East Austin is one of the most popular Austin neighborhoods in the city for its eclectic and trendy vibe that attracts a younger crowd with an abundance of hip coffee shops and restaurants. It’s also just a few minutes from downtown Austin, Rainey Street, and the Austin Airport.
The neighborhood is often referred to as an “authentic” view of Austin due do its unique culture. It’s one of my favorite neighborhoods and because of the number of older and local restaurants like Tamale House, Cisco’s, and Juan In A Million!
SEE ALSO: 45 Top Things To Do In Austin, Texas, Updated 2022
Whether you’re new the city or looking to move to this neighborhood, this is the ultimate Austinites guide to East Austin – schools, grocery stores, restaurants, shops, and more.
Table of Contents
Schools
- Blackshear Elementary School
- Kealing Middle School
- Eastside Early College High School
Grocery stores
There are a few grocery store options in East Austin:
- H-E-B
- Whole Foods
- Royal Blue Grocery
- Quickie Pickie
Restaurants
Coffee
- Cenote – coffee shop in a circa 1887 bungalow house
- Cuvée Coffee – coffee roaster with pour-overs, espresso and nitrogenated cold brews on tap
- Greater Goods – coffee shop in a converted automative warehouse
- Fleet Coffee – tiny coffee shop with classic and creative coffee drinks
- Flat Track Coffee – coffee shop in a bike shop on East Cesar Chavez
- Houndstooth – contemporary coffee shop with carefully crafted coffee
- Thunderbird Coffee – neighborhood coffee shop with an outdoor patio area. I love the Thai iced coffee.
- Revival Coffee – all-pink coffee shop
- Sa-tén Coffee – Japanese coffeeshop with breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Wright Bros. Brew and Brew – coffee and craft brews in an industrial space
SEE ALSO: 21 Best Coffee Shops In Austin, Sorted By Neighborhood
Breakfast
- Bird Bird Biscuit – freshly made-to-order biscuit breakfast sandwich shop
- Blender & Bowls – acai bowls and smoothies made with superfood ingredients. Bird of paradise with goji berries and na added scoop of almond butter is my go-to every time.
- Cisco’s Restaurant – Tex-Mex diner that’s been recognized as a historic landmark
- Hillside Farmacy – New American restaurant that focuses on locally sourced ingredients in a historic 1950s pharmacy
- Joe’s Bakery – family-run restaurant that serves an authentic Mexican breakfast all day and lunch
- Juan In A Million – Mexican restaurant with the cheapest and most generous Tex-Mex breakfast portions
- Paperboy – originally a small food trailer is now a brick and mortar with breakfast and lunch
- Veracruz All Natural – authentic Mexican restaurant and trailer that makes the best migas tacos
Lunch
- Buenos Aires Café – authentic Argentinian restaurant with empanadas
- Dai Due – butcher shop that serves a farm-to-table menu
- Discada – trailer serving northern Mexican discada tacos
- Casa Columbia – authentic South American Colombian restaurant
- El Chilito – the beef puffy tacos at El Chilito are my go-to for a quick lunch
- Franklin Barbecue – famous barbecue restaurant with long lines
- Kinda Tropical – retro all-day cafe with a big backyard patio that’s dog-friendly
- La Barbecue – my favorite bbq spot in Austin for its brisket and beef ribs
- Micklethwait Craft Meats – barbecue trailer with sides and desserts
- Ramen Tatsu-Ya – Austin’s popular ramen restaurant now has a spot in East Austin
- Uroko – tiny Japanese restaurant that makes handrolls during the day and omakase on the weekends
Dinner
- Birdie’s – wine bar with seasonal American cuisine with French and Italian influences
- Canje – upscale Caribbean restaurant
- Sammataro – wood-fired pizza trailer
- El Chile – puffy tacos and margarita
- Fukumoto Sushi – Japanese izakaya with traditional sushi and yakitori
- Grizzelda’s – cute Tex-Mex restaurant with an Instagrammable pink wall
