The single life in Austin
Lots of techies and hipsters in Austin, but is it a good town for romance? According to several recent surveys, Austin comes out in the top five best cities for dating and singles. Austin is an informal, friendly city, and the same goes for dating. Your date may not involve flowers and a limo, but how do you feel about a brew pub or barbecue?
The only real complaint I hear over and over again is that in a city this size, you tend to keep running into your exes over and over again. So if you have to break it off, make an extra effort to keep things cordial. It will pay off down the road, not only when you run into that ex in public, but for your reputation as a whole.
My three favorite places to go on a date in Austin are:
Firehouse Lounge (Downtown)
Cozy booths, great cocktails, a friendly ambiance, and live music on the weekends - the perfect place for a date. And it all starts with a fun bit of old-style speakeasy cloak-and-dagger action, as entrance to the bar is obtained by moving a sliding bookcase aside in the hostel and stepping through the wall.
Peche (Warehouse District)
Looking for a classy place to have a cocktail and some upscale French appetizers? Look no farther than Peche, which offers great Happy Hour deals and is locally famous for their absinthe cocktails.
Hotel San Jose (Downtown)
A hotel lounge might seem like a weird place to go on a date, but the bar has a patio courtyard area which is a bit of a local secret. Have a beer or a great glass of wine and enjoy the beautiful, peaceful ambience.
Image courtesy Flickr/Andy