A Guide to Your Best Austin Summer Ever
Swimming holes, pool passes, frozen cocktails, summer concerts & more
Despite many people fleeing to Colorado the second we hit triple digits, summer in Austin is actually one of my favorite times. The secret? Prepare to wear a swimsuit all day. Most of you know I swim laps at Barton Springs before the crowds hit, but Austin's got plenty of other cold-water swimming holes within reach, plus fun hotel pools offering day passes that turn any Tuesday into a staycation. I've rounded up my favorite frozen cocktails, kid-friendly spots, shaded patios, wine bars, raw bars, wellness escapes, and everything else you need to stay cool and entertained right here in the heat.
P.S. Here is a sneak preview from my France fam adventure you might enjoy!
Best Swimming Holes
Commons Ford: A 25-minute drive gets you to cold Lake Austin waters, where you can wade or float tied to the dock while boats cruise by, plus there's a huge grassy area perfect for picnics and dogs.
Emma Long: This is a great swimming spot with a sandy beach and a protected area away from boat traffic. Just remember to snag your day pass in advance for weekends because they fill up fast.
Secret Beach: Park at Montopolis Youth Sports Complex, follow the trail across the street to the right for 10 minutes until you hit the park rules sign with doggie bags, then turn right to discover this hidden oasis.
Hippie Hollow: Texas's only legal nude beach offers a unique lakeside experience on Lake Travis with stunning cliff views and crystal-clear swimming holes. It's adults-only (21+) and quite the experience and view...
Blue Hole Regional Park: Just outside of Wimberley, this natural swimming area is fed by the crystal-clear waters of Cypress Creek. Buy tickets in advance, and bring a big group to enjoy the rope swing!
Make sure to check out more natural swimming holes here!
Best Pools with Day Passes
The Carpenter Hotel: ($55 for adults, $25 for children): Grab daily passes or splurge on a Swim Club membership for unlimited access through September (along with exclusive merch and discounts).
South Congress Hotel: ($75 for adults, $15 for children): Overlooking South Congress, they offer more of a party vibe here.
Swim Club: ($25 for adutlts): A historic pool reimagined for the Downright Austin Hotel with hot pink vibes, a glass-enclosed pool you can see through from the restaurant, Barbie movie-worthy bar, and poolside food with weekend DJs that attracts out-of-towners and bachelorette parties.
Hotel Magdalena: ($60 for adults, $30 for children): A daily pool pass allows you to choose from solo day passes, couples packages, or family floats, all including towel service and food and drinks from Magdalena Bar. Check out upcoming events like vinyl DJs and water aerobics throughout the summer!
Frozen Cocktails
Mexican Martini at Holiday - Half off all day on Sundays!
Regular Margarita at De Nada
Mango Sake at Loro - Only $5 during happy hour from 2-5 p.m. on weekdays
Margarita Twist at Matt’s El Rancho
Moscow Mule at Golden Goose
Espresso Martini at Central Machine Works
Irish Coffee at Nickel City
Spiked Frozen Matcha at Cosmic
Chilton & Mexican Martini at Chalmers
Patio Hangs
Kinda Tropical: I like the crispy Yucca Fries and fresh Chicken Salad that pair perfectly with tropical cocktails, featuring counter service ordering inside and a big open backyard for mingling.
Meanwhile Brewing Co: Three different food trucks, ice cream, beer, and huge outdoor tables with jungle gyms and playgrounds for kids, too.
Revelry Kitchen + Bar: You can buy Jello-O Shots from the fridge that come with a bag of Pop Rocks before heading to Mother’s Ruin across the street.
San Ginés: Feels like an oasis in the backyard with more upscale seating than the rest, and you can reserve in advance.
El Alma Cafe y Cantina: The rooftop spot with thick homemade tortilla chips to dip in queso or underneath ceviche while you watch the sunset with a Mango Margarita.
Whisler’s: Serving 75-cent martinis every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. on their perfectly moody patio.
Energizing Cold Drinks
Ube Matcha at Magick Matcha
White Vanilla Miso Latte at Desnudo (As y’all know, I don’t drink coffee, but my trusted sources suggest this.)
Iced Chagaccino at Bouldin Creek Cafe
Strawberry Matcha at Rockman
Beet Cocoa Latte at Thai Fresh
Best Wine Bars
Flo’s Wine Bar: Flo curates an easy-going yet discoverable wine list for all, plus you can grab a slice from allday while you're there.
June’s All Day: Their house Rosé is the only sparkling pink wine I'll drink!
Lenoir: Lovely outdoor garden that you might miss if you’ve never stumbled upon it, that’s actually bigger than their indoor seating.
Bufalina: Daily happy hour (4-5:30 p.m.) with half-off pizza and wine bottles under $100.
LoLo: They have fun food pop-ups, DJs, and great tinned mussels to go with natural wine like Populis bottles or Pet Nat.