- Intero – Farm-to-table Italian pasta, en- trees, and artisanal chocolate
- Il Brutto – I like coming here for the wood- grilled pizza and an Aperol Spritz
- Jacoby’s – farm-to-ranch restaurant, backyard garden, and shop
- Justine’s Brasserie – French food and cocktails in a bungalow space and light-strung patio
- Kemuri Tatsu-Ya – izakaya & bar with Japanese & Texas influences
- Mi Madre – botanas, tacos, burritos, & platos
- Nixta Taqueria – taco shop with house-made corn tortillas topped with unconventional toppings
- Launderette – classy New American restaurant in a converted laundromat
- Patrizi’s – food trailer that makes homemade Italian pasta
- Ramen Tatsuya – East 6th street
- Rosewood – South Texas cuisine in a historic 1890s home
- Tamale House – Mexican restaurant known for its breakfast tacos, migas, and big tamales
- Old Thousand – Chinese food & craft cocktails in a hipster space
- Oseyo – traditional Korean food & cocktails in a chic space
- Suerte – contemporary Mexican restaurant that’s focused on masa
Brunch
- Grizzelda’s
- Hillside Farmacy
- Licha’s Cantina
- Tamale House
- Suerte
Happy hour
- Grizzelda’s – all night Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 5-6pm with $7 – fro-mo, grizz mizz, skinny paloma, spicy marg, and 25% off all apps
- $5 cocktails & 25% off all appetizers
- El Chile – every day, 3-6pm
- Eastside Tavern – Monday to Friday, 3-6pm
- Fukumoto – Monday to Thursday, 5–6:30pm
- Kinda Tropical – Monday to Friday, 3-6pm
- Nasha – Monday to Friday, 4-7pm
- Launderette – Monday to Friday, 5-6pm
- Licha’s Cantina – Tuesday to Friday, 4-6pm
** subject to change
Bars/nightlife
- Ah Sing Den – Asian-themed bar named after the owner of one of East London’s most famous opium dens with really good tipples & morsels
- Drinks Lounge – hole in the wall for cheap drinks
- Domo Alley-Gato – Japanese bar that serves curries and other bar food
- Easy Tiger – Easy Tiger just opened their third location in East Austin with a big dog-friendly outdoor space
- Grackle – hipster bar with a pool table, billiards, and jukebox
- Kitty Cohen’s – retro bar with 1970s Palm Springs vibes and a mini pool
- Native Hostel – cool, modern hostel with a kitchen & bar
- Lustre Pearl – chill hangout spot for drinks
- Nickel City – retro watering hole with a coney dog food truck
- Shangri-La – bar with a dog-friendly patio & beer garden
- The Liberty – one of the oldest bars on East 6th & the East Side King food trailer is parked in the back
- The White Horse – honky-tonk bar with live country music
- The Vortex – artist owned theatre that produces original & non-traditional theatre works
- Whisler’s- one of my favorite spots for craft cocktails
SEE ALSO: 23 Best Bars In Austin For A Craft Cocktail
Breweries
- Blue Owl Brewing – first brewery in Austin with sour mash
- Central Machine Works – microbrewery beer hall with a pub grub menu in a converted machine works space
- Lazarus Brewing Co – bright blue colored brewery and coffee shop
- Zilker Brewing Co – urban craft brewery & taproom with the Spicy Boys food truck
Desserts
- Amy’s Ice Cream – Austin’s beloved ice cream shop has a location in East Austin on Manor
- Capital City Bakery – vegan bakery with cupcakes, cookies, & cakes
- Gati – vegan ice cream shop with gluten-free treats by Thai Fresh
- Gelateria Gemelli – modern gelato shop & Italian cocktail bar
- Lola’s Donuts – cute walk-up window donut shop with a flower wall
SEE ALSO: 31 Best East Austin Restaurants (2022 Guide)
Local shops/boutiques
- Plant Party – one of my favorite houseplant shops
- East Austin Succulents – another favorite plant shop that’s massive with outdoor plants
- Take Heart – cute minimalist gift shop
Music venues
- Historic Scoot Inn – established in 1871, Historic Scoot Inn serves as the oldest continuously running beer joint in central Texas
- Skylark Lounge – part Austin dive bar and part live music venue
