As a man of the people, I’m always looking to add value to your Red Cup Rebellion subscription, which currently retails at the low price of Free 99.
And what better way to boost that value than providing a list of things to do if you’re visiting Austin this weekend for the baseball series. If you’re not coming this weekend but plan to visit for the Ole Miss/Texas football game in the fall, parts of this will probably still be useful then.
As some of you may be aware, I live in Austin and have been
here for 16 years (SWEET MERCY, SEEING IT IN WRITING IS JARRING). So what follows is the collection of my knowledge matched with a short weekend trip filled with activities and not a blow-it-out vacation, which means the U FANCY will be limited.
I’m primarily going to mention things within a reasonable distance of downtown, campus, and the baseball stadium, which is just east of campus and northeast of downtown.
I’m also trying to keep in mind that the game times are 6:30 PM (Friday), 2:30 PM (Saturday), and 1 PM (Sunday), which compresses recreational schedules.
If you have questions about anything in this list or those not appearing, feel free to drop them in the comments, and I’ll get you an answer. And I will 100 percent leave things off this list that I meant to include.
Food
There are great restaurants everywhere, and if you’re looking for a specific cuisine or something higher end, you can find it, but this is the short weekend selection.
- Stiles Switch BBQ* – It made Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ Joints in 2025 and is the perfect combination of outstanding food and minimal wait time (20-30 minutes), which is how I judge all BBQ places. I ain’t here to play 2-4 hour waits for food.
- Tyson’s Tacos – Normally, I would never tell anyone who lives here about this place because I don’t want them clogging up the line. But since you’re only here for the weekend, I’ll tell you (Crispy Duck taco is outrageous).
- Casino El Camino** – A dive bar on Dirty 6th that serves elite burgers and is a great day-drinking spot.
- Foodheads – Only open for breakfast and lunch (closed on Sunday), and it’s a great sandwich spot.
- Phil’s Icehouse – Another burger spot I will never besmirch.
- Home Slice Pizza – One of my friends once saw Lyle Lovett here.
- East Side Pies – Thin-crust pizza, but still great.
- Hula Hut – Depending on what you order, the food is solid, but it’s a great spot right on the river and elite if the weather is good.
- Red River Cafe – This is a diner very close to the baseball stadium and would be a great Saturday/Sunday spot if your party is looking to dabble on the breakfast and lunch menus.
- Fonda San Miguel – This is my lone more fancy pants recommendation (though there are many more fancy pants places at your disposal). Everything is great, and if they’re not taking reservations, you can still show up and get seated in the bar area and order from the full menu.
*Fun fact, Stiles Switch is in the same parking lot where the exterior scenes for The Emporium were filmed in Dazed and Confused.
**Double fun fact, the first time I went to Casino El Camino, they were playing Conan the Barbarian on the TVs so it’s dive bar certified.
Drink
Again, like restaurants, there are 9 billion bars in Austin, so you can find whatever type of bar you’re looking for. I list these primarily for speed, many beers, outdoor seating if the weather is nice, and convenience. Oh, and all of these either serve food or have a food truck on site.
- Draught House*
- Crown and Anchor
- Little Woodrow’s
- Haymaker
*I was once a major financial contributor to their light bill.
If you’re interested in sampling a local brewery, these are the two I’ve visited the most:
- Independence Brewery
- Hi Sign Brewing*
*Myself and a coworker once won trivia at Hi Sign with just the two of us in a field of 15-ish teams (teams of 6 people allowed). It was the “US men’s hockey team beating the Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics” of trivia upsets. Cannot begin to describe the heater we were on.
Recreation
If you’re not familiar with Austin, the east branch of the Colorado River flows through downtown. It’s officially called Lady Bird Lake (after Lyndon Johnson’s wife) or Town Lake, which are ridiculous names because, you know, IT’S A RIVER.
This will forever GRIND MY GEARS, but everyone pretends this is normal. Anyhow, if you are inclined, there are walking/running trails around it, a pedestrian bridge over it, and a boardwalk that goes along part of it. You can also rent paddleboards and kayaks to get on the water.
Other things of note:
- Pick a greenbelt and walk/hike at your leisure
- Mount Bonnell
- Zilker Park (this is where Austin City Limits Music Festival is held)
- Auditorium Shores
- Barton Springs Pool
- LBJ Presidential Library
- Bullock Museum
- Walking around the grounds of the capitol
- Find a live show to see – fortunately for you, South by Southwest starts today, which means the city will be even more awash in them
If you are of the golfing type, there are multiple public courses, but I would lower your expectations in terms of quality.
Lions is an 18-hole course that is quirky and probably not like any course you’ve ever played, but it’s fun. Hancock is a short 9-hole course that was the original Austin Country Club (founded in 1899), and another unique course.
Finally, and this is for golfers and non-golfers, Butler Pitch and Putt just across the river from downtown is highly entertaining. It’s a BYOB par 3 course where the longest hole is just over 100 yards. They also rent clubs and balls if you’re not traveling with your golf stuff.
Avoid at all costs
I-35.
Like flying American Airlines when you have a connection, if you choose to get on it, you deserve every ounce of pain headed your way.
Don’t be alarmed
If you find yourself a few miles north of campus and on Koenig Road going west, this road will eventually turn into Allandale Road, Northland Drive, and FM 2222 without ever becoming a different stretch of pavement. It’s the same continuous road, but it has 4 different names. A completely unserious city.
Finally
Some years back, someone put up a sign for those in town for South by Southwest. I’m paraphrasing, but it said, “Welcome to Austin. Enjoy all the wonderful things our city has to offer, but please don’t move here.”
