Neon sign with the text 'Afroatech 2023 Travel Guide' in purple, pink, and white colors.

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Curated by the team at Cool For A Living

Austin may not be the largest city in the country by square footage, but with a historic music scene, a globally recognized tech hub, and an emerging culinary industry, unknowingly to most, culture has long been the connective tissue to the city. Even though it's often underscored in the national conversation.

While the population of Black folks in Austin falls below the national average among somewhat larger cities, most would be surprised just how many of us are actually here. Be it in Austin or the many surrounding suburbs, Austin is rich in Black bodies and Black culture; it’s just not always easy to place a finger on where and how the community moves if you’re visiting from another city. So we’re going to tell you.

Ahead of Afrotech, we put together a guide to Austin that leans into an elevated yet uniquely Austin experience. But it’s also a bat signal for where you can find us.

PART 1:

Restaurants + Late Night Eats

A green disposable plate with cooked rice, stew with carrots and cabbage, and grilled chicken on a wooden table with a white plastic fork beside it.

Black
Owned

Winston’s Kitchen

2013 W Slaughter Ln
Austin, TX. 78748

Black-owned Jamaican food trailer with some of the best jerk in the city.

Tropical fruits including pineapple, dragon fruit, and ripe pitaya on a textured pink table. A black plate with grilled chicken, yellow salad, and dipping sauce. A white bowl with vegetable salad. Glasses of red wine and a glass of cocktail. Some leaf decorations.

Black
Owned

Canje

1914 E 6th St, STE C
Austin, TX. 78702

Black-owned Caribbean restaurant that was named one of the best new restaurants by the NYT last year.

Caramelized pumpkin topped with scoops of vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, crushed nuts, jam, and fresh mint on a white plate.

Comedor

501 Colorado St
Austin, TX. 78701

The vibes are always right at this Mexico City-inspired restaurant that is the perfect escape from the conference while remaining in the mix of the city.

Neon sign reading "Brasseries" in red and "Juustine's" in green, mounted on a weathered background, against a dark night sky.

Justine’s Brasserie

4710 E 5th St
Austin, TX. 78748

If you want to steal away from the crowd and experience the best of Austin, this is by far one of the city's coolest (and sexiest) spots. Perfect for late-night.

Close-up of a veggie burger with a sesame seed bun, topped with melted cheese, pickles, tomato, and lettuce.

Black
Owned

Community Vegan

1124 E 11th St.
Austin, TX 78702

Black-owned food truck that will properly cater to your vegan needs.

Person holding a fried chicken sandwich with pickles and a biscuit bun, with a woman smiling in the background.

Black
Owned

Bird Bird Biscuit

2701 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722

Black-owned walk-up eatery that has the best biscuits in Austin.

A white plate with grilled bread and a green olive-and-fennel salad in a green vinaigrette on a dark surface.

Black
Owned

The Diner Bar

500 San Jacinto Blvd
Austin, TX. 78701

Award winning Black chef Mashama Bailey plants roots in Austin with this staple, comfort food downtown haven.

Slices of grilled chicken topped with red peppers served with corn and a creamy sauce, garnished with chopped green onions on a decorative blue plate.

Ember Kitchen

800 W Cesar Chavez St Ste PP110
Austin, TX 78701

Latin-focused fare upstairs with agave centric cocktails downstairs at Subterra.

A table with a variety of dishes including boiled eggs with sauce, an avocado toast topped with cilantro, a cucumber salad with onions and herbs, and a colorful chopped vegetable salad.

Este

2113 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722

Named one of the best new restaurants in America, Mexican seafood staple Este is a meal like few others. Their equally impressive cocktail haven, Bar Toti, is positioned just across the parking lot.

An Ethiopian injera flatbread with assorted colorful stews and salads arranged on top and around it.

Black
Owned

Habesha Ethiopian

6019 Interstate 35 North
Austin, TX 78723

Black-owned local favorite with a chill environment and even better food.

Two tacos filled with chopped onions, cilantro, cooked beef, and shredded cheese, served with a grilled jalapeño pepper and lime wedges on the side, on a piece of aluminum foil.

Las Trancas

1210 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX. 78702

A late-night tacos spot that will get you right.

A table with two large pizzas, one topped with spinach and mozzarella and the other with pepperoni, red bell peppers, and dollops of ricotta. There is also a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and walnuts, a bottle of Topo Chico mineral water, and cans of beer, all on a red-and-white checkered tablecloth.

Home Slice Pizza

1415 S Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704

A good late-night slice that you won’t regret.

Salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red bell peppers, red onions, feta cheese, black olives, and quinoa on a white plate, with other dishes like baked mac and cheese with bacon bits and a vegetable casserole in the background on a colorful tablecloth.

Magnolia Cafe

1920 S Congress Ave
Austin, TX. 78704

You can never go wrong with breakfast for dinner.

Hand holding a fried chicken sandwich with fried chicken fillet, lettuce, green onion, and spaghetti noodles in a bun.

Spicy Boys

75 1/2 Rainey St
Austin, TX 78701

Open late on Rainey street on Friday and Saturday nights.

A half-cut cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and melted cheese, served with French fries, accompanied by a glass of iced tea with a lime wedge and salted rim.

Casino El Camino

517 E 6th St
Austin, TX. 78701

Hands down the best burger on Austin’s historic sixth street.

Close-up of a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and melted cheese on a bun.

P Terry’s

404 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704

Because a drive-thru is clutch when you’ve had a long night.

Three takeout trays with sandwiches, fish, fries, and tacos on a wooden table.

Black
Owned

Jive Turkey

1637 E Riverside Dr
Austin, TX. 78741

University of Texas football player puts his NIL resources to good use by opening up a Black-owned, family-run food truck featuring fried turkey tacos, turkey burgers, and the signature Jive Turkey cornbread, turkey, mashed potatoes, and mac & cheese bowl. They also have Kool-Aid cups.

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