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The 2025 Digital Nomad's Guide to Austin, Texas

The 2025 Digital Nomad's Guide to Austin, Texas

Tacos, aparthotels, and... bat watching? Here's the 2025 ATX hit list. 🦇

Kevin from Nomad for Less
December 26, 2025

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🐂 Introduction to Austin

If you haven’t already heard the buzz, Austin was recently crowned the best city in the world for remote working, thanks to its killer internet speeds, high quality of life, and an endless list of things to do when you finally close your laptop. Jacqui and I spent a significant amount of time embedded in the ATX scene this year, visiting once in the crisp air of early January and again in mid-April to see the city in full bloom.

Whether you’re looking for a historic bistro, a legendary taco truck, or a place to watch a million bats emerge at sunset, this is your definitive 2025 guide to living it up in Austin without breaking your flow.

Me pretending to hold Austin on my palm

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🥩 Gastronomy: From Michelin Gems to Legendary Trucks

Austin’s food scene has officially moved from "great" to "world-class," now boasting its own set of Michelin stars.

• Gina’s on Congress: We kicked off January here for a meal that felt like a trip to Europe. It’s a Paris-meets-Rome bistro housed in a building from the late 1800s that has served as a jail, a brothel, and a saloon. The original brick walls and massive wooden bar provide a regal backdrop for their bone marrow and gougeres.

I found out that I don't like dirty martinis this night

• Ember Kitchen: Located in the historic Seaholm Power Plant (built in 1949), this spot is a visual stunner with three-story glass windows. They use a specialized Josper oven from Spain to infuse charcoal-fired flavor into everything. Jacqui and I got the crispy beef-fat potatoes and a waygu steak that was absolutely life-changing.

Upscale atmosphere with great steaks

• Ezov: This East Austin spot earned a place in the Michelin Guide for its Eastern Mediterranean market flavors. The energy is high, the walls are covered in Hebrew graffiti of Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” and the freshly baked "frena" bread is a must-order. We enjoyed several of their dips for the bread including lamb fat butter and whipped bulgarian feta along with some excellent falafel.

Ezov is great for a date night and top-notch flavor

• Anthem: If you’re on Rainey Street, you have to hit Anthem for their Asian-Polynesian-Texan fusion. We tackled "The Cure" Pupu Party Platter, which serves up Brisket Rangoons and "Miso Mac Daddy" balls (tempura mac and cheese with miso butter corn). It also came with some charred edamame that made for a great snack.

This pupu platter is no joke

• Veracruz All Natural: You can’t say you’ve been to Austin without hitting this legendary food truck. Their migas tacos are frequently cited as the absolute best in the city. We grabbed a meal here in the outdoor food truck area, which is a quintessential Austin experience.

You can't go wrong at Veracruz

• Two Hands: While wandering the shops on South Congress in April, we stopped here for a fresh, coastal Australian-inspired lunch. The harissa chicken bowl and brassicas salad with charred broccolini were the perfect light fuel for a day of exploring.

If you want to opt for a healthier meal, Two Hands is your spot

• Beez Kneez: We stopped by this eclectic spot for a drink and to check out their cool decor in the bar. The space feels very "Old Austin" in its welcoming vibe and is a popular late-night hangout spot.

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🍻 The Bar Scene: Historic Transitions and Agave Spirits

The "Dirty Sixth" reputation is fading as high-capital, sophisticated concepts move into the district's 19th-century Victorian buildings.

• The Dead Rabbit: This legendary NYC institution opened its Texas outpost in 2024 in the historic Hannig Row building. It celebrates modern Irish culture with contemporary art rather than leprechaun stereotypes. Their classic burger is a mandatory staple and you can get a great espresso martini here. Plus, the space was beautifully decorated for the holidays during our January visit.

The Christmas decor at The Dead Rabbit rocks

• Las Perlas & Asador: If you love mezcal, this is your sanctuary. Las Perlas features over 400 agave spirits and is decorated with 400 hand-painted rabbits from Aztec folklore. We got an excellent tequila flight and a few palomas that really hit the spot. On their shared back patio, you can grab sizzling brisket tacos from Asador, a Mexican grill that cooks over an open flame.

