If you’re tired of watching Bravo’s Real Housewives have all the fun on weekend getaways, grab your friends and hit up Design Camp Austin for two days of learning, designing and connecting. Then spend two more days tackling our list of must do things in Austin with your new friends from camp.
When we selected the cities for Design Camp, one requirement was high on the list- a fun weekend getaway for our interior designers! With its big Texas personality, Austin boats a rockin’ music scene, lively restaurants, bars, world class spas and shops. It’s no wonder we’re launching our first Design Camp here! Repeatedly we’re heard about Austin, “it’s the best city I’ve ever lived in.” We are headed down south to find out why!
1. Brunch at Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar
Perla’s was founded in the Spring of 2009 by chefs Lawrence McGuire and Thomas Moorman Jr. with the goal of bringing ultra-fresh oysters and premium seafood to bustling South Congress Avenue. Perla’s features fish and oysters flown in daily from both coasts with an emphasis on the freshest catch from the Gulf of Mexico and simple, clean preparations.
2. Lunch at the Four Seasons, after a walk around beautiful Town Lake
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, TRIO restaurant in downtown Austin pairs Texas grill favourites with delicious wines and a beautiful outdoor terrace. The Lobby Lounge, often referred to as “Austin’s living room,” features live music and freshly shaken specialty cocktails.
3. Steak Dinner at III Forks or Eddie V’s
III Forks steakhouse offers Austin a sophisticated club-like ambiance with an elegant bar and lounge. The inviting foyer greets you with an array of fine wines – over 500 selections in the spectacular walk-in wine room.
Eddie V’s Restaurants, Inc. is setting the standard for fine dining, featuring three award-winning concepts that focus on only using the very best quality ingredients, combined with an exciting atmosphere and staff that is dedicated to every detail. We look forward to welcoming you at one of our many Eddie V’s or Wildfish restaurants.
4. Sushi at Uchi or Uchiko
Contemporary Japanese Dining and Sushi
Japanese Farmhouse Dining and Sushi
5. Adventurous (get on the bar!) Dining at East Side Showroom
The East Side Showroom is not just a family owned restaurant and bar, but a \”Showroom\” for the arts in all its delightful diversity
6. Bowling at Highball
It’s like nothing else in Austin, featuring delicious food and cocktails, eight lanes of bowling with rental by the hours, seven themed, private karaoke rooms that will leave you hoarse for days.
7. Bourbon at Ten Oak
The large selections of specialty cocktails are sure make you feel like a kid again. With delicious and surprising concoctions such as the Bourbon Bacon Milkshake, Pop-rock-tini and Honey Nut Martini it’s like childhood, but with alcohol. tenOak features a full menu of Southern favorites including house specialties, such as Braised Pulled Pork Sliders, Mac and Triple Cheese, and Original House-Stuffed Hamburgers.
8. Dancing at Cedar Street
Discover why Austin is the Music Capital of the World! Cedar Street serves up live music seven nights a week. From the best local talent to the hippest national groups to rockin’ cover bands, Cedar Street will undoubtedly entertain.
9. Cocktails at Paggi House, La Condesa and Bottecellis
Recognized as one of the best local spots for patio dining, Paggi House is an iconic Austin restaurant, as well as a historic landmark dating back to the 1840s. Nestled in a grove of live oak trees along West Riverside Drive near South Lamar Boulevard, the restaurant overlooks Lady Bird Lake with a stunning view of the downtown skyline, featuring the city’s most impressive and expansive patio where guests gather for great cuisine, happy hour, and cocktail lounging.
La Condesa also features the largest selection of tequila in Austin and a craft bar program overseen by Cocktail World Cup champion Nate Wales.
Botticelli’s South Congress is a fun and tasty Italian Restaurant located on South Congress Ave. We serve fresh and delicious Italian food combining old family recipes with new, inventive ones. Andrew and Matt Botticelli are the proud owners and are made even more proud by the food Botticelli’s delivers and the incredible staff that surrounds them. We have both an intimate Italian Trattoria in the front and an incredible beer garden out back. Live, local music graces the beer garden Thursday through Saturday.
10. Shopping at Gallery D
Located in the heart of downtown Austin, Gallery D first opened the doors to its beautiful space on 2nd Street in March of 2009, during Austin’s acclaimed South by Southwest music festival. Austinites and visitors to the Austin area come to Gallery D for its thoughtfully edited mix of contemporary clothing and accessory lines, all at an affordable price point. Owners Emily Keast and Beth Newill work to create a high-end shopping experience at Gallery D, while recognizing that the girls who love Gallery D also love music, dining out and traveling (just like them)! They want their customers to be able to shop at Gallery D and still be able to afford all of the other things that they love in life. Gallery D strives to provide its shoppers with an ensemble for every occasion, whether it’s a music festival or a night on the town.
11. Lady Bird Lake
If you’re looking for a pleasant, mostly flat, walk with several excellent views of downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake, then Lady Bird Lake will fit the bill.
11. Mani Pedi at Cindy Day Spa
Visit Cindy Day Spa for the ultimate hands and feet pampering. Manicures and Pedicure styles include: salon, deluxe, ultra, supreme, French American Polish and gel.
AWAY is located on the 4th floor of W Austin. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to take advantage of AWAY’s sensational spa services. All spa guests receive complimentary valet parking at the W Austin. Away is an escape within an escape, where the whirlwind of W winds down, and AWAY means a disappearing act from the everyday into an insider scene of surprising sensations. It’s a great place to delightfully detox after the after party.
The best part … is it counts as research for your business!!! Get ready to be inspired and have A BLAST at Design Camp Austin!!
