Overview
Northwest Austin is an area in Austin, Texas, west of the Mo-Pac freeway and/or north of Anderson Lane (but not including anything east of IH-35, or most areas south of Lady Bird Lake).
1 sights · 22 things to do · 38 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 13 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Northwest
Lake Travis
Walnut Creek Municipal Park
Walnut Creek Park features a large loop and a multitude of hilly, meandering trails popular with mountain bikers. A dirt BMX trail and loop is available. Stay on marked trails, some areas have experienced heavy erosion w…
Austin FC
One of the newest teams in Major League Soccer, Austin FC began play in 2021 in the new Q2 Stadium. For ticket information, see the team website.
Bull Creek District Park
Texas Stars
American Hockey League team affiliated with the Dallas Stars
Austin Spurs
NBA G League team affiliated with the San Antonio Spurs
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 98°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Oct. (climate data from nearby Austin)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- AUS Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Austin — 18 mi away (major hub). Directions
- GRK Killeen Regional Airport / Robert Gray Army Airfield, Fort Cavazos — 43 mi away. Directions
You can reach Northwest Austin via I-35 North to US 183, or via MoPac Expressway North. Bus service is available from downtown and the North Transit Center. Light rail service, started in 2010, has stations at The Domain on MoPac, near MoPac and Howard Lane/McNeil Road, Lakeline Mall area and Leander.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Walnut Creek Municipal Park, Chinatown Center Austin Chinese New Year Festival, Austin FC
- Lunch Tino's Greek Café
- Afternoon IPIC Theaters, Dave & Buster's
- Dinner Zaika Indian Cuisine
- Evening Trudy's North Star
Day 2
- Morning Lake Travis, Hippie Hollow, Volente Beach Waterpark
- Lunch Freda's Seafood Grille
- Afternoon Balcones Country Club, H-E-B Center
- Dinner Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
- Evening BB Rovers Cafe and Pub
Day 3
- Morning Austin Steam Train Association, Texas Stars
- Lunch Pacific Star Oyster Bar
- Afternoon Bull Creek Greenbelt, Town Lake Boat Rental
- Dinner Moonie's Burger House
- Evening Mozart's Coffee Roasters
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
You can reach Northwest Austin via I-35 North to US 183, or via MoPac Expressway North. Bus service is available from downtown and the North Transit Center. Light rail service, started in 2010, has stations at The Domain on MoPac, near MoPac and Howard Lane/McNeil Road, Lakeline Mall area and Leander.
See
See Lake Travis (Northern side of Lake Travis is in the Northwest Austin area, at Volente and Lago Vista)
Do
Do Walnut Creek Municipal Park
Walnut Creek Park features a large loop and a multitude of hilly, meandering trails popular with mountain bikers. A dirt BMX trail and loop is available. Stay on marked trails, some areas have experienced heavy erosion which has led to huge rock slides.
Do Austin Steam Train Association
Runs several tours aboard the Hill Country Flyer steam train into and around Texas Hill Country. The train makes short half hour jaunts as well as a 30 mi circuit on weekends March through December. The Steam Train Association owns a live steam train, but it has been out of commission since about 2000. The train still runs though, just using a borrowed diesel engine. It is still nice, but not as attractive as it used to be.
Do Bull Creek District Park (48 acre park on Bull Creek. Dog Lovers like to congregate and socialize here. Swimming, wading.)
Do Bull Creek Greenbelt (477 acres along Bull Creek. Hiking, swimming, wading.)
Do Mt. Bonnell
The third-highest point in Austin city limits at 780 feet. Several trails make for pleasant short hikes and points to experience incredible views of Town Lake and the city. The area has a history of romance and is sometimes called Antoinette's Leap, after a woman who supposedly leapt to her death to escape Indians who killed her lover.
Do Hippie Hollow
The only legal nude beach in Texas, although "beach" is a bit of a stretch. On the north shore of Lake Travis, Hippie Hollow has a "steep, rocky, shoreline." It is also home to both the golden cheeked warbler and the black capped vireo, two bird species listed under the US Endangered Species Act.
Do Town Lake Boat Rental
Rent a canoe or kayak and enjoy the natural world in the heart of the city.
Festivals
Do Chinatown Center Austin Chinese New Year Festival
January/February. Austin's Chinatown Center has set a Texas-sized standard for how Chinese New Year's Celebration should be done! All adults and children are invited to attend this free, two-day event with family-fun entertainment including the kids' area, dragon and lion dances, traditional Chinese dances, and martial arts performances. The festivities are a celebration that embraces and educates on the wide range of Asian culture. All retail stores and restaurants in the center are open.
Learn
Buy
Northwest Austin shopping primarily runs along US 183 (Research Blvd.) and MoPac Expressway. Many affluent, albeit chain, shops and stores are located in this part of town.
Malls
Shop The Arboretum
Open-air mall which includes Barnes & Noble Books, Pottery Barn, Chico's, Gap, Nine West, Express, Restoration Hardware, Salon 505 Day Spa, Amy's Ice Cream, The Cheesecake Factory and others.
Stores
Eat
Eat Asia Cafe
One of the best Chinese food places in Austin. It's family style (huge portions) and offers some very exotic dishes. But its claim to fame is the "spicy fish fillet". It's amazing. There are a few other must-try items, such as eggplant with ground pork and twice cooked pork (bacon) with garlic sprouts.
