From pronouncing certain street names correctly to smiling at others while on trails, we’re sharing reader responses to the unwritten rules of Austin.
Of course, none of these rules are official or written down, but they are absorbed by the community. If you are lucky enough to be from the Capital City, here are some of the unwritten rules, which were shared with us via email + on Instagram .
If you’re a transplant, you might want to save this list for future reference.
Unwritten Rules
“Tacos for breakfast everyday!!!” — @letswalkaustin
“You have to pronounce street names how the native Austinites pronounce them.” — @allnationrestorationaustin
“To me, a far more important rule of Austin is to be friendly and say hello to strangers. Especially when you’re outside walking on one of the trails or downtown or just about anywhere.” — Carolyn
“Support local business. All the time. It’s what made Austin great. Let’s keep it that way.” — Dianne F.
“It’s “burn-it”…..not “bur-net.” — Alan L.
“Yes, I know it used to be Town Lake, but it’s now Lady Bird Lake. But for those of us here before all the name changes, it’s still Town Lake, because it goes through TOWN. No offense to Lady Bird.” — Dianne F.
“Pups are welcome everywhere -always.” — @russellhousecc
“HEB is the god of all grocery stores. Don’t tell us how you miss Kroger, Skaggs, Safeway, Tom Thumb, Simon David, Brookshire, or God forbid, Randall’s. HEB is sacred around these parts.” — Dianne F.