The Perfect 48 Hours in East Austin

East Austin is where we live, eat, and have been building lists of recommendations for over a decade. The Heywood Hotel sits right in the middle of it, and we know this neighborhood the way you know your own backyard. We’ve spent years exploring every corner of this neighborhood, curating recommendations for our guests and picking up insider knowledge to help you feel like a local during your stay. This is our take on the perfect 48 hours in East Austin: two days that give you a real feel for our city.

Whether you’re staying with us for the first time or you’ve been coming back for years, this itinerary is the one our concierge team would hand you at check-in.

---

Getting Settled

Getting to Austin has never been easier. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) offers nonstop flights from dozens of cities across the country including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Miami, and even London and Amsterdam, to name just a few. Once you land, you’re less than 15 minutes from East Austin.

Pull into the Heywood Hotel (which offers free parking for guests), drop your bags in one of our seven rooms, and kick back on the patio with a cold Zilker Brewing Company beer. If you’ve timed your arrival for the evening, East Austin’s late-night scene means you won’t have to wait until morning to start exploring the neighborhood. Here are a few of our favorite places to grab a late-night bite or nightcap:

• Golden Tiger: A great food truck located in the courtyard of the popular cocktail bar Whisler’s, and only a 10 minute walk from the Heywood. They are known for their fried chicken sandwiches, smash-style burgers, and loaded hand-cut fries. Open nightly until 1am.
• Revelry Kitchen + Bar: A nearby neighborhood kitchen with counter service and an elevated bar menu. Late night fare includes brisket tacos, a cajun-spiced buttermilk fried-chicken sandwich, and even a great salad. The kitchen is open until 11:30pm Sunday-Thursday, and until 1:30am Fridays and Saturdays.
• Drinks Lounge: Just down the street from the hotel, Drinks Lounge has everything you want for your late night cravings: burgers, wings, tacos, and tots. This casual bar also has a loaded jukebox to go along with their reasonably priced drink specials.

---

Day 1

Morning: Coffee and Light Breakfast

For your first full day in East Austin, we recommend starting your morning with coffee and light breakfast to gear up. Save the big, leisurely brunch spread for Day 2 and start with something that fuels rather than slows you down.

Our East Austin neighborhood has a handful of excellent coffee spots. One of our favorites is Flat Track Coffee. Located down the street from the Heywood Hotel, the specialty coffee roaster is known for meticulous sourcing and an approachable menu that includes custom house-blends and an assortment of single origin coffees.

For something sweet or carb-forward, grab a pastry from Rockman Bakery. Founded by Austin pastry chef Amanda Rockman, this bakery has earned a devoted following in its short time since opening on the Eastside. We recommend one of their fluffy bagels, the churro croissant, or a sourdough chocolate chip cookie.

We also love recommending Cosmic Saltillo, an indoor-outdoor coffee shop and beer garden tucked away in a renovated industrial space. 

Early Afternoon: Get Outside

East Austin is a neighborhood best experienced on foot, on a bike, or on the water. Once you’ve had your coffee, take advantage of the outdoors. Here are a few options we recommend, depending on your activity style.

Walk the neighborhood. This sounds simple, but it’s a great way to experience the area. From East Cesar Chavez to East 6th Street, and all of the blocks around them, there are plenty of storefronts, murals, and small surprises that you’ll see along the way.

Take a yoga class. Practice Yoga Austin is one of our favorite local studios, located on East 6th Street. They offer drop-in classes that are donation-based, at a suggested donation of $10-$20. This makes it easy to pop in without a membership or a reservation, put in your practice, and head back out into the day feeling a little lighter.

Go for a walk or bike ride along the Austin boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake. The Heywood Hotel keeps bikes available for guests, and we’re happy to point you toward the best routes. The most scenic option is to ride down to Lady Bird Lake and hop on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail. If you start your trip on the Eastside, you can hop onto the boardwalk which winds along the water and offers some of the best views of the Austin skyline you’ll find anywhere. The full trail loop is just over 10 miles, but even riding a short stretch is worth the trip.

Get on the water. For something more adventurous, Expedition School offers kayak and canoe rentals, along with guided trips. We can’t recommend this activity enough as it puts you on Lady Bird Lake from a different vantage point. Rentals are between $15-$25 per hour.

Late Afternoon: Happy Hour

East Austin happy hours are unmatched. Once you’ve worked up an appetite for something cold and refreshing, there’s no shortage of great options.

Kitty Cohen’s is a Palm Springs dream transplanted to East Austin, complete with a tiny pool, colorful patio furniture, and cocktails that feel like they should come with a poolside lounge chair. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3-7pm.

Another can’t-miss happy hour is Licha’s Cantina. The Mexico City-style restaurant offers one of the best happy hour deals in the neighborhood: $8 drinks Tuesday through Friday from 4-6pm. Enjoy a frozen margarita on the patio as you wind down for the afternoon.

