Hey Y’all! During my trip back to Texas to visit my family, Johnny and I got a chance to visit Austin, our old stomping grounds during college. Austin is a city we both love and adore. It’s rich with scrumptious eats, incredible culture and a ton of don’t mess with Texas attitude. We want to share how to best spend your 36 hours in Austin.

Our first stop is coffee. There are tons of incredible coffee houses in Austin, but Jo’s is always a favorite, especially their South Congress location. There is a famous wall with the writing, “I love you so much” scribbled on the side. We get the Turbo, which is their signature drink! It has chocolate, hazelnut, coffee and cream all mixed together over crushed ice. This is where we met up with Austin blogger, Olivia of Livvyland. She’s so sweetest and her casual style is on point. Plus, she’s a native Austinite and Longhorn!

After coffee, we went to La Barbeque for lunch. 36 hours in Austin, or anytime in Austin, isn’t complete without barbeque! The best eats in Austin usually require waits, so of course, La Barbeque had one. When they were a food truck, the wait was two hours, but now with a store, it is only 30-40 minutes. Johnny and I got brisket and sausage and it was absolutely delicious. The brisket is tender and really melts in your mouth. The sausage is good, but not my favorite. Johnny really enjoys the spicy one, though! He loved everything from the casing, which he says has a great snap, to the flavor, to the spicy kick.

Johnny and I stayed at Archer Hotel, which is in the Domain area. It’s absolutely mindblowing how much that area has changed! The growth is unbelievable. The hotel is stunning and perfectly located. There is a Whole Foods Market if you need to go grocery shopping within walking distance, huge Norstrom and a ton of other restaurants and great shops. Johnny and I stayed in the King Balcony Suite, which has sweeping views over the Domain. The four-poster bed is the biggest statement in the room. It’s romantic and whimsical, especially with the sheer curtains. I have a soft spot for well thought out decor and this hotel passes that test with flying colors. There is a very clear Texas theme with the beautiful horse mural behind the bed, trunk made of classic leather belts and a rubber ducky with cowboy gear in the bathroom.

Johnny and I stayed in the King Balcony Suite, which has sweeping views over the Domain. The four-poster bed is the biggest statement in the room. It’s romantic and whimsical, especially with the sheer curtains. I have a soft spot for well thought out decor and this hotel passes that test with flying colors. There is a very clear Texas theme with the beautiful horse mural behind the bed, trunk made of classic leather belts and a rubber ducky with cowboy gear in the bathroom. Plus, it’s got tons of space, just like Texas.

Archer Hotel definitely knows how to treat their guests right. Shortly after arriving in our room, a bottle of rosé champagne was delivered. Also, Johnny and I are big fans of these his and hers mustache slippers. So much so, we brought them home and will wear them when winter comes in Virginia. It’s always the little details that make the difference.

This huge soaker tub was one of my favorite parts of the room. I love being able to enjoy a relaxing bath every now and then. Of course, the hotel provides bubble bath soap, which was lavender scented and smelled divine. The cowboy rubber ducky is also an adorable touch. One of my favorite parts of Archer Hotels is how each room comes with a Nespresso machine. Nothing like waking up to a good cup of coffee.

You can’t tell from these photos (because we don’t have a drone, yet) but the pool has the Lone Star of Texas tiled into the bottom. The pool deck is a great spot to soak up some sun and relax. Also, there is a huge TV, so you can keep an eye on the Texas Longhorns game 😉

Austin has sooo many scrumptious places to eat. Somehow, I managed to live in Austin for years and never ate at Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar. Thankfully, we crossed that off the list for a double date with our friends. We got so swept up in conversation, I forgot to take photos of the food. We got the oysters, grilled octopus, ahi tuna tartar and shrimp cocktail for appetizers. Johnny and I split the Maine seared scallops entree. Of course, all of the food was simply divine. A Sprinkles cupcake was right across from our hotel, so after checking out, we couldn’t help ourselves.

Other notable Austin eats include: