It’s race week in Austin, Texas, a city that punches above its weight when it comes to both tourist offerings and entertainment — but you’ve got to know where to look. From wild hotel pool parties to food truck breakfast tacos, track-goers will have plenty of options near Austin and Circuit of The Americas (COTA) while the track action is quiet.
Whether you’ve finished your Austin F1 weekend itinerary, or have yet to start filling those off-track hours in, Motorsport has pulled together a guide to some of the hippest spots in town for shopping, bar hopping, and, of course, barbecue.
Pit stops
Start with a selfie at the R-rated, neon, erect Austin Motel sign, which cheekily beckons visitors to South Congress, a thoroughfare through South Austin that offers a zany hodgepodge of iconic, Instagrammable locations. Buy a day pass and cannonball into the motel’s pool for a wild pool party, energized by the poolside bar.
Photo by: Courtesy of Heritage Boot
Shoppers beware: it’s easy to get carried away during a visit to SoCo, as the street is called. Try on some of the finest cowboy boots in the country at Allens Boots — a place which both Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo have graced and embraced their inner cowboys — or Heritage Boot, just two of the boot sellers on the street. Then check out the YETI flagship store, which has its own bar so you can grab a drink while you ponder a cooler. The vintage shopping along here is great too: STAG Provisions for Men and Feathers Vintage are two SoCo classics. And don’t forget to pick up a treat at Big Top Candy Shop or Monkey See, Monkey Do!, a delightfully kitschy toy store for all ages.
While you’re on the south side of town, drop by Bouldin Creek Cafe, a vegan, all-day diner with a prime patio. The funky hub is a quick way to settle into true Austin-chill vibes, and their blueberry cornbread is one of the city’s proven hangover cures.
Sprint weekend BBQ
Certainly no Austin visit would be complete without a tray full of bones and a lap full of napkins. The famous Franklin Barbecue is delicious and worth a planned stop. Planned — as the problem is that the line to get their meat can stretch for hours, and will be even longer during the F1 race weekend. A savvy traveler will look for less-popular spots, and East Austin is a neighborhood with great options.
A full spread of Franklin Barbecue meats and sides.
Photo by: Wyatt McSpadden
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