And be sure to bring home a toy for your favorite furry friend from Paws on Chicon.įor dinner, enjoy the stunning Town Lake views at gay-owned Arlo Grey as you savor the dishes of Top Chef winner Kristin Kish. Buy a summer feminist read from BookWoman or discover a new author at Reverie Books.
Snag a cool secondhand T-shirt or jacket from Never Knew. Find all your fancy picnic fixins’ at Tiny Grocer, which sells locally produced specialty foods and wine. Pick up apparel and home accessories exclusively designed by LGBTQIA+ designers at The Little Gay Shop. Make time to shop at some of Austin’s gay-owned stores. Make sure to get a snap of the nearby With Liberty and Justice for All (A Work in Progress) exhibition by Jim Hodges on the rooftop of The Contemporary Austin at the Jones Center. Before leaving downtown, stop by for a picture in front of the tallest piece of public artwork in Austin, the 103-foot rainbow mural Tau Ceti by Josef Kristofoletti. Next, make your way downtown to the Mexic-Arte Museum to view traditional and contemporary Mexican and Latin American art and in a renovated historic building. Or, head down the block for quality slow-smoked meats from LGBTQ-owned la Barbecue and enjoy your 'cue on the outdoor patio. Stop in to Quickie Pickie for locally roasted coffee, 24 taps and fresh, house-made meals from morning to night. Grab a quick lunch in East Austin at local favorites like vegan-friendly cafe Counter Culture. Plus, it’s home to the Zilker Botanical Garden (reserve tickets online in advance), UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum (purchase of advance admission available) and Barton Springs Pool, a historic spring-fed swimming spot that’s also great for people watching.
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Or, get out on the water with a stand-up paddleboard or kayak rented from a local rental company.Īlso check out Zilker Park, a 360-acre dog-friendly oasis in the heart of downtown that’s the site of festivals like Austin City Limits and free performances at Zilker Hillside Theatre. Also located here is Dee Dee, serving up authentic Northern Thai street-food for lunch and dinner.Īustin is all about the outdoors, so why not join fellow joggers on the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, which winds along shimmering waters and has picturesque views of Austin’s skyline. Then grab a hearty breakfast from on-site patio food truck Veracuz All Natural, where authentic Mexican tacos are made with all natural and fresh ingredients. The community is integrated throughout this inclusive town, which means that LGBTQ visitors will find a warm welcome wherever they wander.Ĭheck out our two-day itinerary that will direct you to some of the most popular shopping districts, restaurants, nightclubs and gay-owned businesses in Austin.įuel up for the day with an espresso from at Radio Coffee & Beer in South Austin. But you won’t find just one “gayborhood” here. Austin is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the country, with a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index.