The Perfect Austin Bachelorette Trip (From a Girl Who Actually Lived There)
I grew up in Texas, and I spent my college years at the University of Texas at Austin. Austin is where I learned how to be on my own, where I found my favorite tacos, and where I figured out that a patio with a view can fix almost any bad day.
So when friends started getting engaged and asking "where should we do the bachelorette?", my answer came out before they finished the question. Austin. Every time.
This isn't a list pulled from a travel site. These are the places I'd send my own friends, plus a few I still dream about. I've organized it the way a real weekend goes: brunch, lake day, tacos and margs, a night out on Rainey and East 6th, and a day of shopping on South Congress.
You can also see the whole trip as a carousel on our Instagram.
Brunch
Austin takes brunch seriously, and a bachelorette weekend needs a good one. Plan this for Saturday, when the group is a little tired and very ready for mimosas.
Nido is my pick when you want a pretty table and a view of the water. Order a round of mimosas and make sure the bride is in the middle of the group photo.
Desnudo Coffee is the move for the friend who needs real coffee before she can function. It's also great for iced lattes to carry to your next stop.
Clark's Oyster Bar has the yellow-and-white striped awning, and it makes the best backdrop for a group photo. Go for the oysters, stay for the wine on the patio.
P6 is the rooftop option. Go when you want skyline views with your brunch. Book ahead, because a group of eight doesn't just walk in.
Tip: Reserve brunch for your whole group a few weeks out, and put the reservation in your shared itinerary so everyone sees the time and the address.
Lake Day
If you can fit one outdoor activity into the weekend, make it the lake. Austin has a lake culture that I miss every time I'm away from it.
Ski Shores is the one. Rent a boat or a jet ski, float on a lily pad in the sun, and end the day with a drink at the café. Everyone ends up in a bikini with a drink in hand.
Tip: Hire a boat with a captain so no one has to worry about driving. Odds are nobody in your group has a boater's license, and this way everyone gets to relax. Bring sunscreen too.
Captained boat rentals to look at
Most of these run out of Lake Travis and offer pontoons or double-decker party boats that fit a whole bridal party. Prices, group sizes and availability change, so check each company's site before you book.
- Big Tex Boat Rentals has captained pontoons, and bachelorette groups mention the captains by name in their reviews.
- Captain Verde's Party Boats runs captained party boats for celebrations and is well reviewed on Google.
- ATX Party Boats gets praise for fun captains who know where to find the best spots on the lake.
- Lone Star Party Boats specializes in big double-decker party pontoons, and every rental comes with a captain.
- GetMyBoat and Boatsetter are marketplaces where you can compare independent captains, prices, and reviews side by side.
Tip: Book early for spring and summer weekends, and ask about bringing your own cooler, speakers, and decorations before you pay.
Tacos & Margs
You can't come to Texas and skip Tex-Mex. Don't argue with me on this one.
Matt's El Rancho has been around since 1952, and it's a true Austin institution. The neon sign is iconic, the queso is the right kind of heavy, and the margaritas will get you ready for the night.
De Nada Cantina is more casual and more fun. It's a good pick if you want tacos and drinks without a long, fancy dinner.
Tip: For big groups, call ahead. Tex-Mex spots fill up fast on weekend nights, and nobody wants a hungry bridal party waiting on a sidewalk.
Rainey & East 6th: The Night Out
This is the part of the trip you'll tell stories about for years.
Rainey Street is the one with the converted bungalows turned into bars. It's a little more relaxed and good for bar-hopping in a group.
- Banger's is a big outdoor beer garden with sausages and plenty of room for a group.
- Little Brother is a good stop when the group wants to settle in and keep the night going on Rainey.
- Bar Clive is another easy Rainey stop, great for a round of drinks before you move on.
East 6th Street is the wilder side, with louder bars and more dancing.
- Latchkey is a patio bar on East 6th that works well when the group wants to hang out and talk.
- Whisler's is a good pick for cocktails before the night picks up.
- The Lucky Duck is a fun stop when the group wants to keep the energy up.
Tip: Wear shoes you can walk in. I know the cowboy boots are cute, but break them in before the trip.
Shopping on South Congress
Save Sunday for South Congress, aka SoCo. It's the best place in Austin to walk around, shop, and take cute photos.
Allens Boots is the place to buy your first pair of cowboy boots, or your tenth. Even if you're just there to look, it's worth it for the wall of boots and hats.
Austin Motel has the neon sign you've seen on Instagram. The "So Close, Yet So Far Out" sign is a rite of passage, so take the photo.
Two Hands is a great stop for coffee or a bite when the group needs to refuel.
Home Slice Pizza is the move for a late lunch or after-the-night-out snack. The pizza is huge. Order by the slice or get a whole pie for the table.
Walk the whole strip, take the photos at the "Greetings from Austin" mural, and end the day with ice cream.
Plan the Whole Weekend in One Place
Organizing a bachelorette trip across six group chats isn't fun. That's why I built VowCrew.
With VowCrew, your group can:
- Put every reservation in a shared itinerary, so no one has to ask "what time is brunch again?"
- See everyone's flights in one place, so you know who lands when.
- Split expenses so no one is stuck covering the boat rental.
- Easily view where your group is staying, and what you need to wear for each event.
Download VowCrew and get your Austin weekend organized.
Have a favorite Austin spot I missed? Send it to me at hello@vowcrewapp.com and I'll add it.
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