City Sight Guide: The Best Selection of Entertainment in Austin

Austin offers both sophisticated big-city entertainment and casual college-town pleasures.

NIGHTCLUBS/MUSIC
Austin lives up to its official slogan, “The Live Music Capital of the World.” In addition to numerous music festivals like South by Southwest or Fun Fun Fun Fest, Sixth Street hotspots satisfy musical tastes from Rock/Pop at the Continental Club to Cool Jazz at the Elephant Room.

Ballet Austin and concerts at the Long Center for the Performing Arts will please classical buffs while those wanting a good laugh should head for a comedy club or the hilarious show at Esther’s Folies.

RESTAURANTS
Although Austin is famous for Tex-Mex and Barbeque restaurants, the whole spectrum of ethnic and continental dining is available. Favorites include melt-in-your mouth steaks at Austin Land & Cattle Company; “High Southern” dishes like pecan-crusted trout with Jim Bean butter sauce at Jasper’s; and the “Couch Potato” or “Bubba Burger” at the family-friendly Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill.

UNUSUAL
Historic Maggie Mae’s, a complex of four historic buildings, includes three music stages, an English pub, sports bar, and an unparalleled rooftop view.

Join the crowd watching the nightly exodus of bats from underneath Congress Bridge!