10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Austin

The 351-acre metropolitan park south of the Colorado River from downtown Austin is packed with fun things to do. There are beautiful picnic sites, playgrounds, volleyball courts, botanical gardens, an outdoor theatre and a nature centre. The star attraction, however, is the Barton Springs Pool. Formed by natural springs and spanning 3-acres, the water here is at a constant temperature of about 20°C throughout the year. It’s a popular place for Austinites to relax and cool off in summer.

Lady Bird Lake isn’t really a lake by the usual definition of the term – more like a slight widening of the Colorado River as it passes through Downtown Austin. Regardless, you can head out onto the placid waters on a pedal boat made for 2, in the distinctive shape of a giant white swan. Not only do you get a good laugh and a bit of a workout, but the greenery along the shores, with the towers of the city centre in the background, make for some lovely views. If you’re there towards the evening, you can even see the famous Austin bats take to the sky.

Mount Bonnell, to the northwest of Downtown Austin, is 785 feet tall and one of the highest points in the city. It’s a bit of a trek up to the top, but there’s a big viewing platform up there and the view of Lake Austin and the Colorado River is definitely worth climbing 106 steps for. It’s especially nice (and romantic) around sunset, though don’t expect to be able to enjoy the view alone. Also, you’ll need to bring a torch for the walk back down in the dark.

Austin has an amazing dining scene, but Mattie’s stands out as a real ‘special occasion’ sort of place. The setting is especially romantic, being a beautiful historical mansion, with peacocks strutting among the ancient oak trees in the grounds. The restaurant takes its name from the fact that the house once belonged to Martha Faulk and her husband Henry Faulk, the parents of writer and radio host John Henry Faulk. The menu at Mattie’s consists of fine-dining interpretations of local favourites, such as fried chicken and prime fillet steak.

There are several of these popular cinemas around Austin. They uniquely offer the opportunity to have a ‘dinner and a movie’ date not only in the same place, but at the same time. Alongside excellent projector and audio equipment showing new and classic movies, you can get pizzas, burgers, salads, and other dishes delivered right to your seat. Don’t miss out on the Royale with Cheese burger, especially if Pulp Fiction is showing!

The historical Paramount Theater on Congress Avenue hosts a wide range of entertainments, from movies to ballet to stand-up comedy. Built in 1915 in an Art Nouveau style, it has quite a distinctive and distinguished look, with the ceiling being especially flamboyant. It makes for the sort of venue that you feel the urge to dress up especially smart for, even though there is no formal dress code. For the romantic touch, be sure to get tickets for the opera boxes by the stage.

Austin is known as the live music capital of the world, and The Continental Club is the live music capital of Austin. The iconic venue on South Congress Avenue opened its doors in 1955 and has since welcomed legends like Robert Plant and Wanda Jackson. It’s quite a modest place with a small stage, but its reputation is massive and it still hosts great roots, rock, country, swing, blues and rockabilly acts every night.

The White Horse is an Austin institution, and pretty much everything the Texas state capital is famous for in one venue. You’ve got great live country music, cheap beers and a taco truck parked outside – it’s everything a great Austin honky-tonk should be. While it has a fantastic atmosphere, it can be a little intimidating when the floor is full of expert dancers. Fortunately, you can get free lessons every Saturday from 7pm.

Austin’s comedy scene is constantly expanding and gaining momentum, making it a great destination for laughs. While the Moontower Comedy Festival in April is definitely the highlight of the year, there are great performances around town at any time. The Velvetta Room (commonly known as the Velv) is in Austin’s nightlife hub on 6th Street, with a fast-paced open mic night every Thursday. The Cap City Comedy Club in North Austin has hosted comedy legends like Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison, and still stars the biggest names in the business. If you like improv shows, head to The Hideout Theatre on Congress Avenue between Thursday and Sunday, but especially on Fridays from 8pm for their “Big Bash”.

The nightlife in Austin is legendary, and the range of bars to choose from is staggering and includes some romantic options. Contigo on Anchor Lane is modelled after the Contigo Ranch in South Texas, and has an all-weather patio where you can snuggle around a fire pit with a cocktail and some first-rate bar food. As the name suggests, Vino Vino specialises in wine, but their craft cocktails also make it worth the trip up Guadalupe Street. For something more central, head for Midnight Cowboy on 6th Street. Amid the gaudy entertainments of Austin’s nightlife hub, this bar is a high-class reservations-only cocktail lounge – possibly the finest in town.