadays, Austin is a thriving city with extensive entertainment, dining, shopping, and culture. There are several reasons why Austin, Texas reigns supreme as the most livable city in the Lone Star State.
What to Love
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A hip, thriving city with down-home Texas roots and a modern touch
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Unparalleled live music, food, and entertainment options. So much fun to be had here!
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A mecca for artists & creatives, hence the city tagline: “Keep Austin Weird”
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Great schools and family-friendly activities }
People and Lifestyle
Austin residents are a healthy mix of college students, young professionals, tech industry geniuses, government officials, new families, and creative types. This is the melting pot of Texas – there is something for every type here!
Texans are some of the friendliest folk out there, and we take care of our own; you’ll have no trouble making friends and meeting people here! Austin residents love to stay active by standup paddleboarding Lady Bird Lake, running the trails that border the city, taking a workout class downtown, or heading out to the Texas Hill Country for some hiking. Families love living here because the schools are excellent and the kids always have something to do on the weekends all year round.
Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping
There is truly no shortage of wonderful dining experiences, entertainment venues, and world-class shopping destinations here in Austin. Here are some of our favorites:
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This cozy all-hours eatery is the spot to find a great bite on South Congress Avenue (SoCo). At Magnolia Café you can experience classic diner fare at its best, with a homey and eccentric vibe that can only be achieved by 40 years in business. With a wide variety of choices, you can enjoy breakfast anytime, along with Tex-Mex dishes and the famed Mag Mud queso (black beans, queso, avocado, and pico de gallo).
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Vespaio is a quaint Italian restaurant located in the heart of the SoCo district, in what used to be a Western wear shop and grocery. Vespaio serves classic and creative Italian food using seasonal and local ingredients. Be sure to visit Enoteca Vespaio next door during happy hour (Monday - Friday, starting at 5 PM) for a taste of their extensive wine list and traditional cocktails with a twist.
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Matt's El Rancho has been a staple in the Austin dining scene since 1952, crafting homemade Tex-Mex cuisine in a large and inviting space on South Lamar. They offer delicious specialty entrées to choose from, along with weekend brunch fare and delicious "Knockout" Mexican martinis. Don’t forget to start with a large bowl of the famous Bob Armstrong Dip and a handmade margarita.
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Perla’s offers fresh fish and oysters, flown in daily from the coast with an emphasis on sourcing from the Gulf of Mexico. The bar serves up delicious seasonal cocktails and the wine list is stocked with a selection of perfect pairings. The stunning South Congress location features a comfortable and airy dining room as well as a beautiful patio where diners can watch the world go by under the shade of towering trees.
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Bouldin Creek Café is a bohemian-style café offering hearty meatless meals and fresh vegan dishes. They provide fairly-priced, wholesome food, in a welcoming, old Austin environment. Stop in for a cup of coffee and the tamale breakfast (eggs or tofu, with sweet potato and pecan tamales, house-made salsa and tortillas) or get your vegan barbecue fix with BBQ tempeh, smothered in house-made espresso bbq sauce.
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Cisco’s Restaurant Bakery & Bar, Feel presidential at LBJ’s daily meeting spot with fajitas migas and buttery biscuits, open since 1943. Dine-in and takeout services are available.
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Franklin BBQ (be prepared for a line around the block).
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Some of the other iconic restaurants are Home Slice Pizza, Odd Duck, Kerby Lane Cafe, Hula Hut on the lake, Mozarts coffee house
For live music and entertainment, Austin's celebrated live music scene includes more than 250 live music venues with just about every style represented; this is the live music capital of the world after all! Our favorites include The Hole In The Wall, The Saxon Pub, Volstead Lounge, Continental Club, and The Elephant Room. You will fall in love with the music scene here!
Shopping:
In North Austin, stroll the tree-lined walkways at The Domain, an outdoor shopping mall where luxury brands, big-name department stores, and staple shops beckon. Whether you’re looking to splurge big at the likes of Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton, pick up a new outfit at Anthropologie or Madewell, or spend hours browsing the racks at Macy’s or Neiman Marcus, this is the spot.
South First St: This local favorite is just a few blocks west of South Congress and is home to a wealth of locally-owned shops and eateries. Spend your afternoon strolling from shop to shop, then grab lunch or a happy hour from one of the many restaurants or food truck parks. Don't miss the vintage finds at Bloomers and Frocks, locally made works at Art for the People Gallery, and certified fair trade boots at Fortress of Inca. Refuel at La Patisserie, brunch the day away at Elizabeth Street Cafe, go vegan at Bouldin Creek Cafe, or enjoy the wine garden and at critically acclaimed Lenoir.
South Congress Vintage shops, used bookstores, and unique gift shops abound in this eclectic, funky stretch studded with casual eateries, cafes, and bars. While you’re here, marvel at the costumes at Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, shop Mexican folk art and jewelry at Tesoros Trading Company and pick up a pair of cowboy boots at the infamous Allens Boots. Guys won’t want to miss the trendy styles at hot spots like Revival Cycles, Co-Star, and Service Menswear.
Things To Do
You’ll never run out of ways to spend your weekends when you live in Austin. Whether lounging at one of the sprawling green spaces, paddleboarding on the lake or browsing eclectic local shops, you’ve got plenty to do and see! Here are a few of our favorites:
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Head to Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool, a natural spring-fed oasis just minutes from downtown
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South of Downtown Austin, Barton Creek Square Mall is the perfect spot to shop with families. Take kids and teens to the 14-screen movie theater and then power-shop more than 170 stores at this indoor mall, from department stores such as Nordstrom and Dillard’s to clothing shops such as GAP, J. Crew, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor. Every Saturday, you also can pick up farm-fresh foods and just-baked treats at the Barton Creek Farmers Market.
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Austin is home to the Texas capitol building, The Bob Bullock Texas Museum, and The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
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ACL: This refers to the annual music festival Austin City Limits. Although people around the country are familiar with spring's South by Southwest Festival (often shortened to "South-by"), ACL focuses solely on the music, bringing in huge acts like Lorde, Eminem, and Foster the People, as well as a long list of local and up-and-coming performers. This festival takes place for two weekends in October and is a favorite for students and locals.
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The Lady Bird Lake hike & bike trail is just across Cesar Chavez from the Austin Convention Center and is a great way to run off those breakfast tacos while seeing Austin's skyline
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Play 18 holes at one of Austin's many scenic golf courses!
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Austin has the largest urban bat colony in North America; you can see them at the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk from April to October and witness more than 1.5 million bats fly into the summer sunset!
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Catch a show at any live music spot or head to Broken Spoke to dance the night away.
Schools
Austin is a highly educated city with 29 public school districts, 27 chart school districts, and over 100 excellent private schools. The public Westlake High in Eanes Independent School District in particular is a nationwide Top 100 school and is focused on college prep.
The top private schools in the area are:
The city also offers great opportunities for higher education and is home to the University of Texas at Austin (a nationally-ranked school) as well as 26 other universities and colleges.