East Austin: where unique and trendy happen to be disguised in the most laidback vibes.
Jump on your bike and head to this unique and thriving heartbeat of Austin. Eat at one of the many (or all, if you're brave enough) food trailers, drink a mezcal old fashioned, get your fill of live music, dance your heart out, or just strike up a conversation with a friendly face.
It's Old Austin meets New Austin in the most spectacular way.
Music & Entertainment
The White Horse is a traditional country honky tonk with a twist in the heart of East Austin. Locals flock here for live bands, a packed dance floor and cheap drinks. Don't own a cowboy hat? You'll fit right in; the crowd here is refreshingly diverse and friendly.
If you're looking to step up your two-step game, stop by for free two-step lessons at 7pm on most Saturday nights. And when your feet get too hot, cool off with some tacos from the food truck out back.
White Horse hours and details:
- Open 3pm-2am daily
- Must be 21 or over
- Small cover on weekends
Stay Gold is a modern, intimate venue for craft cocktails and beers with live music. On any given night, you can walk in and catch a funky-soul artist from New Orleans, a string quartet from France, or a mellow indie rock band from Michigan.
Enjoy a full bar and a bevy of creative cocktails. Don't miss the tomato soup grilled cheese sandwich from food truck Toaster, which is as decadent and delicious as it sounds.
Stay Gold's sexy vibe paired with its great food and drinks makes this the perfect way to top off your night bike ride.
Hours:
- Open Monday-Friday 3pm-2am
- Open Saturday-Sunday 12pm-2am
Art
Canopy is a large creative community set within a redeveloped east Austin warehouse. The property consists of 45 small studios, 3 galleries, several offices, and a cafe/coffee shop. This set-up is meant to portray the connectedness between art, culture, and the public. The multi-functional communal spaces also opens up room for collaboration and engagement.
Don't miss popular gallery Big Medium, which supports and promotes contemporary art in Texas. Getting here by bike is easy, and Canopy also has plenty of parking and bike racks.
Canopy hours:
- Monday-Saturday 12pm-6pm
- Closed Sundays
grayDUCK gallery is a recently founded gallery that is located in a refurbished 100-year-old house. The architecture is a mixture of old and new with clean lines and comfortable wood.
The grayDUCK has monthly shows that highlight artists' work from a range of experiences, both locally and nationally. The beautiful space is home for not just artwork, but also poetry readings, film, music, and performance!
grayDUCK hours:
- Thursday-Saturday 11am-6pm
- Sunday 12pm-5pm
Food and Drink
Paperboy is the perfect food truck for breakfast and coffee. They're all about supporting local suppliers and businesses - take a peep at their menu and you'll see produce, bread and dairy sourced from local farms and bakeries. Plus, that goat sausage sandwich is the stuff of dreams.
Take a breather on the cozy patio that opens up to Austin's growing East 11th neighborhood. Paperboy's laid back vibe makes it the quintessential Austin food truck experience worth visiting on bike.
Paperboy hours:
- Tuesday-Friday 7am-2pm
- Saturday-Sunday 8am-2pm
- Closed Mondays
Veracruz All Natural Taco Truck makes some of the best tacos in town, hands down. The tortillas and salsas are all made in-house and the ingredients are top-notch. Austinites rave about the migas taco, and the chorizo and nopales taco. Don't forget to get a fresh fruit drink for washing those delectable tacos down.
You can't talk about Austin's taco scene without talking about Veracruz. Expect a wait on the weekend and at lunch, though. It's worth it.
Veracruz All Natural Taco Truck hours:
- Open daily from 8am-3pm
