Shelley Hall, VP Marketing for Visit Austin, tells Sheena Adesilu why the city is a must visit destination for the UK’s foodie and music lovers
Q: What makes Austin’s food scene unique?
A: Austin is one of the most exciting food destinations in the U.S. if not the world. Texas was recently selected as the 11th North American destination for the Michelin Guide, with the restaurants due to be awarded later this year.
Austin itself is home to some of the best barbecue in the state — brisket is the name of the game for Texas barbecue! We also have Tex Mex tacos. You can have tacos at any time of the day. Breakfast tacos are really a food group in and of itself. The food scene has evolved so much over the past 10-15 years, from traditional Japanese Omakase and Mexican tacos to American cuisine.
Q: Do you have any events coming up for in 2025 for foodie tourists?
A: The Hot Life Festival in May is a laid-back gathering of some of the best chefs from around the country. This is followed by the Austin Food and Wine Festival, from November 1-3, at Auditorium Shores, right by Lady Bird Lake with a spectacular view of the skyline. Lady Bird Lake has a 10-mile hike and bike trail too. Autumn is a wonderful time of the year to visit Austin.
Q: What does Austin offer versus other Texan cities such as Dallas or Houston?
A: Austin is a more accessible destination. It’s only a 15-minute drive from the airport. We have so much green space, as well as the largest Capitol building – even larger than the U.S. Capitol building in Washington DC!
We have a natural spring called Barton Springs Pool, which is open year-round at 20-21 degrees Celsius. Even on New Year’s Day, it’s tradition to do a Polar Bear Plunge. It’s such an oasis in the middle of downtown and there’s nothing like it in the other city in Texas.
Q: What are some lesser-known attractions in Austin?
A: The Bland Museum recently underwent an incredible one-million-dollar renovation. The facility curates an array of wonderful artists.
Then there’s the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas, a fantastic showcase of Texas history, too.
Some of the smaller music venues include C-Boy’s Heart & Soul on South Congress, a home for soul and R’n’B. There’s a cocktail bar called the Jade Room at the top, too.
Austin is just a short drive away from Fredericksburg in the hill country, so travellers can visit some wineries just an hour outside of downtown Austin.
East Austin has a growing entertainment scene, too. The White Horse is such a fun honky-tonk. There’s dancing every single night of the week. And for wildlife watchers, between March and April through to early fall, we have over a million North American bats. They are the largest urban colony of bats in the North America, flocking up at sunset on the Congress Avenue bridge. It’s truly a sight to be seen!
Q: How is Austin building its profile as a top music destination?
We are proud to be known as the Live Music Capital of the World. When travellers visit Austin, they’re going to hear music almost the second they get off the aircraft. They will hear music in grocery stores and cafes, as well as more than 250 live music venues on any night of the week. There’s country rock, R’n’B, electronic, punk, hip hop… the list goes on. The Red River cultural district on the east side of downtown is home to some iconic music venues like Stubs and Mohawk.
Q: Are there any tourism trends or themes that you would point to?
A: Austin’s becoming much more of a family destination. We have over 50 craft breweries around town and they’re very family friendly. There’s one called Meanwhile Brewing in South Austin, with a beautiful wooden playground that’s so much fun for families to visit. Parents can enjoy some drink and food from some of the local food trucks, while the children play nearby.
Q: How is Visit Austin considering sustainable tourism growth?
A: Our hotels downtown have grown over 70% since 2015. At the end of this year, we’re going to have more than 15,000 hotel rooms. In terms of sustainability, Austin’s a very walkable and accessible destination. We always encourage visitors to ride, bike or walk. We have plenty of bike rentals and public transportation. The most sustainable hotels are also highlighted on our website. Respecting our parks and green spaces is very important to us.
Q: How can Austin compete with the likes of Nashville and Memphis?
A: While Nashville is home to country music, we offer music of all genres. Austin is known for its music diversity. The city is just an hour flight away to South Houston, where travellers can jump down to the Texan coast. Our tech scene is also thriving; there’s a convergence of our creative industry and local makers.
