The Austin Shortlist

Researched lists of the best businesses in town, category by category. Each one starts from our own census of Austin businesses, gets narrowed to a short list, and ships with the cut list showing what did not make it and why. Nobody pays to be on these.

Local businesses

One local Austin business answering our questions, one place to eat, and one thing to do, on Thursdays. Free, from Carissa.

The best thrift stores in Austin.The 15 best thrift and vintage stores in Austin, sorted honestly: charity thrift, resale, and curated vintage, with what proceeds fund and the hours traps.15 picks
The best spas in Austin.The 12 best spas in Austin, from full-service day spas to the head-spa wave, with real menu prices and an honest list of what did not make it.12 picks
The best tattoo shops in Austin.The 15 best tattoo shops in Austin, from the walk-in institutions to the irezumi specialists, with real minimums where shops publish them.15 picks
The best gyms in Austin.The 24 best gyms in Austin, all independent: Lift ATX at $50 a month, Hyde Park Gym at $79 with no commitment, Castle Hill Fitness, Big Tex Gym, and Crux.24 picks
The best dentists in Austin.The 14 best dentists in Austin, ownership-checked: a practice serving since 1945, discount plans from $150 a year, and kids seen on Medicaid and CHIP.14 picks
The best massage in Austin.AUSTINDEEP charges $175 for 60 minutes of deep tissue. The 15 best massage studios in Austin, ranked, with 60 minutes from $68 to $175 on their own menus.15 picks
The best pest control in Austin.The 13 best pest control companies in Austin, ownership-checked: the 1949 family institution, the 1959 license lineage, and who actually publishes prices.13 picks
The best vets in Austin.The 14 best vets in Austin, every one independently owned and verified: the 1970 institution, a 1971 clinic, and the cats-only hospital.14 picks
The best HVAC companies in Austin.The 14 best HVAC companies in Austin, license-checked in the state registry: the 1976 firm its owners bought in 2008 and still run, and who owns the big brands.14 picks
The best moving companies in Austin.The 12 best moving companies in Austin, every state registration verified: the 185-truck fleet nobody ranks, who owns the big names, and how to check a mover.12 picks
The best house cleaning services in Austin.The 13 best house cleaning services in Austin, with who employs your cleaner, who publishes real prices, and the 1987 institution no ranking surfaces.13 picks
The best hair salons in Austin.The 23 best hair salons in Austin, all independent and Austin-run, from the 1986 Aveda bungalow to the texture specialists, with award claims actually checked.23 picks
The best furniture stores in Austin.The 12 best furniture stores in Austin, all independent and Austin-run: the one Austin factory, the Four Hands flagship and outlet, and the vintage rooms.12 picks
The best roofers in Austin.The 14 best roofers in Austin, all independent and Austin-run, verified by certification and warranty terms in a state with no roofing license.14 picks
The best plumbers in Austin.The 17 best plumbers in Austin, every one independent, Austin-anchored, and holding a master license we checked against the state registry.17 picks
The best bookstores in Austin.The 11 best independent bookstores in Austin, all open to browse: BookPeople since 1970, BookWoman, Livra’s used and rare books, and Finney’s romance.11 picks
The best barbershops in Austin.The 12 best barbershops in Austin, all independently owned: the 1933 South Congress classic, the East 12th institution, and the straight-razor rooms.12 picks
The best personal trainers in Austin.The 14 best personal trainers in Austin, all independent: published credentials, real session rates, and the over-50, post-rehab, and in-home answers.14 picks
The best independent coffee shops in Austin.The 17 best independent coffee shops in Austin, every one Austin-founded, ten roasting their own beans, from a 1993 lakeside roaster to a 24/7 mom-and-pop.17 picks
The best pilates studios in Austin.The 16 best pilates studios in Austin, all independently owned: five classical lineage rooms, boutique reformer studios, and the affordable institution.16 picks
The best medical spas in Austin.The 11 best medical spas in Austin, all independent and Austin-run: a physician-founded clinic, nurse-led studios, and the credentials each one publishes.11 picks
The best art galleries in Austin.The 19 best art galleries in Austin, from a 120-year-old house on West 6th to the East Side artist-run rooms, with hours, shows, and an honest cut list.19 picks
The best chiropractors in Austin.The 13 best chiropractors in Austin, independent clinics ranked on the doctors they name: a sports-only practice, an upper cervical specialist, family clinics.13 picks
