10 Hidden Austin Gems, Part II
Five more places that all y'all should check out
Welcome to the second installment of my vitally important and wildly influential series on Austin spots well worth visiting. (Part I is here.)
Let’s get right to it, shall we?
5. Lala’s Little Nugget: A kitschy, Christmas-themed dive bar in a nondescript South Austin neighborhood full of strip malls and gas stations. Still with me? Good, then you’ll love this bad boy that has wood paneled, 1970s basement vibes. With a solid kitchen and a specialty cocktail menu featuring cheeky, seasonal concoctions like “The Love Child” and “Watermelon Noel,” there’s no wrong time to get into the holiday spirit(s). It has a patio, but seating can be tricky to come by, so be ready to stand and pounce. Being a Hidden Gem doesn’t mean it can’t be crowded, you dig?
4. Uncommon Objects: A “one-of-a-kind emporium of transcendent junk” is how they describe themselves, but the reality is that you have to see this place to truly believe it. Antique shop meets thrift store meets quirky museum is probably the best way I can think of putting it. Current owner Steve Wiman (and his UT MFA) and then biz partner, Ed James, opened this up in 1991 and haven’t looked back since, as it seems to be ever thriving and expanding. If you’re looking for it on South Congress, well, complain to the Travis County Tax Assessor, as rising rents and such have driven UO to South Austin. I promise if you stop by, you’ll find at least one thing you like and probably many. If you see any old MoPac signs, please pick one up for me.
3. Boomerz: Although the crowd is a lot more Gen X than the moniker would indicate, I modestly propose that there may not be a tavern in all of Austin with a more eclectic clientele. College kids from UT, bar regulars just off of their construction jobs, singles looking for an easy hookup, pool players of all skill levels, Circle C suburbanites, and everything in between can be found in this modest, poorly-lit oasis of music (FYI there are some nights with a cover charge), reasonably priced beer, and questionable decision making.
The best nights might be when house semi-regulars Prime Meridian (a group of dads from a neighboring suburb, Meridian, LOLZ) and their crowd-pleasing 80s cover shows cosplaying as Bon Jovi meets Def Leppard, right down to a gigantic package on the lead singer, take over the hearts of most 40+ year old women in the joint. (Note: They open for themselves as the 90s band, SubPrime.)
2. The Violet Crown Trail: In a city renowned for a rich and diverse stable of gorgeous and functional nature trails, this one can sometimes be an afterthought, especially for those afraid to venture south of downtown. But recent expansions as far as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (and, soon, Hays County) have only added to the expansive and impressive trail network. A quick 2-3 minute stroll into the woods at any entry point transforms the vibe from urban to wilderness. Even the sounds of the city somehow dissipate, especially if water is flowing in some of the creeks that bisect the space. Another bonus is that it rarely feels like an overcrowded subway station like the Hike and Bike trail downtown can several times a week, instead giving off a true back-to-nature vibe.
1. Little Deli & Pizzeria: Although there’s now a perfectly good second location east of I-35, the original Central Austin location has all the vibes and some of the best pizza in town. Not shockingly, they have really damn good pizza (since 2009) AND kick ass sandwiches (and, let’s be real, salads, too), and have been going strong for over two decades. It’s purely anecdotal, but in my periodic Best Pizza in Austin threads, LD&P is regularly at or near the top because the real ones know.
Little Deli is fabulous, it’s the real deal.
Lala's is not in South Austin.