House Wine: This colorful South 1st patio feels like dropping by a friend's backyard party, with thoughtful wine flights making it an easy entry for spontaneous summer evenings.
Austin Winery: Check out their summer lineup of food truck festivals and outdoor events.
Golden Hour: With natural wines and European small plates, this is exactly what South Austin was missing.
Best Raw Bars
Uptown Sports Club: Order Shrimp Cocktail, crudité with green goddess dressing, and burgers. If you’re craving Franklin BBQ and don’t want to wait in line, he serves his brisket sandwich for lunch here!
Clark’s: Get the oysters, half-priced burger, and martini happy hour weekdays from 3-5 p.m. Add the Crudo Plate.
Perla’s: Don’t miss the Fish and Shrimp Ceviche with tostaditos, Little Gem Mint Salad, and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with homemade crackers.
Mongers: Their Tuna Poké lunch bowl is my favorite in town - and their seafood market sells red snapper, Gulf fish, mussels, and oysters if you want to shuck or host your own party!
Truluck’s: During nightly happy hour, get half-off handcrafted cocktails, spirits, wines by the glass, and fresh oysters (skip the Blue Crab Guacamole).
Bill’s Oyster: Tuna Tartar and Oysters are musts.
Deckhand Oyster Bar: A casual Asian, Cajun oyster spot from a Thai and American couple.
Wow Poke: When you’re craving raw tuna and just want to eat on the couch, the tuna bowl or crab wrap is your savior for solid take-out.
If you love raw oysters, check out Oyster Night at First Light from Austin Oyster Co. at the bookstore’s new outdoor bar this summer.
Summer Concerts
June 19: David Ramirez at C-Boys, 10 p.m.
June 21: Superfonicos, 8 p.m., and Netherhour, 10 p.m. at Sagebrush
June 25: Pete Yorn at Radio East
June 25: Louisiana Surf Department at C-Boys, midnight
June 27: The Mellows at C-Boys, 10 p.m.
July and August: Concerts by the Canal in Bourne, Thursdays 6 p.m.
July 4: Willie Nelson’s July 4th Picnic at Circuit of the Americas with Bob Dylan
July 11: Outkast and Stevie Wonder by Body Rock at Saraha Lounge
July 23-26: Roger Creager’s Birthday Show at Gruene Hall
Austin 5 & 6: Blues on The Green
August 5: Regina Spektor at ACL Live, 8 p.m.
August 6: Teddy Swims at Moody Amphitheater, 6:30 p.m.
August 30: Shakey Graves at Radio East, 6 p.m.
August 31: Fitz and the Tantrums at ACL Live, 8 p.m.
Frozen Treats
Shaved Juice at JuiceLand (Tarrytown location only) - Brand new concept at the JuiceLand Tea Party location, for when you want something sweet and refreshing but made with real fruit. I liked the Mother of Dragons best!
Golden Milk and Chocolate coconut milk ice cream at Gati - Get heated up with a Salty Caramel Brownie!
Vanilla Soft Serve at allday - add sprinkles and pretzel dust.
Cherry Sour and Wedding Cake at Sno-Beach - add cream in the middle.
Watermelon Water-Ice and Blackberry or Mint Chip Ice Cream at Jim-Jim’s Water-Ice - owners Jim and Rachel have been perfecting these treats for 31 years - tell them I sent you!
Chocolate and Caramel gelato at Dolce Neve
For more amazing desserts, check out my top eight right now.
Indoor Activities for Kids
Thinkery: Austin's interactive children's museum.
Central Library: A stunning six-story architectural marvel with a rooftop garden, kids' area, and countless cozy reading nooks.
Texas State History Museum: Dive into Texas history with engaging exhibits and artifacts.
Best Wellness Experiences
Yoga Hōm: Engaging teachers (don't miss Carter, Diana, Leah, and Morgan), beautiful natural lighting, and thoughtfully curated workshops, plus free sundown sessions with DJs at Fareground every other Wednesday in summer.
The Peach House: Complete with Pilates classes, Accupuncture, and an outdoor cold plunge and sauna combo that feels like an oasis perfect for a Friday.
Ceremony: Sauna and cold plunge happy hour on the third Thursday of every month at a huge discount, with beautiful plant décor, fuss-free Finnish saunas, and zero wellness fanatics talking macros.
Myo Massage: Get the signature Myo with Lymphatic.
Spa Sway: The Hydrafacial is a must (more details on my experience here!).
Milk & Honey: I use their Cleanse the Day Away face cleanser and Extra Strength Lavender + Tea Tree deodorant.
Apoterra Products: This is the one brand I noticed an immediate difference in my face brightness. My favorites are the Rose Facial Oil and Vitamin C Balm! Get 20% off with code CHEKMARK or this link.
Lake Austin Spa: This all-inclusive resort is only 40 minutes from downtown but feels like a complete retreat on the calm lake, where I love staying one night every summer for full access to lake sports, views, meals, activities, and total tranquility.
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