If you’re looking for something with a little more culinary intention, Hillside Farmacy has a great happy hour that often flies under the radar. We recommend the Farmacy Plate, which includes housemade charcuterie and cured meats, and a bottle of wine, both of which are half off during happy hour which runs every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3-5pm.

For breweries, Zilker Brewing Company on East 6th Street is one of our all-time favorites. We even keep their beer stocked at the hotel! The brewery’s outdoor space is lively, the beers are reliably excellent, and the on-site food trucks, Spicy Boys and Patty Palace, offer quick bites to hold you over until dinner.

If you’re a fan of sour beers, visit Blue Owl Brewing, which is a short walk from the Heywood. Grab a pint and settle in on the front patio overlooking Cesar Chavez.

For a beer garden vibe, head down Cesar Chavez to Central Machine Works. The industrial-chic brewery has a sprawling outdoor space that fills up fast on weekends. Great beers, solid pizza, and an energetic atmosphere set the perfect tone as you head into the evening.

Evening: Dinner

East Austin has some of the best restaurants in the city. For the perfect 48 hours in Austin, there are a few we recommend most often.

A fixture of our neighborhood since 2013, Bufalina serves wood-fire Neapolitan-style pizza in a quaint space on Cesar Chavez. The pizzeria is also known for its extensive natural wine offerings, with a thoughtfully curated selection of over 500 wines.

Oseyo is a modern Korean-American kitchen right across the street from the Heywood Hotel, and it’s become one of the neighborhood’s most appreciated spots since it opened. Dishes are served with homemade banchan like kimchi and inspired by family recipes.

Casa Bianca is an Italian-influenced restaurant with a menu that includes a cold bar, handmade pasta, and desserts like the limoncello donut. Enjoy your meal in the stylish dining room or on the rooftop patio for scenic views of downtown Austin.

Skip the Line at la Barbecue The Heywood Hotel has partnered with la Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meats, and KG BBQ for our SAVOR AUSTIN getaway package — a curated MICHELIN experience with a VIP stay and extras at some of the best BBQ in Austin. Book the SAVOR AUSTIN Package →

Night: Drinks, Dancing, and a Show

After dinner is the perfect time to take in East Austin’s nightlife. Here are a few places we recommend to wrap up the night.

Coldtowne Theater is about one block from the Heywood and one of the city’s best spots for improv and sketch comedy. You’ll find a diverse range of shows happening every weekend, and it’s sure to be one of the more memorable parts of your trip.

The White Horse is the quintessential East Austin night out. Just a few blocks from the Heywood Hotel, the honky-tonk offers live music seven nights a week, $5-10 covers, and two-step lessons every Thursday. Whether you actually dance or just watch, there’s nowhere else in Austin quite like it.

If the evening calls for something more low-key, Parley is directly across the street from the hotel and the ideal spot for a drink or two. Dark and moody, the neighborhood bar offers excellent cocktails and light bites. It’s also attached to Oseyo, making it easy to pop into after dinner. Afterwards, you can walk across the street to the Heywood to retire for the night.

---

Day 2

Morning: Leisurely Brunch

After a full first day, the second morning of your trip is the best time for a full sit-down breakfast experience.

Juan in a Million and Joe’s Bakery are East Austin institutions that have been neighborhood favorites for decades. Juan in a Million is famous for the Don Juan taco: eggs, potatoes, bacon or chorizo, and cheese, piled high and wrapped in a flour tortilla. The MICHELIN-recommended Joe’s Bakery has been a family operation since 1962 and serves homestyle Mexican breakfast. These are both great options if you imbibed the night before, as plenty of UT students and locals can attest to.

Paperboy is a more contemporary brunch option. The all-day breakfast menu offers classic dishes like Texas hash and chicken and biscuits, but the Paperboy Pancake is a standout. It’s fluffy, shareable, and can be made with blueberries or chocolate chips. Expect a line on weekends, or make a reservation to secure your table (the Heywood Hotel concierge team can help!).

Launderette is one of our team’s favorites for a leisurely brunch. The menu features globally-inspired Southern dishes like an Everything Biscuit, Pork Shoulder Hash, and Fried Chicken Sammie. Brunch is served on weekends from 11am to 2:15pm.

Early Afternoon: BBQ

Your trip to Austin wouldn’t be complete without barbecue. It’s important to note that most Eastside BBQ spots open around 11am and sell out by early afternoon. If this is a non-negotiable for your trip, we recommend skipping brunch and heading straight to one of these barbecue joints.

la Barbecue is a nearby MICHELIN-rated spot, known for beef ribs and brisket that have made it one of the most talked-about spots in Austin. It’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays and opens at 11am Wednesdays through Sundays. It’s best to get in line 30 minutes or so before opening to make sure you get your preferred meats.

Micklethwait Craft Meats is another excellent choice located a little further away on Springdale Road. While this East Austin barbecue spot has been slinging exceptional smoked meats since 2012, the sides deserve as much attention as the protein.

