Steps from Austin’s bustling downtown and overlooking scenic Lady Bird Lake, TRIO gives diners the best of both worlds. Trio’s carefully-curated menu offers both steak (range) and seafood (Gulf) options. Gulf offerings include Texas shrimp served with red mole sauce, shishito peppers, and corncakes and grouper prepared with grapefruit, roasted cipollini, and brown butter hollandaise. In addition to succulent steaks, TRIO’s range options include chicken, lamb, and antelope for more adventurous eaters. Locals love the made-to-order omelette station at Sunday brunch—as well as the unlimited mimosas, coffee, and tea. TRIO welcomes diners seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Guests praise the attentive and accommodating service as much as the cuisine. One frequent diner had TRIO’s staff custom-create her wedding cake, while another asked (in advance) for the pastry chef to bake a birthday dessert that was not on the menu. Both were pleased with the results!

TRIO
98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 685-8300
http://www.triorestaurantaustin.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/trio-austin-2

Public Domain/Public Domain

Oftentimes hotels offer deals, specials, and last-minute price reductions, but travellers can’t take advantage of these offers without knowing where to find them. These helpful websites will give you the inside hotel scoop to find you a great price on your next stay. 

Hotwire
Hotwire is a widely popular travel website that compares hotels to find users the very lowest prices, and it also offers special discounts on unsold rooms. The site even provides you with forecasts and planning tools to help make informed decisions about when to travel.

Priceline
This site also compares hotels in your specified destination to find you the lowest rate, but it also gives you the option of naming your own price for an even better (if a bit more spontaneous) deal. Priceline is an all-inclusive travel guide as well, creating a full travel itinerary for each of your trips that you can print out or manage via your mobile device.

Hotels.com
Hotels.com is a simple, to-the-point travel site that finds the best deals on hotel rooms for your destination and travel days. The site also offers unique holiday sales, last minute deals, up to 50% off on the Deal of the Day, and even allows you to accumulate points from other trips to use for future discounts.

Head to Iron Cactus' flagship Austin location for post-work drinks and snacks. The large Tex-Mex menu ranges from fish tacos to Carne Guisada, but many come for the drinks. The selection of over 100 tequilas has been recognized as one of the top ten in the nation by Chili Pepper magazine, and the bar menu may be just as extensive as the food menu. Margaritas are made from scratch with fresh squeezed lime juice and organic agave nectar. (Try the "El Pepino" for a traditional margarita with a spicy kick.) Happy hour runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and features $3 drinks and $5 appetizers, like the Chile Con Queso — a customer favorite. Its three spacious floors accommodate the crowds, while keeping an open feel, and the outdoor patio offers great views of the skyline.

Iron Cactus
606 Trinity Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-9240
http://www.ironcactus.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/iron-cactus-austin-6