Planning sucks, and bachelorette parties are a ton of work. So we’re taking all the guesswork out of planning a bachelorette party by breaking down top bachelorette destinations. Our guides will tell you where to stay, eat, party, how to get around, and give you a sample itinerary that you can follow. You’re welcome. Here’s our Betches Bachelorette Guide to Austin.
Yeeeeeeehaw. When you think of Austin, you may think more tacos, barbecue, and cowboy boots and not think bachelorette party extravaganza, but you would be misguided in your thinking. This Texas capital is a true hipster’s (or foodie’s) paradise, with tons of eateries, late night spots, tattoo parlors, mechanical bulls, and wine. Plus, it isn’t already drowning in bachelorette parties, making it a great spot for you and your posse to stand out. Here’s our official Betches bachelorette guide to Austin! C’mon y’all!
How To Get There
There are several ways to get to Austin, the first being by plane, duh. From the NYC area (so, LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark) airports, nonstop flights range from $300-500, which isn’t, like, amazing, but is pretty decent for roundtrip and no stops. From Atlanta, you’re looking at anywhere from $85 on Spirit (v questionable) to about $300 on Delta—all nonstop. Midwest betches can snag a flight for about $200 on average out of Chicago, and West coast biddies are about the same. Unless you live in like, a close southern state, flying is going to be your best option since Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is a big hub and has tons of flight options every day. Plus, the airport is SUPER close to downtown, making coming and going truly painless. Just a note: When booking your stay, try to avoid the weekend of SXSW or Austin City Limits unless you want an extra thousand people at your bachelorette party. Just saying.
Where To Stay
Obviously, you’re going to want to be in the middle (or within walking distance of) all the action, so either a hotel in downtown or an Airbnb is your best option, That said, I’d always advise an Airbnb since a) they’re usually a little cheaper and b) you can all hang out in one big space and not have to deal with the whole adjoining door situation. Airbnbs in Austin are an especially good option since whether you have four or fourteen betches, you’ll be able to find a spot to stay.
For the hotel route, we recommend Hotel San Jose for a local feel; South Congress Hotel for a boutique feel (and they have a bunk room that can sleep eight); or East Austin Hotel for a hipster feel. All these options are within the downtown area and are reasonably priced. They also all hav their own bars or lounges, with East Austin Hotel hosting a super chill rooftop bar. Plus, you have the in-room breakfast option if you just can’t quite manage to get out of bed one day, which is reasonable considering the amount of drinking you’re about to do.
How To Get Around
If you’re downtown, walking is a breeze. However, Austin is huge and there are a lot of little niche neighborhoods, so have Uber or Lyft at the ready. You can also brave the bus if you want to annoy the locals and deal with grifters, but, overall, count on breaking out your phone to order a car or wear comfy shoes. Remember: If you (stupidly) decided to book a bachelorette in Austin, TX, during the heat of summer, a car with AC is going to be your best bet. It gets hot af down there.
Where To Eat
Tacos and barbecue are abundant in Austin, so you need to make sure you work both of those foods into your eating schedule. For brunch, you best start your day at Irene’s, which has some delicious options like Brioche French Toast or Migas (eggs, peppers, onions, cheddar, fried tortilla strips, salsa verde, black beans and potatoes), PLUS frosé, which we all know is the lifeblood of betches that brunch. Hot L Coffee/Carpenter’s Hall and Le Politique are also solid options if you aren’t into hotel breakfast or sh*tty coffee at your Airbnb.
If you (stupidly) decide to skip breakfast, there are tons of light and heavy options all over the city. Pool Burger is right by Deep Eddy swimmin’ hole, so you can scarf down lunch and then go swimming and ignore everything your mom ever told you. They also have cute tiki drinks, so there’s that. You could also head to El Arroyo, where they’re serving up classic (and delicious) Tex-Mex. Yes, they’re the home of a very famous internet marquee that you need to Insta so everyone knows how hilarious you are. El Alma is a great option, too
View this post on Instagram
Lastly, June’s All Day is a solid lunch choice thanks to its slightly elevated offerings like Grilled Lamb Merquez and Poached Eggs or Buckwheat Crepes. Nom nom nom.
And if you want to pay true tribute to Texas and go the barbecue route, you can wait for two hours in line at Franklin Barbecue or skip that sh*t and head over to Terry Blacks (where, honestly, I think the sides are better, anyway). Emily Ratajkowski was there literally 30 minutes after my posse and I were, and if that isn’t a hardcore recommendation, idk what is. Just prepare yourself for the meat sweats after you eat.
View this post on Instagram
Finally, for dinner you’ve got a buncha great choices, but we love Launderette for its fun desserts; Mattie’s for its Southern classics; and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya for its fun drinks and amazing barbecue-meets-sushi menu. Other great standbys include Polvo’s downtown for incredibly delicious enchiladas and “interior” Mexican food; Loro since it has a giant f*cking patio and some amazing meats (Char Siew Pork Belly, I see you); and Uchi for its plethora of highly Instagrammable Japanese fare. Sidebar: a frenemy of mine sat next to Matthew McConaughey at Uchi, and I’m not saying that’ll def happen, but it’d be a lot cooler if it did.
Where To Relax
Wine and spas are within and right outside Austin, so you can get your drank on and get a professional massage to help alleviate the toxin buildup during this bachelorette trip.
For wineries, you’ll want to focus on the Driftwood, Dripping Springs, and Fredericksburg areas, all of which can be gotten to from downtown Austin in about an hour. There are actually wine tour companies, like Discover Texas Wine Tours, that have several options for getting you to and from the wineries, three on a half day and four on a full day tour. Plus, they’ll pick you up right in downtown Austin, so 10/10 would recommend. Of course, if you’d rather do your own thing, you can easily get to Duchman Family Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards, and/or go the liquor route and head to Deep Eddy Vodka’s Tasting Room about 30 minutes outside downtown.
In terms of spas, you won’t need to venture outside downtown. Milk & Honey is right downtown and offers everything from massages to facials to pedicures, so you and your posse can get pampered in style. Viva Day Spa is in the South Lamar area and has a spa package and hangout space perfect for several betches at a time.
Where To Party & Drink
If you’re on the hunt for booze and dance parties, Austin is in no short supply. Based on what neighborhood you’re in, you can find many, many different options. For instance, the West 6th neighborhood features watering holes for the upwardly mobile, to borrow a quote from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. East 6th is a hipster’s paradise; Rainey Street is home to many, many frat bois; and Dirty 6th is where you go to lose personal space and dignity! A few honorable bar mentions include Bar Peached; P6, which has a rooftop bar and amazing views; Kitty Cohen’s; and Sour Duck Market.
View this post on Instagram
Looking for clerbs? Barbarella has a killer 80s dance party every Friday night, plus there are usually food trucks parked directly across the street, so you can get your drunk eating on. Elysium is a more alternative spot, but the drinks and bartenders are super great and the music is a mix of goth, industrial, and general fun weirdness. The Continental Club is more of your classic rock & roll-meets-country spot, also right in downtown. Barcelona is a classic basement dance club with a lineup of great DJs, and Speakeasy is a multi-floor, classier club with what feels like several different spots all under one roof. For a classic Austin standby, Broken Spoke should be on your list, too, cause, in the words of my Austin bestie, Beth, “it’s a boot-scootin’ boogie.” Honestly, there are tons of options, so just go where the night takes you *forehead kisses*.
Friday Day 1
Pro tip: Arrive as early as possible to get yourself situated. Then attack Austin with everything you have.
- Arrive in Austin at like, 9am (don’t @ me, just trust me)
- Explore South Congress’ weird and amazing shops with or without a light lunch stop at June’s All Day
- Head to Barton Springs for a dip in the natural pool, then get cramps cause you didn’t wait an hour after eating before you swam
- Get ready at your place for dinner
- Book a boat tour, which is v fun if you’re already drunk AND most of them are BYOB (!!)
- Late-ish dinner at Loro
- Head to Broken Spoke for cowboy sh*t and more booze (on the same street at Loro)
Saturday Day 2
Pro tip: Hope you popped those Tylenol before bedtime and chugged water. You’ve got a big day ahead of you.
- Heavy brunch at Irene’s, complete with a lot of frosé
- Wine and booze tastings at Duchman Family Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards, and/or Deep Eddy Tasting Room
- “Home” for naps and Instagram scrolling
- Dinner at Terry Black’s BBQ
- Hit the bars on Rainey Street
Sunday Day 3
Pro tip: Today is all about relaxing before gorging yourself on more food and drinks, so set yourself up for success and be prepared.
- Time for a classy brunch at Le Politique
- Spa day at Milk + Honey
- Head back for showers, naps, and pre-gaming dinner
- Dinner and drinks at Mattie’s
- Uber to more drinks at P6 / rooftop shenanigans
Monday Day 4
Pro tip: Try to book a later flight so you can have one last breakfast.
- Have a plate of biscuits at Hot L Coffee so you can stand up / check in at the airport… You could also just eat at the airport, since it’s a food and bev hotspot in and of itself (and all the sh*t is local to Austin)
- Travel home and try not to fall asleep with your mouth open mid-flight
Austin has so much to offer, there’s no way you’ll be bored. So get your bride on board with this cowboy town turned hipster foodie Mecca and book your trip to Texas.
Images: Instagram (7)