KG BBQ is a more recent entry to the Eastside BBQ scene with deep Egyptian-American roots. The spicing is distinct and the brisket is exceptional. It also earned a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recognition in 2025 and is another one of our partners for the SAVOR AUSTIN experience.

Want to skip the line or receive extra perks? We’ve partnered with la Barbecue, Micklethwait and KG BBQ for our SAVOR AUSTIN getaway package, a curated MICHELIN experience that includes a VIP stay at the Heywood Hotel and extras at local MICHELIN-rated restaurants like la Barbecue.

Late Afternoon: Shopping, Art, and a Drink in the Courtyard

East Austin’s shopping and arts scene is spread across several pockets of town, making it perfect for an afternoon wander. Start by heading toward East 11th Street, a well-known shopping area that has been named by Time Out as one of the coolest streets in the world.

take heart is a thoughtfully curated gift and lifestyle shop where you’ll find a range of home accessories like handmade ceramics, self-care items like candles and poetry books, along with plenty of giftable items to remember your stay in Austin.

There’s also the nearby Kindred Spirits, a clothing and lifestyle store that offers women’s apparel, jewelry, shoes, and apothecary items.

For something a little different, be sure to visit Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar. It’s equal parts independent bookstore and neighborhood wine bar, making it a relaxing place to spend your afternoon.

For an arts fix, grayDUCK Gallery on East Cesar Chavez is one of the city’s best contemporary galleries. The space offers rotating shows and a strong commitment to Texas artists in a welcoming atmosphere. Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday from 12-6pm, or by appointment.

You can also visit Canopy on Springdale Road, which is home to local artists and makers, including a few we feature at the Heywood Hotel. The creative campus and multi-use art space hosts rotating exhibitions, open studios, and events worth checking out.

If you’re staying with us at the Heywood, come back to the hotel and enjoy a drink on the private courtyard patio. It’s one of our favorite things we offer guests: a quiet, shaded outdoor space that feels like a peaceful retreat after a bustling day around town.

Evening: One Final Dinner

Enjoy one last meal to end your 48 hours in Austin. One of our favorite restaurants to recommend is Intero. The intimate Italian restaurant is run by Chef Ian Thurwachter and Chocolatier & Pastry Chef Krystal Craig, both born and raised in Austin. The menu features contemporary Italian dishes made with seasonal ingredients. After dinner, enjoy dessert by ordering decadent, handcrafted chocolate bites from the in-house chocolate bar. If you’re leaving town the next morning, this is a memorable place to close out the trip.

East Austin is also home to many MICHELIN-recommended restaurants. Suerte and Este represent the best of Austin’s modern Mexican cooking. Suerte is known for its masa-forward, wood-fired approach, and Este for its Baja-inspired coastal flavors.

For something equally celebrated and a bit more under the radar, Ezov brings bold, produce-driven Israeli cuisine to the neighborhood and has become one of the most exciting tables in the city. And if you plan ahead and snag a reservation at Toshokan, the intimate Japanese omakase experience is as close to a bucket-list meal as Austin offers right now.

Still hungry for something sweet? The East Austin dessert scene has many options, from gelato at Dolce Neve to vegan and gluten-free ice cream at Gati Ice Cream, and even Asian-inspired desserts at Oseyo.

If you’re looking to enjoy one last activity, head to Hotel Vegas & The Volstead Lounge. The two spaces share a connected patio on East 6th Street and host live music most nights of the week, from punk and indie to rock, hip-hop, and DJ sets.

---

The Perfect 48 Hours in East Austin Starts at the Heywood Hotel

Located in the heart of East Austin, the Heywood Hotel is a design-forward, woman-owned luxury boutique hotel offering seven architecturally distinctive rooms. Founded in 2012 by Austin couple Kathy Setzer and George Reynolds, the hotel emphasizes “handcrafted hospitality,” combining local craftsmanship, modern design, and personalized service to deliver a truly authentic Austin experience.

In the MICHELIN Guide 2025, the Heywood Hotel was awarded One MICHELIN Key for its excellence in boutique hospitality. The hotel was selected as a top 3 Austin hotel in the New York Times feature “36 Hours in Austin” and was named “Best Hotel in Austin for Local Flavor” by Forbes.

Everything in this guide is a short walk or quick ride from the hotel. One of the things we love most about this location is how much of what makes East Austin special is right outside the door. If you want to customize any part of this itinerary, whether for different dietary needs, a special occasion, a more active or more laid-back pace, our concierge team is here to help. We’re local experts and would enjoy nothing more than to help you curate the perfect stay in Austin.

Book Your East Austin Stay at the Heywood Hotel MICHELIN-rated, woman-owned, and steps from everything in this guide. Our concierge team are local experts and would enjoy nothing more than helping you curate the perfect stay in Austin. Book Your Room →