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With the city slogan #KeepAustinWeird proudly displayed on everything from bumper stickers to psychedelic vests and lampposts, the State Capital of Texas delivers an exciting break from the norm in the good old USA.

Here's everything you need to know to plan a trip to Austin, from where to sleep to where to eat and drink.

Where to stay...

Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt

Located in a city with arguably the best live music scene in the world, Hotel Van Zandt embraces Austin’s iconic heritage and stands tall amongst its rivals by offering exquisite bedrooms, nightly happy hours with free Margaritas and a gorgeous rooftop swimming pool and roaring outdoor fire place. Touches of the city’s musicality can be found all over this boutique hotel, with light fittings made from trumpets, suites with record players, a sound system in the swimming pool so you can hear the music under water and live music from local bands every night. It’s this kind of style and verve that makes Van Zandt hum a happy tune from every corner.

Hotelvanzandt.com

The Driskill Hotel

The Driskill Hotel is slap bang in the middle of Austin’s live music scene, just a few steps from all the action on the famous bar stretch of 6th Street. The building dates back to 1886 and has retained many of its original features including beautiful marble flooring and glass dome in the lobby. Bedrooms are a marriage of traditional décor and contemporary interior design, including all the modern amenities you need to make sure you want for nothing. The iconic hotel is home to the multi award-winning Driskill Grill restaurant offering innovative cuisine made from local Texan produce. The grill has been ranked the number one restaurant in Austin on several occasions – it would be rude not to find out why…

DriskillHotel.com

Where to eat and drink...

BBQ Town

Ask any Texan what their favourite food is and they’re sure to answer… BBQ. And it’s easy to see why: BBQs are big, meaty and full of flavour, just like Texas. For the best in town, get yourself down to Lamberts where you’ll be served delicious, slow smoked BBQ classics and modern Texan grub in a laidback setting. The menu’s packed with oak smoked goodness including Black Angus brisket with a brown sugar and coffee rub, salt and pepper lamb ribs and cold smoked Rainbow Trout – be sure to go with an empty belly…A hot spot for locals and tourists alike, booking well in advance is recommended. LambertsAustin.com

Choose Chinese

With Austin’s rip roaring nightlife offering endless food joints and drinking dens, you might want for a slightly more sophisticated place to dine one evening. Wu Chow is the restaurant for that occasion: modern Chinese cuisine served up in sleek and striking surroundings, the menu is awash with contemporary flavour combinations using traditional Chinese cooking techniques for a tasty new take on the Saturday night favourite.

Don’t miss the Shanghai Soup Dumplings and Tangerine Peel Beef and Honey Pecan Gulf Prawns.

wuchowaustin.com

Donuts The Gourmet Way

If you ever fancy a donut sandwich or find yourself craving a donut entrée then Gourdough’s is the place for you. This tasty little bar/restaurant (it had branches around the city) offers quirkily named indulgences like the Breast Lift Donut Sandwich, the Ron Burgundy Donut Burger and the Salty Balls Donut Dessert. The sizeable donut menu features all kinds of magical combinations, from the classic to the crazy, the sweet and the savoury.

Gourdoughs.com

Pian Pian Piano

Quite possibly the most fun to be had on a night out in Austin is down at Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar where you’ll be thrilled, entertained, bitched at and made fun of as two expert pianists sing and chat their way through a whole night of songs. Expect to be musically transported through the likes of Elton John, Dolly Parton, Snoop Dogg, Neil Diamond, Beyonce, Janis Joplin and even that well-loved classic “I Like Big Butts..!” You name it, they’ll play it but if you don’t like what they’re singing just drop down a $20 bill and name your tune.

PetesDuelingPianoBar.com

That's a lot of mother truckin' food!

One of the most popular ways to grab a tasty bite to eat is through the hatch of one of Austin’s numerous food trucks. Choose from classics like Greek pitas, Mexican wraps and Pad Thai to the more off-beat such as Venezuelan buns, Asian tacos or sweet mini donuts. These trucks are pretty much all over the city and tend to congregate together around drinking spots – one of the best and most lively areas is on Rainey Street where you’ll find food trucks and a whole host of houses, shacks and shipping containers that have been converted into trendy bars…

RaineyStreetBars.com

What to do...

On Yer Bike

One of the best ways to explore Austin is via bicycle and with cycle routes throughout the city, you’re guaranteed a great ride...

The green open spaces of Ziker Metropolitan Park just south of the main city are beautiful and include Barton Springs Pool, a natural swimming pond that’s great for a summer dip. Around this area you’ll also find Lady Bird Lake, with its canoeists, rowers and paddle boarders all making use of the pristine waters – head here for a leisurely cycle along the many routes, just be prepared for joggers and dog walkers to cross your path. With its year-round warm weather and outdoorsy mentality, Austin is definitely a city that encourages getting out and about to explore its natural greatness.

South Congress Avenue

Once the live music of Downtown’s 6th Street has left your ears wanting a little bit of peace, head to South Congress Avenue, a.k.a SoCo, and stroll amongst hip eateries, homespun boutiques and junk shops. This vibrant and happening area is where you’ll find locals hanging out and eating brunch, upscale galleries sitting alongside second-hand-shops and food trucks selling gourmet cupcakes.

If you fancy dressing like the locals, then head to Allens Boots, a store selling brand new and used cowboy boots – worth a browse just to see the vast selection they have for sale. Once you’re done there, a few doors down you’ll find the must-see Uncommon Objects holding the most amazing collection of memorabilia, antiques and oddities…

AustinTexas.org

Home of the Honky Tonk

No visit to Austin would be complete without a trip down to that sacred Southern place… the honky tonk bar. For the ultimate in country music swagger and dilapidated charm, head to the Broken Spoke. Defining honky tonk in all its grime ‘n glory, this is the place to go for great live music, dancehall moves and even dancing lessons – this little gem has all the grit, grease and greatness you could need on a night out. If it’s good enough for country music legend Garth Brooks, who performed there recently, it’s definitely good enough for you!

BrokenSpokeAustinTX.net

Simon Midgley is a freelance travel writer. Follow him on Twitter @simonmidgleyPR