Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the ATXtoday’s Best nominees. | Graphic by 6AM City
Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the ATXtoday’s Best nominees. We’re excited to announce our roundup of local winners who truly shine and make Austin a better place to live.
From high-level dining experiences and accommodations to places to hang with your friends — here are your top choices in each of our categories.
🏠 Apartment Complexes
First place: AMLI on 2nd Runners Up: The Catherine + Waller Creekside on 51st
📚 Book Store
First place: BookPeople Runners Up: Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar + BookWoman
🍺 Breweries and Distilleries
First place: Meanwhile Brewing Runners Up: Central Machine Works + Live Oak Brewing Company
🥞 Brunch
First place: Bird Bird Biscuit Runners Up: Phoebe’s Diner + Taverna Austin (Downtown) | The Baci Room
☕ Coffee Shop
First place: Cenizo Runners Up: Radio Coffee & Beer + Cosmic Coffee + Beer
An Evening with Varian Johnson | 6 p.m. | BookPeople | Free with RSVP | Join this author for a conversation and book signing to celebrate the release of his debut picture book, “Little Big Man.”
Tuesday, May 6
“Bingo” | 7:30 p.m. | Hyperreal Film Club | $8+ | Cozy up in the community theater to watch this flick about a circus dog created by a Texas filmmaker.
Wednesday, May 7
Sound Bath in the Treehouse | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Pease District Park | $10 | Relax your mind during an immersive listening experience inside the park’s artful, open-air structure.
Thursday, May 8
Fresh Tagliatelle Pasta Class | 6-8 p.m. | Blue Owl Brewing | $55 | Chef Erin will teach you to make fresh pasta and bruschetta from scratch.
The ultimate wellness awaits in Texas Hill Country
Presented by Miraval Austin Resort & Spa
Enter a Miraval state of mind. | Photos courtesy of Miraval Austin
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Need even more of an incentive to book a stay? With their new Ultimate Wellbeing Package, nearly all fee-based activities and workshops are included (excluding private sessions and culinary classes), plus guests will receive a $175 nightly resort credit to use toward spa treatments or private wellness experiences.
From yoga and hiking to creative expression and mindful living, every moment is designed to nourish your mind, body, and soul.
Wanting to share the experience together instead? Escape with your favorite people and enjoy exclusive group offers to experience a wellness retreat designed for connection, clarity, and fun.
Can’t stay overnight? No problem — their day packages offer all the serenity and self-care in one unforgettable visit.
Cinco De Mayo, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate locally. Today at Arriba Abajo, you can enjoy $1 carnitas + chicken tacos and $1 tequila shots in cucumber jalapeño, orange Valencia, and hibiscus grapefruit. In the mood for something different? Peruse our events calendar.
Announced
James B. “J.B.” Milliken, the chancellor of the University of Texas system, will leave the Longhorns to take on the same position at the University of California. John Zerwas, a former member of the Texas House, will become the interim chancellor when Milliken steps down on Friday, May 30. (KVUE)
Civic
The votes are in from the Saturday, May 3 election. Central Texas voters weighed in on school bond proposals, city and municipal bonds, and chose new mayors and city council members. Take a look at the latest results. (KVUE)
Closing
East Austin fixture City General Store is set to close after 39 years in business. A final date of operation has not been set, but customers are invited to a block party to commemorate the small business on Thursday, June 19. (Austin American-Statesman)
Opening
Strangelove, a coffee shop + wine bar on East Cesar Chavez Street, celebrated its soft opening over the weekend. The new hangout’s coffee is roasted by Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors, and its wine list is curated by Candice Dublin of Small Victory. Strangelove will officially open on Saturday, May 10.
Community
City officials will install more durable barricades on 6th Street to replace the rubber curbs, white flex posts, and fencing that have been damaged since debuting in January. The temporary barriers were introduced to open the strip to vehicular traffic on weekends, and a final decision on permanent infrastructure is pending.
Edu
Texas State University wants to become “one of the most beautiful college campuses in America” and has a strategic plan to make it happen. Its new master plan, which will guide the university’s growth through 2035, proposes 30 new facilities and 20+ green space projects. (Community Impact)
Shop
Secondhand shoppers, rejoice. Uptown Cheapskate opened a new north Austin store on Burnet Road where customers can buy, sell, or trade gently used clothes and accessories. The brand also has stores in south Austin, Round Rock, and Cedar Park — and a Georgetown location is coming soon.
Mansion Monday
World travelers will feel right at home in this five-bed, eight-bath residence near the shores of Lake Austin. Features from around the globe include imported Portuguese bricks, handmade Moroccan tiles, Brazilian hardwood floors, and front doors reclaimed from a church in Mexico.
Sports
How will the NFL draft impact college teams this season? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the SEC with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Wellness
Discover your biological age with a single blood test taken at home. Starting at $499, TruAge gives you a personalized longevity plan — save 20% with code WELLNESS20.*
Announced
While spots in our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide are closed ahead of Mother’s Day, we have a few more for Father’s Day. Hurry — save 20% with code PGG2025 when you secure your spot now.
Category
Biz
🌼 Small but mighty stylish
The Hat and Floral Bar allows you to create a one-of-a-kind hat that captures your personality. | Photo courtesy of The Hat and Floral Bar
You’ve heard of tiny homes, but what about tiny shops?
In front of Sign Bar and Lao’d Bar in east Austin, local businesses housed inside four trailers make up The Shops at Sign Bar. One is The Hat and Floral Bar, where customers can design custom hats, shop for handcrafted jewelry, and pick up colorful flower bouquets.
Here’s what owner KD Parra shared with us about The Hat and Floral Bar in honor of ATXtoday’s Small Business Week.
How would you describe The Hat and Floral Bar?
“Whether you’re designing a custom hat or picking out the perfect dried floral arrangement, our goal is to make the process easy and memorable while curating a piece that will last. Need a little more? Check out our accessory wall featuring 10 local makers from all over Texas.”
Did you know it’s possible to shop small on Amazon? Support small businesses and artisans across the country when you shop Amazon Handmade. We love these five items that can be personalized with your name or message:
Congrats to all of the ATXtoday Best winners. I’m happy to see many of my favorites made the cut, including Bird Bird Biscuit.
Years ago, after I tried Bird Bird Biscuit for the first time and left a positive review, the owner reached out to offer me a free, off-menu creation called the Biscuit Blueberry Pie. I love that acts of kindness like that aren’t hard to come by in Austin’s small business scene.
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