Eat Pluckers Wing Bar
A local wing joint/sports bar. Reasonably priced, delicious wings and other menu items (including tasty salads). Try the fried macaroni and cheese. They have tons of TVs; it's a great place to watch a ball game.
Eat Chinatown
Authentic Chinese flavor with a modern twist. Not really fusion, not really traditional either, but very delicious. The restaurant is located upstairs in a two-story building; the bottom floor houses the Japanese restaurant Musashino
Eat Din Ho Chinese Bar-B-Q
Lunch and dinner. Some of the most authentic Chinese fare in town, specializing in Cantonese and seafood dishes. Chinese BBQ pork and whole roast duck are available for take-out as well. Don't bring Caucasian friends who are squeamish about real Chinese food - take them to Chinatown instead.
Eat Enchiladas Y Mas
As the name implies this restaurant has enchiladas, and they are some of the best north of San Antonio. "y Mas", as it is called by locals, has a broad selection of Tex-Mex fare including flautas, soft and crispy tacos, migas, burritos, and fajitas. This is a must try on the Tex-Mex trail in Austin. They are closed on Mondays and the lunch crowd starts early, so be prepared for a short wait between 11AM and 1PM. y Mas has the best motto in town, "Never trust a skinny cook!".
Eat Donn's Texas BBQ
Authentic Texas Barbecue restaurant offering full bar. Ribs&Chips is worth to try. Prices from $10.
Eat Jardin Corona
A favorite of those living in Northwest Austin (Jollyville area).
Eat Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Steak, including Kobe beef, chicken, seafood and vegetables grilled at the table by entertaining chefs.
Eat Manuel's
"Award Winning Mexican Cooking"
Eat Rudy's Country Store & BBQ
Butcher shop style BBQ. Famous for their BBQ sauce and baby back ribs. Very busy for breakfast tacos (grab pre-made ones near the check-out counter, or get them made at the grill).
Eat Shandeez Grill (Persian cuisine, including chelo-kabob, joojeh-kabob and khorest gormeh sabzi.)
Eat Truluck's Seafood-Steak-Crabhouse
Eat Korea House
Located in the Village Shopping Center, it can be a little hard to find; the entrance faces towards the inner courtyard area of the shopping center. They have a decent sushi offering but the Korean dishes are delicious and authentic.
Eat Restaurant Together
Korean bar food, large portions, many side dishes. Only five tables, one waitstaff.
Eat Sunflower
Although it's in a strip mall in North Austin, this restaurant is notable for its amazing vegetarian options. Service is kinda spotty, and the staff tends to use extremely aromatic cleaning products (read: "potpourri"-fragranced cleaning spray spritzed on tables between customers), but it's well worth the trip north. Absolutely delicious, especially for the price.
Eat Reale's
Pizza and Italian food. Northeasterners love Reale's, as it reminds them of family Italian restaurants from home. Good food.
Eat Fire Bowl Café
Asian restaurant with a 'Stir Fry Your Way' section, allowing for many vegan choices. The menu also denotes, by using a green leaf, which meals are vegetarian if ordered with tofu.
Eat Hula Hut
On their unique Polynesian- and Mexican-inspired menu (aka "Mexonesian"), you'll find several vegetarian/vegan options.
Eat Zaika Indian Cuisine
An all-vegetarian Indian restaurant offering a fabulous lunch buffet as well as a dinner menu.
Eat Tino's Greek Café
"Cafeteria-style" Greek food. Vegetarian options include tabouli, dolmathes, and vegetarian mousaka.
Eat Whole Foods Market Cafe
Eat Pacific Star Oyster Bar
Best oysters and catfish in town. Parking is scarce, but well worth while.
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Eat
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Burgers
Eat Waterloo Ice House
Austin classic. Delish burgers, some of the best onion rings in town. Don't miss the Cinnamon Chocolate Shake!
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Eat Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Absolutely amazing burgers, an excellent bar, and great milkshakes (be sure to try the Caramel & Sea Salt)! Be prepared for a wait.
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Eat
Eat Wally's Burger Express
Good fast food burgers and shakes.
Eat Trudy's North Star
Regarded by some as the favorite for Tex-Mex food in town, but this also means they are generally incredibly crowded and loud. Excellent margaritas with specials each night of the week. They're known more for their Mexican martinis than for their food.
Drink
Drink BB Rovers Cafe and Pub (Known for its beer menu with over 300 selections, BB Rovers also has live music (call for dates))
Drink Trudy's North Star
Popular food and drink establishment, especially for after work, with happy hour until 7PM. 20 beers are on tap. Kitchen may close earlier.
Drink Mozart's Coffee Roasters
Drink Maudie's
Austin as Austin can get. A staple Tex-Mex favorite with five locations around town. Great salsa and better margaritas. If you crave cheese enchiladas get the Hernandez Enchiladas.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Nearby
Cedar Park
City / town · 3 listings · 6 mi away
Round Rock
City / town · 10 listings · 7 mi away
Pflugerville
City / town · 2 listings · 9 mi away
Bee Cave
City / town · 4 listings · 14 mi away
Lakeway
City / town · 1 listings · 14 mi away
Georgetown
City / town · 4 listings · 14 mi away
Dripping Springs
City / town · 3 listings · 26 mi away
Driftwood
City / town · 4 listings · 27 mi away
My experience
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