Despite high-rises sprouting up everywhere among the bustling traffic in the nucleus of town, Copa Bar & Grill, and its upstairs lounge, Buzio’s Room, proudly radiates with the Latin spirit. With a Latin American and South American influence, its fresh and tasty menu and flavorful beverages are in synch with a lively rhythmic atmosphere. Most Austinites know Copa for their Salsa dance lessons and their bar, and Buzio’s Room lounge upstairs as a popular nightlife destination. However, the brick walls characterized by arched walkways are warm and welcoming, and provide a casual, yet inclusive dining experience, for lunch or dinner (and happy hour). Next time you’re downtown and feel like Tex-Mex food that will help you walk away with a Latin beat in your step, stop by Copa Bar & Grill or quench your thirst for a drink or get your latin music fix at Buzio’s Room lounge upstairs, 217 Congress Avenue.
Go Local Austin perks? Receive 10% off lunch at Copa Bar & Grill and $1 off cover (for Copa Bar & Grill or Buzio’s Room) with the Go Local Austin card.
Just off of I-35 at 1115 E. 11th, rests a tranquil bistro that radiates earthy charm. At Blue Dahlia Bistro, the open and welcoming front patio, woody and rustic interior, and the shady and cozy back patio create a temporary feeling of the slower pace that is characteristic of European life.
Blue Dahlia Bistro's food is just as charming as its breath-of-fresh-air ambiance.
After making a brief stop here to enjoy a European-style breakfast, complete with Breads & Spreads (including homemade marmalades, freshly baked breads, and nutella), and flavorful frittatas, or fresh tartines (sandwiches), mediterranean sampler plates, and hearty salads for lunch, dinner, or happy hour, you will feel like you added a few extra minutes to your day and somehow briefly slowed down an often fast-paced life.
For a bistro with such a foreign country feel, Blue Dahlia Bistro aims to provide a high quality local experience to its customers. In fact, according to their website, several of their main missions are focused on the local Austin community:
It only seems fitting, then, that Blue Dahlia Bistro has joined the Go Local Austin network, and is now offering 10% off all purchases for card-holding customers. Go Local at Blue Dahlia Bistro.
image credit- emeraldcitypress.com
Open 6am – 4 pm (M-F) & 7 am – 5 pm (S&S), this drive-up (& walk-up) business doesn’t sacrifice quality or selection. Yes, there’s coffee and coffee drinks, as well as chai and healthful teas to choose from, but then there’s the more exotic offerings: organic homemade espresso soft serve w/choice of syrup & whipped cream, Italian sodas, and some interesting cookies (salty oat) and Vosges exotic candy bars (note to self to try). It is also your downtown source for Upper Crust cinn rolls, muffins & croissants, Lone Star kolaches, Tacodeli veggie breakfast tacos, Ken’s donuts, and most recently East Side Pie thin crust pizza. Healthful alternatives for kids and their parents include Agave Lemonade, Almond Milk, Fruit and baked non-gluten Bagels.
In the running for “friendliest folks” in Austin which so important first thing in the morning or the afternoon pick-me-up, not to mention whenever. There is window takeout service, too, for the neighborhood, and a rear patio under shade of enormous tree by the brook, which is sort of an anomaly on busy Lamar. Visit this local establishment which is crowded by some non-local places burgeoning on this stretch of North Lamar. Look out for a giant “Coffee” sign placed very high up on your right as you proceed north from Whole Foods, just before the 7-11 on corner of 10th. It has a pull-in parking lot at the take-out window which causes it to be set back from the street. Very attractive contemporary architecture and relaxed vibe. And L_O_C_A_L. 10% off with the Go Local Austin Card.
This quiet oasis on 4th & Nueces is a surprise to me, but not to those with feet-on-the-ground or wheels-on-the-ground in Austin. Opening early at 7am, it is an ideal morning stroll/cycle to this leafy neighborhood cafe in a surprisingly tranquil part of downtown for a really great cup of coffee in this great coffee town – a friend we ran into there will go nowhere else. There is wifi and maybe 4 small tables indoors – most are on the covered outdoor porch which must be especially appealing in the morning, evening, not noon in summer, or naturally, if you’re a cyclist used to being on the melting side of things – outside is always best anyway. It is a coffee and takeout mecca as well for the surrounding offices and banks. These savvy folks offer great coffee house treats, sandwiches and salads, take-out style, sourced from Walton’s and from Bess. Is this a Lance Armstrong-Sandra Bullock connection? I don’t pretend to know, btw. Next time one of them calls me, I’ll find out. With an easy flow between the integral bike gear retail shop on one side and the bike & repair showroom of MJ’s on the other, this is a center of support for a less car-dependent Austin. It is an Austin Carshare Vehicle Location and it is the Downtown Bike Station, providing free showers, free bike storage and storage lockers for bike commuters. How cool is that and how cool is this place along with the laid back people working there who are friendly and no fuss, no bull, which is real Austin, if you ask me. Conveniently located across from The Royal Blue Grocer and in view of Republic Square, parking is not a problem, and take-out is an excellent option as well. 15% off food & drink with Go Local Card – yowza! I would recommend you consider grabbing coffee after the Austin Farmers Market on Sat. morning.
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