The best live music venues in Austin.The 17 best live music venues in Austin, all independent: a 1955 roots room on South Congress, a 1964 dance hall, the Home of the Blues, and a jazz basement.17 picks
The best martial arts schools in Austin.The 17 best martial arts schools in Austin: black-belt-run jiu-jitsu academies, traditional Muay Thai, boxing since 1981, kung fu, tai chi, and Krav Maga.17 picks
The best comedy clubs in Austin.The 10 best comedy clubs in Austin: the 6th Street revue, the 1988 club that shares its owners, improv theatres with real schools, and an 82-seat BYOB room.10 picks
The best jewelry stores in Austin.The 12 best jewelry stores in Austin: a jeweler dating to 1883, a Congress Avenue counter, custom studios, a 22k Indian house, and a 40-year repair bench.12 picks
The best event venues in Austin.The 10 best event venues inside Austin city limits, independently researched: two historic downtown mansions, East Austin rail depots, and two charter boats.10 picks
The best financial planners in Austin.The 10 best financial planners in Austin, every one independent: who is fee-only, who names their CFP and CFA advisors, and who publishes what it costs.10 picks
The best bars in Austin.18 independent, Austin-run bars ranked from each bar’s own site: a 1917 grain house on East Sixth, a 1951 family bar, and no hotel rooftops or chains.18 picks
The best nail salons in Austin.The 15 best nail salons in Austin, all independent and Austin-run, ranked on what each publishes about its own work: the menu, the prices, and the technique.15 picks
The best photographers in Austin.The 16 best photographers in Austin, grouped by what you actually need: headshots, weddings, newborns, boudoir, commercial, and one wet-plate tintype studio.16 picks
The best landscapers in Austin.The 15 best landscapers in Austin, TX, all independent and Austin-run: who prints a state license number, who publishes a price, and who runs each company.15 picks
The best handyman services in Austin.The 12 best handyman services in Austin: who publishes a real labor rate, who states a service area, and the seven websites that answer nothing.12 picks
The best electricians in Austin.The 15 best electricians in Austin, every one independent, Austin-run, and printing its Texas license number on its own website.15 picks
The best florists in Austin.The 13 best florists in Austin, each independent and Austin run: the 1927 shop on Koenig Lane, a build-your-own flower market, and design-to-order studios.13 picks
The best dance schools in Austin.The 15 best dance schools in Austin, all independent and Austin-run: published class ladders and age ranges for kids from 15 months, teens, and adults.15 picks
The best residential architects in Austin.The 15 best residential architects in Austin, all independent and Austin-run, with the principals, awards, and terms each firm prints on its own site.15 picks
The best locksmiths in Austin.The 12 best locksmiths in Austin, each independent, Austin-run, and printing its state license number on its own site, with the statewide call centers named.12 picks
The best fence companies in Austin.The 15 best fence companies in Austin, all independent and Austin-run, ranked by the warranty, build spec, and ownership each one publishes in its own words.15 picks
The best garage door companies in Austin.The 11 best garage door companies in Austin, TX, ranked on what each puts in writing: warranty terms, named owners, published prices, and a real address.11 picks
The best yoga studios in Austin.16 independent Austin yoga studios with the schedule or rate each publishes: $10 drop-ins, donation classes, Ashtanga, Iyengar, hot and unheated rooms.16 picks
The best auto repair shops in Austin.The 16 best auto repair shops in Austin, all independent and Austin-run, ranked on what each one publishes: warranty terms, certifications, and a real address.16 picks
The best optometrists in Austin.The 17 best optometrists in Austin, ranked on the doctors each practice names, the equipment it publishes, and the insurance it lists.17 picks
The best clothing boutiques in Austin.The 14 best clothing boutiques in Austin: a 1964 bra-fitting specialist, designer vintage, an East 11th Street cluster, a goth shop, and custom ao dai.14 picks

The guides

Ranked, dated picks for eating and going out, with the one thing to order and the spots we left off and why.

Free tools

The searchable version of the same research: every Austin restaurant, coffee shop, and bar, filterable by neighborhood, plus the outdoors access sheet. Free with an email.

The Austin Shortlist

The guides

Free tools

One edition, every Thursday morning.