What do you do on a rainy day in Austin? We’re lucky to get 228 sunny days a year here in beautiful ATX, but if it’s one of those rare rainy days, here are the 23 best things to do on a rainy day in Austin, Texas!
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25 Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day in Austin
1. Check out a new coffee shop
There are so many darling coffee shops in Austin, Texas! When it’s rainy outside, grab a friend (or a laptop, or a book, or a notebook and paper) and explore a new coffee shop!
Also see: 24 coffee shops in Austin you should try
2. Catch a movie at Violet Crown
Violet Crown is an indie movie theater downtown that has an adjacent restaurant/bar. Order some food and craft beer and bring it to your seat for dinner + a movie.
Bonus: the parking garage is attached to the building, so you don’t even have to walk outside to get from your car to the theater!
3. Take a cake decorating class at Baked by Amy’s
photo credit: Fearless Captivations
My friend Anita invited me to a decorating class (read the recap here) and we had so much fun! This is a great options for kids or adults! Learn how to fill your own bags and explore various decorating technique at Baked by Amy’s. Every guest in the class gets an apron and an assortment of treats to decorate and take home!
4. Sweat it out at The Barre Code
When you get a bit stir crazy from the rain, sweat it out at my favorite barre studio. They have two locations in Austin: downtown and South Lamar. The downtown location shares a space with a coffee shop!
Also see: my 6 week journey at the barre code
5. Explore Austin’s brunch scene
Austin’s brunch scene is constantly evolving, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to check off another brunch from your bucket list.
Also see: 13 best places to eat brunch in Austin
6. Spend an afternoon at the new Central Library
I know, I know…spending a day at the library might not sound all that exciting. But Austin’s new library is a 200,000 square foot design gem that overlooks Lady Bird Lake, and it has a restaurant, technology petting zoo, half a million books, a 37-foot-tall clock, and a rooftop garden. This is an easy place to spend several hours.
7. Take a brewery tour
There are dozens of breweries in Austin that offer tours and tastings. A few favorites: ABGB, St. Elmo, Hops and Grain, Zilker Brewing, and Lazarus.
8. Get your retail therapy on at The Domain
This is not only Austin’s largest shopping district, it’s also home to lots of great restaurants, like North Italia, East Side King, and Culinary Dropout. Fill up your rainy day with shopping and eating galore!
9. Taste Texas wine at Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery
Everything about Infinite Monkey Theorem makes me happy. The industrial vibes are balanced by delicate vintage furniture, and all sorts of funky graffiti covers the walls. IMT imports their grapes from all over Texas but makes the wine right there on South Congress.
Sip and savor your way through the wine offerings, or ask to set up a guided tasting.
10. Thinkery
Thinkery is an exceptional kids museum. I’ve brought kids here before, and we had so much fun! If it happens to be raining on the 4th Thursday of the month, Thinker21 is an adults-only meet up with eats, drinks, science, and art.
11. Shop at Whole Foods and Try A New Recipe
When was the last time you cooked something completely new and adventurous? Go shopping at the epic downtown flagship Whole Foods (bonus: the underground parking garage is connected to the grocery store, so you don’t ever have to walk outside in the rain with your groceries), explore all of the artisanal delicacies, and take your goodies home to cook up something new!
(And if the recipe flops? Well, Whole Foods has an entire prepared foods section for that.. )
12. Go to old-school bowling alley Dart Bowl
32 bowling lanes, rock n roll music all night, a full service bar, and questionable diner food… Everything you’d want in an iconic bowling alley that’s been around for 60 years.
13. Hit up a skating rink
If you can’t remember the last time you went skating, it’s been too long!
14. Imbibe at the Driskill Bar
Legend has it that this old-world Texas bar is haunted.. That makes it even more fun on a rainy day! Sip a whiskey cocktail and enjoy small plates at this hotel bar that dates back to 1886.
15. See a show at the Zach Theater
It’s one of the 10 oldest theater companies in America! Zach theater offers a variety of plays and musicals for adults and children.
16. Slurp some ramen at Ramen Tatsu-ya
There’s no better rainy day food than a big hot bowl of noodles. The owners of Ramen Tatsu-ya say that the best way to enjoy ramen is by slurping it. Slurp away, my friend!
17. Discover your next favorite book at Bookpeople
Texas’s largest independent book store is right here in Austin! After you find your next new favorite book, enjoy reading it with a hot chocolate in the cafe downstairs.
18. Sing your heart out at Austin Karaoke
Private rooms and incredible sound systems. What’s your go-to karaoke song?
19. Experience Art at The Blanton Museum
Explore 18,000 works of art at The Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas. Admission is always free on Thursdays.
20. Urban Air Trampoline Park
This is a great place to take the littles when they get stir crazy!
21. Taste Texas wine Austin Wine Merchant
This fun little downtown wine store has free wine tastings every Saturday. Sip, swirl, and savor, and ask a wine expert to help you select a bottle to bring home.
Also see: 8 gorgeous wine bars in Austin
22. Paint and drink wine at Cafe Monet
Select a piece of pottery (they range from $10-75), and a trained artist will teach you the basics of painting technique. Cafe Monet is BYOB, and we all know that everything is more fun with a glass of wine in hand.
23. Learn aerial arts at Sky Candy
Ever wanted to learn how fly through the air on a trapeze, silks, or hammock? I took an hour-long class at Sky Candy, and while I can’t say I learned how to soar elegantly through the air in 60 minutes, I had a lot of fun and worked up a sweat!
This post makes me one to move to Austin just for the rainy days.
[…] Also see: 23 Best Things To Do In Austin on a Rainy Day […]