Austin, Texas is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States, according to recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, and for good reason. The Central Texas city offers access to Colorado River system lakes and natural springs in the city’s center, a live music scene that earned it the title of Live Music Capital of the World, a white-hot tech job market and world-class cuisine. If you’re looking to visit Austin soon, check out these women-owned businesses while you’re here.
Coffee
Revival Coffee
Located on the East Side, Revival is a Latina-owned coffee shop that serves Latin-inspired beverages like the Abuelita Latte, as well as sweet treats like conchas and cookies. The coffee spot is most known, though, for its perfectly Instagrammable, bottom-to-top pink decor. The shop is owned by Gabriela Lopez-Bucio, who also owns Revival’s sister concepts Taquero Mucho and Gabriela’s Austin.
Brentwood Social House
Owner Suzanne Daniels founded Brentwood Social House to fulfill her dream of creating a space “of love to connect people with one another and themselves,” according to Brentwood’s website. Brentwood serves classic coffee and tea fare, as well as a variety of pastries and grilled cheeses. Have some time on your hands? Don’t forget to reserve your spot for afternoon tea.
Shopping
Apartment F
Apartment F launched in 2015 in founder Ashley Yetter’s Brooklyn apartment before the business opened a physical store in Austin. The home decor and lifestyle shop works with artisans based in Morocco and Turkey to create handmade, one-of-a-kind home textiles for sale in its East Austin store and website.
Nina Berenato Jewelry
When Nina Berenato moved her jewelry business to Austin in 2015, she sold her pieces out of a 1959 Airstream trailer. Since then, she has expanded to a brick-and-mortar space and has been commissioned for Beyoncé’s project “Black is King.” Shop for jewelry and get a permanent bracelet installed at Berenato’s bracelet bar, located at Domain NORTHSIDE in North Austin.
BookWoman
You may have heard of Texas’ largest independent bookstore on North Lamar Boulevard, BookPeople, but you can’t miss BookWoman a few miles up the road. BookWoman started as lesbian collective almost 50 years ago and has since transformed into Texas’ only feminist bookshop. Susan Post, an original member of the collective, now owns the queer- and trans-run store. The shop aims to amplify marginalized voices, offering a collection of intersectional feminist books and a variety of unique T-shirts and gifts.
Restaurants
Bouldin Creek Cafe
Opened by owner and operator Leslie Martin in 2000, the casual eatery has become the Austin institution of vegetarian and vegan food and was recently named 2021’s best established restaurant in town by The Austin Chronicle’s readers. The restaurant serves completely vegetarian meals with vegan and gluten-free options, as well as an impressive lineup of coffee, tea and other specialty drinks.
Matt’s El Rancho
If this is your first trip to Texas, it’d be a crime not to try one of the Lone Star State’s finest delicacies: Tex-Mex. Matt and Janie Martinez opened El Rancho back in 1952 with only 10 tables. Today, the restaurant is owned and operated by the couple’s daughters Gloria, Cecilia and Cathy, and daughter-in-law Estella, and serves Tex-Mex staples like chile con queso, cheese enchiladas and Matt’s famous chile rellenos.
Dessert
Amy’s Ice Creams
Did you know that Amy’s is actually owned by Amy? Amy Simmons, owner and CEO of Amy’s Ice Creams, opened the Austin staple back in 1984. With 13 locations around Austin (there’s even one in the airport), you can’t go wrong with this fan favorite. Try their famous Mexican Vanilla flavor and try to guess the daily movie quote for a free crushed-in topping.
Sweet Ritual
Founded by Amelia Raley in 2011, Sweet Ritual on Airport Boulevard caters to a variety of dietary needs with dairy- and egg-free ice cream and other sweet confections. While the shop closed briefly this year due to pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the beloved vegan ice cream shop is back open.
Tattoos
Tiny Tats ATX
Looking for a place to get a tiny tat? Look no further, Tiny Tats ATX is a women-owned and operated tattoo shop that specializes in small, fine-line tattoos but also does traditional and large tattoos.
No Good Tattoo
This East Austin tattoo parlor was launched a few years ago by musician Emily Ng to act as a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community to get tattooed. The shop is entirely women- and non-binary-operated and specializes in delicate, hand-poked tattoos.
Experiences
Broad Studios Club House
Broad Studios Club House is a ceramics school founded by two of the ceramicists of the Broad Studios artist collective, Genna Williams and Hallie Shafer. Visit the Club House website to grab a spot at one of their many classes and workshops at their Springdale General space, such as wheel throwing, hand building and ceramic pipe-making. Broad Studios also regularly holds maker events and has plans this year to open a retail space in their private studio a couple doors down from the ceramic school.
Rowing Dock
Did you really visit Austin if you didn’t paddleboard on Lady Bird Lake? Located just west of Zilker Park, Rowing Dock is a go-to spot for kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders and canoers. Rentals start at $15 an hour, and college students receive 50% off any rental on Wednesdays with a valid university ID.
