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Austin Classic Day: Brisket, Vinyl & Bat Bridge

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Austin Classic Day: Brisket, Vinyl & Bat Bridge

A full Austin day done right: legendary brisket at lunch, record shopping on Lamar, a Hill Country farmhouse brewery, the Congress Avenue bat flight at dusk, and a courtyard motel nightcap on South Congress.

5 stops · Austin · about 36 mi of driving

Turn this into a day plan
  1. Franklin Barbecue

    1. Franklin Barbecue

    4.5

    Get in line early — brisket sells out. Order the fatty brisket and a side of potato salad.

    900 East 11th Street Austin, TX, 78702 United States

  2. About 1.3 mi from the last stop

    Waterloo Records

    2. Waterloo Records

    4.6

    Walk off lunch flipping through Texas vinyl; ask staff for the local-artist wall.

    600A N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

  3. About 17 mi from the last stop

    Jester King Brewery

    3. Jester King Brewery

    4.3

    Farmhouse beers on a Hill Country ranch. Grab a table outside and share a pizza.

    13187 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin, TX 78736

  4. About 17 mi from the last stop

    Capital Cruises Bat Tour

    4. Capital Cruises Bat Tour

    4.8

    Board before sunset for the bat flight from under Congress Avenue Bridge.

    208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

  5. About 0.7 mi from the last stop

    Hotel San José

    5. Hotel San José

    4.7

    End with a courtyard drink on South Congress — the quietest patio downtown.

    1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704