Hello, friends! In my two years of living in Texas, Austin has quickly become one of my favorite cities. Something about its innate quirkiness, friendly people, and Austinian pride charms me every time I visit. I often visit with my boyfriend and we have found that a trip to Austin makes for a great date night. Here are some great date spots for your next trip to Austin, Texas.
**If you want the ultimate Austin date, go to these spots in sequence–I have!
Stroll Down South Congress Street
Find somewhere (hopefully) cheap to park and just take a nice stroll down SoCo. South Congress street is filled with weird little shops, delicious coffee shops, and live music. It’s a great place to just walk around and window shop. Believe me, you will find plenty of conversations points with all the scenery.
Be sure to check out the “I Love You So Much” mural, located outside Jo’s Coffee on South Congress. It’s an Austin icon and must-do when visiting. When I was there, there was a short line of people wanting to take pictures in front of the wall. However, there are plenty of friendly people around who are willing to take a picture for you.
Dinner at El Alma
I have been to this restaurant twice and it is one of my favorite date spots in Austin. It’s located right across Butler Metro Park, so while you are waiting on your table, you can take a walk around the park. This restaurant is trendy, has a great vibe, and delivers delicious Mexican food. I recommend their tacos and enchiladas, but I’m looking forward to trying more of their menu! Eating here will make you feel like a cool Austinian. Indoor and outside seating is a plus.
**Tip: Make sure to look up busy times at El Alma. Depending on the day and time of day, it can get a little busy.
Visit Butler Metro Park
Like I mentioned before, Butler Metro Park is located right across from El Alma. It’s a great place to visit if you are waiting for your table or if you want to digest a bit after your meal. The park is filled with families, dogs, and visitors–a very relaxing spot.
The park also features a view of the downtown skyline. Walk a little bit further into the park and you’ll find a small summit that gives an even better view of the skyline. This park is definitely one of my favorite romantic spots in Austin.
Dessert at Gourdough’s
After your walk through the park, you’ll probably feel digested enough to indulge in some dessert. I recommend going to Gourdough’s, a food truck with the most buttery, mouthwatering donuts you have ever had. They have a ton of different donuts on their menu. I have tried that maple bacon donut and the honey butter donut–both are delicious. The donuts here are rather large, so I would recommend sharing it. There are picnic tables for you to sit at and free parking on sight.
Travel Tips
When exploring Austin, make sure to be conscientious of busy times of day, as traffic can be a bit brutal at times. In addition to this, restaurants can get busy, so either make a reservation, have a plan of action, or prepare to practice some patience. I would also recommend taking a minute to just take in the city, look out the window, and enjoy all that this beautiful city has to offer.
I hope you enjoyed this travel post and found some inspiration for cool places to visit in Austin. Even though this post is labeled as “date spots”, you can certainly visit these places just to visit them! You’ll still have a great time and have a great Austin experience. Thank you for reading!
-Love Ling
Love Ling 