Where to eat and drink in Austin during SXSW 2018

Returning to SXSW for a sixth year, the SouthBites Trailer Park—which you can find at the intersection of Rainey and Driskill Streets—is a great place to fuel up while party-hopping on Rainey or in between panels at the Convention Center. This year, vendors include Noble Sandwich Co., DFG Noodles, Happy Lobster, Four Brothers, Lick Honest Ice Creams, Briggo Coffee Haus, Tamale Addiction and more. From March 10 to 12, Roasters Village within the park will feature the best coffees and teas in the industry. There will also be a SouthBites Market from March 14 to 17, where emerging local and national food products will be available for purchase.

Speaking of SouthBites: Every year, incredible chefs arrive at the festival to contribute in some way or another (speaking on a panel, or demo-ing at a pop-up). This year, Olamaie and Williams-Sonoma are hosting a female-led collaborative dinner, featuring Ashley Christensen, Sarah Grueneberg, Alex Raij, Ashleigh Martin and Christina Tosi—all serious all-stars in their own right. Tickets (which are $250 per person and can be purchased here) include a cocktail hour and a five-course dinner with wine pairings. 

Yeah, you read that right. This (totally legal) hemp dinner will be held on March 14 and 15 at Eden East, where Sonya Cote (Eden East, Hillside Farmacy), Christopher Sayegh (The Herbal Chef) and Natalie Gazaui (Eberly) are teaming up to creat a five-course hemp dinner. Along with snacks, fermented treats and hemp-infused entrées, the evening will include an educational component on hemp's medicinal benefits. The prix-fixe meal is $85; reservations can be made here.

If you're traveling to Austin for SXSW 2018 and want to take advantage of our city's top restaurants, this guide features the very best of dining in Austin. From a 12-seat omakase experience at Otoko and a Hill country-inspired dinner at Pitchfork Pretty to Thai-Kun's fiery (and cheap) dishes at Whisler's, these 20 restaurants represent Austin's diverse culinary accomplishments. You'll want to make reservations at most of these places ahead of time, though—with hundreds of thousands of extra bodies in town during SXSW, seats are going to be a little bit harder to come by.

We know that half the fun of this festival is scoring free drinks at shows, activations and pop-ups around the city. But if you're looking for a craft cocktail that doesn't require a 30-minute wait in line, check out our guide to the best bars in downtown Austin. You'll find expertly made libations at the intimate Roosevelt Room, a secluded hideaway at Midnight Cowboy and a mescal-haven at Las Perlas—plus craft beer and wine bars that provide a welcoming respite from the crowds.

Narrowing down the best tacos in Austin is no small feat; the city is rich with tortillas, folded and filled with tender meats, savory beans, freshly grilled vegetables and melted cheese. There’s truly a taco for every taste—especially when you're gearing up for a long day at the fest or famished after a crazy night of venue-hopping. Our list includes the smoked brisket taco at Valentina's, the chorizo and egg at El Primo and more—check it out, then bookmark your favorites to try during SXSW.

Most of Austin's best dive bars—you know, the ones that offer cheap beer to be enjoyed in a dark, grungy setting—can be found in East Austin and along Red River, amidst plenty of SXSW show and activations. You'll find a killer patio (and grilled cheese sandwich) at Yellow Jacket Social Club, almost 200 different kinds of whiskey at the Grackle and prime people-watching at the Liberty—plus plenty more on our list of Austin's top dives.

At the top of most people’s list of things to do in Austin is a visit to one of the city’s top BBQ joints. Or multiple visits. Austin is something of a brisket fiend’s Mecca; while we have plenty of time for the fancy dishes and fancy chefs at some of the best restaurants in Austin, it’s the local pitmasters who rein supreme over the city’s food scene. So if BBQ is on your SXSW agenda, you'll want to hit up La Barbecue, Micklethwait, Kerlin and more on our list of the best BBQ in Austin. And if you've got time, settle in for a wait at Franklin—and remember to bring a six-pack.