Contributed by Haley Rodriguez
Originally posted at https://do512.com/p/find-love-austin
Are you single AND ready to mingle?
If you have sore thumbs from endless swiping and you’re looking to find love the old fashioned way, check out our list of the best places that Austin has to offer for a face-to-face connection. We picked venues with just the right romantic ambiance and recurring events where you can confidently introduce yourself to your next potential babe. Here's Where to Find Love in Austin.
P.S. We can’t wait for the wedding. If you're into that sorta thing
Bond Over Brussels Sprouts at East Side King
Various Locations
Reinvent the old "come here often?" at East Side King by finally asking that crush you see ordering a Bento Box every week to take a seat with you for a change. Try the beet home fries, brussels sprout salad, or live life on the wild side with a poached octopus taco. Your potential lover will find your taste both refined and adventurous - and hey, if they don't, who says love can't be found between you and a pork belly bun?
Lounge with Frosé at Kitty Cohen’s
2211 Webberville Rd #3548
We don’t know about you, but there’s nothing like a good patio to get us in the mood for love. Kitty Cohen’s is like an oasis in the Palm Springs desert. Delicious cocktails, a freakin' swimming pool, and 70s kitsch décor allow for great talking points from the get-go with that dreamboat across the bar. Buying them a frosé will just be the cherry on top to start a beautiful relationship.
Watch the Sunset on The Bat Boat
Check-In is at The YETI BARRR (220 Congress Ave)
Picture this—a full-bodied red from Gratsi in hand, complimentary Via313 pizza, a local DJ playing beats in the background. The iconic Austin bats just about to set flight as the sun sets over Lady Bird Lake and there they are… the hunny of your dreams. Austin Tour Company has created basically a love cruise in the most Austin way possible. Experience two hours afloat with all the amenities listed above + more (love waiting at your doorstep) for only $39.
Fall into Love and Laughter at a Comedy Show
Various Venues
We know you’re looking for someone who has a great sense of humor. How? Your Bumble and Tinder bio says so. Lucky for you, there are shows for lovers of all kinds: the Fallout Theater has comedy shows seven nights a week, Cap City has a rotating cast of recurring weekly shows, and Chortle Portal presents local comedians in their Saturday showcase in a dark, dank basement. All of the Austin comedy venues will have you consistently bumping into the regular you've had your eye on last week and the week before.
Find Your Lovable Weirdo Counterpart at Eeyore’s Birthday
1100 Kingsbury St
Every April since 1963, Austin’s hippy community heads to Pease Park for Eeyore’s Birthday. This birthday party for the fictional character from Winnie the Pooh (and now an Austin tradition) is a laid-back environment. You will definitely have fun and will possibly meet someone just as weird as you. Look no further than Eeyore’s B-Day if your ideal match is someone who enjoys drum circles, face painting, colorful costumes, or even unicycling.
Bond Over Your Favorite Musician at ACL Fest
Taking a long-needed sabbatical from dating apps can’t be any easier with Austin City Limits right around the corner. Sure, the music is great and worth your attention but love is in the (cloudy) air and The One could be standing in the crowd right around you. Put your phone away, take a good look at your neighbors, and mention something about the artist on stage. Then definitely go back to watching Tame Impala’s psychedelic masterpiece with your new soulmate.
Get Sweaty and Conversational at the Queer Ride
You’ve heard of Tuezgayz, now get ready for Queer Ride. Every Wednesday at 7 pm, members of the LBGTQ+ community and allies meet at the south gates of the Capitol to venture on a social night ride around the city. New people try out Queer Ride every week, so heading out solo is totally cool. Remember to bring a lock, helmet, and lights. Ride (and shoot your shot) at your own risk.
Feel Charmed at a Speakeasy
Various Venues
Modern-day speakeasies like The Firehouse Hostel, Floppy Disc, and Midnight Cowboy are the perfect setting to find the romance missing from your life, whether it’s entering through a bookcase into what feels like a secret world or the exclusivity of having Floppy Disc’s monthly door code. The speakeasies sprinkled around town are venues handcrafted to pull curious people in, and this makes for interesting conversation leading directly to ‘I love you.' Your next step is making a reservation for the second date at Midnight Cowboy.
Walk 1,000,000 Miles Around Downtown at SXSW
Various Venues
There’s nothing sexier than a week full of jam-packed sessions on cutting edge technology, world premiere film screenings, and hundreds of music showcases at your disposal. SXSW has everything you need to spark up a conversation with possible matches. From your favorite interests turned into keynote sessions to the secret showcases being whispered around town, the topics are endless. The city is full of thousands of new people waiting to tell everyone how they met you, the future love of their life, at the most diverse festival in the world.
Reach for the Same Potato at a Farmers’ Market
Various Venues
If you aren’t looking for a partner who supports local businesses in 2019, are you really even looking for love? Farmers' markets are plentiful around Austin (some of our favorites are SFC, HOPE, and Texas Farmers' Market) and are full of people wanting to try new things and meet new friends...or more than friends. While picking up cage-free eggs and trying samples of the newest kombucha flavors, Mx. Right awaits you at the next stall. Which also has artisan cheese (our favorite is Gouda!)
Splash 'Em With a Cannonball at Barton Springs or The Greenbelt
2131 William Barton Dr / Various Entrances
Lucky for us Central Texans, we have summer eight months a year and that means Austin’s countless watering holes remain open for business. AKA a haven for singles to swim, cool, and settle down. Bring your favorite wingman, a pack of Eastciders (if you're in a free area), and most importantly—a dog. Dogs are pretty key to finding a romantic partner in Austin. Altogether, these three ingredients make the recipe for a happily ever after that online dating could N E V E R.
Find Love the Old School Way With Queer Speed Dating
This one’s for all our ladies and theydies out there - SpeedAustin hosts lesbian and gay speed dating every. single. week. At spots like Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen or The Westin Austin Domain, take a flirty and fun approach to meet someone you might not encounter otherwise around town. You do have to purchase tickets ($24-$28) to this event but that means your dates aren’t there to fool around. You can be reassured that they are just as serious as you are. You’ll be two giant steps closer to getting rid of dating apps forever.