Tequilla, palomas, & tacos = happy Jacqui

• Friends Bar: This is a storied 6th Street venue for rock and blues. They have a "never a cover" policy and feature local talent seven nights a week. It was a great place to just chill and catch a band without the usual Sixth Street chaos.

Good music is easy to find in Austin

• San Jac Saloon: For that classic Texas country vibe, head here. It’s a two-story venue where you get an energetic full band downstairs and a chill acoustic solo set upstairs. It’s the heart of the entertainment district.

Pro tip: hang out on their overwatch area for a better view of the band

• The Volstead Lounge: This East Side staple blends vintage speakeasy vibes with dive-bar charm. It’s famous for its DJ-driven dance parties and the outdoor food carts on its massive patio.

Anywhere you can get late-night food outdoors gets my stamp of approval

• Mama Dearest: This is a delightfully weird "backwoods-themed" bar with a big vintage trailer that everyone chills in. It has a cozy but "eerie" vibe that makes it one of the most unique spots in East Austin.

Just chillin in a trailer

• Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden: This is a premier outdoor bar on West 6th, especially popular for sports fans. It’s dog-friendly and packed with games like cornhole and giant Jenga.

They've got a huge space for watching the game or partying at night

🌆 Rooftops & "Eatertainment"

Austin has some seriously awesome rooftop bars and hangout spots that you need to check out if you’re in the downtown area:

• P6 at The Line Hotel: This is arguably the best spot for an iconic Austin evening. They turned a former parking garage into a Mediterranean rooftop lounge with direct views of the Congress Avenue Bridge. We shared appetizers here while watching the seasonal bat colony emerge at sunset, an absolute must-do.

Come for the bats, stay for the apps & cocktails

• Azul Rooftop: If you really want to see the skyline from a bird’s-eye view, you have to hit Azul. While we were exploring various rooftop bars during our mid-April stint, this spot was a major highlight for catching the full scale of downtown Austin. It perfectly captures that "vibrant mix of entertainment and socializing" that makes Austin a world-class destination for nomads.

Azul has one of the most beautiful views in the city

• Zanzibar: We headed here for rooftop drinks to take in the downtown skyline views during our January trip. If you’re looking for tropical drinks, this is the place to go. My Tiki drink was incredible and the views of the city are unbeatable.

I'm much happier than I look here I promise

• Punch Bowl Social: To blow off some steam in April, Jacqui and I spent an afternoon here playing ping pong and arcade games. Their downtown location is housed in the historic Scarborough Building, one of Austin's very first skyscrapers.

Games, food, bowling - what's not to love?

🌳 Outdoor Wellness: Recharging the Battery

Nomad life is a marathon, not a sprint, and Austin’s green spaces are perfect for a mid-week reset.

• Lady Bird Lake: We took regular walks around the lake, which is the crown jewel of the city’s trail system.

Austin has some of the best trails and outdoor spaces

• Zilker Botanical Garden: This 28-acre sanctuary was a major highlight in January. You have to see the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, featuring a stone gate from Austin’s sister city in Japan and peaceful Koi ponds. We also toured the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which was actually built around real dinosaur tracks discovered on the grounds in 1992.

I'm a beautiful butterfly!

⭐️ Final Verdict: Must-Go

Austin is the undisputed heavyweight champion for digital nomads in 2025. Housing costs are reasonable compared to a lot of the US and you have blazing-fast internet in creative hubs like East Austin. You can live a lifestyle where you can close your laptop at 5:00 PM and find yourself viewing the seasonal Congress Avenue Bridge bats from the P6 rooftop lounge or eating Michelin-recognized meze at Ezov within minutes.

The city has mastered a "sophistication of the center," moving past its old reputation to welcome world-class spots like The Dead Rabbit while keeping its local identity alive at storied venues like Friends Bar. From the fresh coastal energy of Two Hands on South Congress to the smoky, open-fire Latin flavors at Ember Kitchen, Austin is a sensory overload in the best way possible. If you want a base that balances serious productivity with legitimate soul and the friendliest community in America, your search ends in ATX. Seriously, get here.