Post from Emily - Some restaurant suggestions from an Austin-ite

My friend’s sister lives in Austin, and gave the following recommendations near our hotel(s)…

Guero's Mexican food- They have an outside bar where you can drink and listen to live music. The food is authentic Mexican and the atmosphere feels like you're in Mexico. It's very lively and fun. This may be the perfect place to go after the race because I'm sure they'll have music and ya'll will feel like you’re at a party. www.guerostacobar.com

Home Slice Pizza - GREAT pizza and atmosphere. I felt like I was in New York or Boston. Lots of fun. It's just across the street from Guero's. www.homeslicepizza.com

Continental Club- One of the best places to see really good live music in Austin. It's been here forever. The music is always good even if you don't know who is playing. No food, it's just a bar. (One time I went there to see a band and Bonnie Raitt came up to play a few songs). It's one of those kind of places where you never know who may show up. Love, love, love the Continental. Also, Botticelli's is right next to it. www.continentalclub.com www.botticellissouthcongress.com

Magnolia Cafe- Now, THIS is an Austin original. It's open 24/7 and they have really good food. Sometimes at the South location the service can be mediocre. I've waited for a table at 2:30 in the morning more than once. Great place to go if you "need" food or are hungover. www.cafemagnolia.com

Speaking of hungover- Zax Pints and Plates is right by ya'lls hotel. They have a bloody mary bar where you can make your own. They have good brunch items and we've had dinner there too. It was also really good. The atmosphere is lively and happy. www.zaxaustin.com

Threadgills - Another Austin Icon. They usually have live music. We went there for Sunday brunch not long ago and heard a really good gospel group. They have true, blue southern comfort food. It's been here forever. Janis Joplin played at the other location, that tells you how long they've been here. www.threadgills.com

Jo's Coffee- This is across the street from Continental. It's just a little walk up coffee bar that makes a really good cup of Jo. Jo's is our local Starbucks... www.joscoffee.com

Also, a local website that has city info is: www.austin360.com

A fun thing to do right across the street from your hotel is to watch the bats fly out from under the Congress Bridge. Just ask the hotel and they can let you know. It's interesting. They fly out at dusk. Anywhere you go they will probably have a little newspaper called the Chronicle. It has everything that's going on in Austin on a weekly basis. You should pick one up and the hotel may even have them. They're free.