Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Notice:We have made the tough decision to say goodbye to the Foursquare City Guide mobile app, effective December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Visit our FAQ for more information or to download our Swarm app.
Learn more
SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action
Frank Restaurant is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

1. Frank Restaurant

407 Colorado St (btw 4th & 5th), Austin, TX
Hot Dog Joint · Downtown Austin · 388 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Brunch at Frank should begin with a Red Headed Stranger-- a Bloody Mary made with bacon-infused Tito's Vodka and garnished with cheddar cheese, pepperoncini, and a strip of bacon.

Counter Cafe is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

2. Counter Cafe

8.0
626 N Lamar Blvd (btw 6th & 7th), Austin, TX
Diner · Old West Austin · 86 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: This retro diner serves classics with a Texas twist. It's so tiny that you'll inevitably wait for a table, but it's worth it for dishes like the Counter Benedict.

Fresa's Chicken al Carbon is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

3. Fresa's Chicken al Carbon

8.3
915 N Lamar Blvd (at W 10th St), Austin, TX
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Austin · 50 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Head to Fresa's if you drank too much free beer at the SXSW parties, and you need a hangover cure ASAP.

Franklin Barbecue is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

4. Franklin Barbecue

9.1
900 E 11th St (at Branch St), Austin, TX
BBQ Joint · 353 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Slow-smoking the brisket for up to 15 hours leads to barbecue on par with, and sometimes even better than, some of the storied Hill Country joints.

Micklethwait Craft Meats is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

5. Micklethwait Craft Meats

9.0
1309 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX
Food Truck · Central East Austin · 89 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Micklethwait's homemade sausage—varieties like duck and cherry, lamb and apricot, which rotate daily—is what truly distinguishes his operation. Even the beef sausage is moist and snappy.

La Condesa is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

6. La Condesa

8.4
400 W 2nd St (Guadalupe St.), Austin, TX
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Austin · 264 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Favorites include the huitlacoche huarache and the refreshing crab toastadas.

Pelóns is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

7. Pelóns

7.2
802 Red River St (8th St), Austin, TX
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Austin · 35 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Head over to this Tex-Mex restaurant smack in the middle of the SXSW action for admirable chips and queso, enchiladas, and fajitas.

Takoba is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

8. Takoba

7.7
1411 E 7th St (Onion St.), Austin, TX
Mexican Restaurant · Central East Austin · 154 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Head to this spot east of downtown for something more casual than La Condesa but more formal than a simple taqueria.

Easy Tiger is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

9. Easy Tiger

709 E 6th St, Austin, TX
Bar · Downtown Austin · 300 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: The kitchen turns out housemade cured meats and sausages complemented by freshly baked artisan baguettes, pretzels, and pastries.

Swift's Attic is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

10. Swift's Attic

8.1
315 Congress Ave, Austin, TX
American Restaurant · Downtown Austin · 97 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: From grilled quail with Southern hot water grits, to Peruvian scallop tiradito, Japanese chicken tsukune, and even Canadian tater tots poutine, the menu is wildly diverse, but somehow it all works.

Via 313 is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

11. Via 313

1111 E 6th St (at Waller St), Austin, TX
Pizzeria · 54 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Late-night food truck in Austin serving exceptional Detroit style pizza.

Hoboken Pie is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

12. Hoboken Pie

7.9
718 Red River St (E. 8th Street), Austin, TX
Pizzeria · Downtown Austin · 50 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Located on Red River Street (the heart of SXSW activity) and open until 3am, it's the perfect drunk food.

Turf N' Surf Poboys is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

13. Turf N' Surf Poboys

8.8
407 Lavaca St, Austin, TX
Cajun and Creole Restaurant · Downtown Austin · 128 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: The po' boys different than what you'll eat in New Orleans. No shredded iceberg lettuce here-- instead, expertly fried seafood is topped with mixed salad greens and red onion.

Jo's Coffee is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

14. Jo's Coffee

8.5
242 W 2nd St (at Lavaca St), Austin, TX
Coffee Shop · Downtown Austin · 202 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Jo's actually has a large food menu including simple sandwiches and breakfast tacos. Sometimes all you want is a tuna melt or a grilled cheese.

Casino El Camino is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

15. Casino El Camino

8.3
517 E 6th St (bt Red River & Neches Sts), Austin, TX
Dive Bar · Downtown Austin · 229 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Known for the ultimate late night food-- 3/4-pound burgers. Each burger variety is named after your favorite city (Buffalo, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc.) and served with fresh-cut fries.

Caffé Medici is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

16. Caffé Medici

200 Congress Ave (at 2nd St), Austin, TX
Coffee Shop · Downtown Austin · 118 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Seriously great espressos pulled in a quiet setting by seriously passionate baristas.

Halcyon Coffee, Bar & Lounge is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

17. Halcyon Coffee, Bar & Lounge

8.5
218 W 4th St (at Lavaca St.), Austin, TX
Coffee Shop · Downtown Austin · 194 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Good for when you want decent coffee-- not a fancy drink. Halcyon gets the job done while also offering a small menu of snacks and other drinks.

Lucky's Puccias is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

18. Lucky's Puccias

8.4
817 W 5th St (Bowie St), Austin, TX
Food Truck · Highland · 27 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Get the namesake sandwich, Lucky's Puccia. Layers of juicy slices of prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, stacks of spicy arugula, red ripe tomatoes, drizzled basil oil and spicy chipotle mayo.

Chi'lantro BBQ is one of SXSW Guide: Where to Eat Near the Action.

19. Chi'lantro BBQ

8.4
823 Congress Ave (at E 9th St), Austin, TX
Food Truck · Downtown Austin · 114 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: Order the double-layered corn tortillas filled with tender bulgogi (Korean marindaded beef) or fries smothered in spicy kimchi and cheese.