Erin has been writing about Austin’s food scene for 10 years, including a stint as associate editor at Eater Austin. She grew up here, which means she’s watched the city transform from a place where her parents had never heard of khachapuri into one with a genuinely global dining scene, so she has the perspective to know which restaurants deserve more credit than they’re getting.
She also has a toddler, which has sharpened her instincts for what’s actually worth the effort.
Her Austin is patios in good weather, bodies of water in the summer, long meals at spots that have been quietly doing it right for years, and a food community where chefs know each other by name and act like it. Here’s where she goes.
The restaurants that have earned it
Erin’s list skews toward the places that helped define Austin’s food scene before the city got trendy, and have kept quietly earning it since.
“There’s a crop of restaurants that have been around for years that don’t get as much love because they aren’t hot and new,” she says. Her shortlist: Intero for chef Ian Thurwachter’s consistently impressive cooking, épicerie for what she calls the best croissants in town, Foreign & Domestic (she dreams about the tomato leaf casarecce), and Odd Duck, where her instruction is simply to order everything.
For BBQ, she goes to Franklin Barbecue when she’s serious about it: moist brisket with the pepper bark, turkey, sausage, pinto beans, and coleslaw. Preorder. She is not standing in a three-hour line. For something worth recommending to visitors with kids, she points to KG BBQ at Oddwood Brewing: Egyptian-style barbecue with a pomegranate-studded brisket rice bowl, a playground on the premises, and no line to contend with.
The best margarita in town, in her view, is the frozen version at El Chile. Rotating seasonal flavors, the right size, and boozy enough to justify the title.
Patios, pools, and the body of water rule
Austin has one real non-negotiable for Erin: a patio when the weather cooperates, and access to water from July through October. The city runs on this combination in summer.
Her birthday pick a few years back was Omni Barton Creek Resort, and she says it delivered. Pool with Hill Country views, a splash pad for her son during the day, and quiet solo time at the pool once he was with his grandparents. She also flags the pool at Colton House Hotel as an underrated find that most people walk past.
For a rooftop, she goes to Hotel Van Zandt: Geraldine’s for food and drinks, views of Rainey Street and downtown, and a space she calls gorgeous without trying too hard. When she wants to fully unwind with no agenda, she drives out to Abby Jane Bakeshop for coffee and whatever seasonal pastry is on that day, then walks Reimers Ranch Park, a river-adjacent natural area with shallow water and, she says, a way of resetting that’s hard to explain until you’ve been.
The Austin experience that still makes her fall for the city: Barton Springs. Cold natural pool five minutes from downtown, people from every walk of life. Touristy, she’ll admit. Worth it every time.
Erin’s picks: Top ResortPass properties in Austin
For the Hill Country escape: Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa
The property Erin chose for her own birthday, and it holds up. Set on 4,000 acres about 20 minutes from downtown, the resort has three outdoor pools including an adults-only infinity pool with Hill Country views and a separate hot tub. The Mokara Spa adds another layer: a 13,000-square-foot facility with its own private rooftop pool, sauna, cold plunge, indoor whirlpool, and relaxation lounge. Poolside food and drink service runs through the afternoon. The kind of place that makes a Saturday feel like a proper trip without actually going anywhere.
For the rooftop afternoon: Hotel Van Zandt
Erin’s favorite rooftop in Austin, home to Geraldine’s for food and drinks poolside. Sits right in the middle of the Rainey Street corridor at 605 Davis Street, with views of the city to match. Day passes include lounge chairs, towel service, and full food and drink service from Geraldine’s; cabanas are available for groups who want their own space. Book pool access and stay through the evening if you like.
For the hidden gem pool day: Colton House Hotel
The pool Erin points to when she wants to recommend something most people haven’t found yet. Located on South Congress, the outdoor pool is seasonally heated or chilled and runs daily from 9am to 9pm. Simona’s Coffee & Cocktails is right on property, and a taco food truck handles the rest. Small, calm, and exactly the kind of low-key afternoon Austin is good at.
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