Where to Eat, Stay and Play in Bastrop Texas

Thank you Visit Bastrop for this partnership. All opinions, thoughts and experiences are my own. 

Bastrop, Texas welcomed us with open arms and I want to scream from the rooftops how awesome this small town in Texas is. I’ve heard about Bastrop for many years but never took the time to go and visit this iconic city. If you’re looking for a weekend getaway destination that offers a perfect blend of history, outdoor recreation, and small-town charm, look no further than Bastrop, Texas. Located just southeast of Austin, this historic town boasts a unique blend of scenic beauty, cultural attractions, and delicious cuisine that make it a must-visit destination for any traveler. I had a free weekend recently and knew it was time to pay Bastrop a visit and see what it was all about. 

My sister and her son joined me and Bryce for a two night stay in Bastrop. I wanted to find fun things that were family friendly that we could all do and enjoy. Thankfully, I had no problems finding fun places to visit, sites to see and all the delicious food to eat. Here’s a quick run down of our weekend visit in Bastrop, Texas.  Be sure to add these to your list of things do in Bastrop for your next visit.

The first thing I like to do when traveling to any city is figure out our accommodations. We ended up staying in the most amazing two bedroom loft located in Downtown Bastrop. The location was absolutely perfect, we were able to walk downstairs and stroll through Downtown without ever having to get in a car. Nothing beats being in a walkable area. It’s the perfect way to explore a new area.

Our loft was not only in a great location but was decorated with so much charm. The loft was 100% Pinterest worthy and looked like it came straight out of a magazine.  They say the devil is in the details and this loft had everything you could think of. The owners provided white noise machines and ear buds to help with sleep, milk / cream for our coffee each morning, Moroccan hair products for the shower, and a list of their favorite spots in Bastrop which helped us navigate the town. 

It was centrally located in Downtown where all the action takes place. Our favorite part was being able to sit on the balcony at night time that overlooks the hottest bar in town, Old Town Bar, and watch patrons. Nothing beats people watching and we had the prime spot. If we didn’t have our little ones with us, we would have been down there enjoying the bar with everybody else but hanging out on the balcony was just as fun. Learn more about lodging in Bastrop on their official website. 

Places to Eat in Bastrop, Texas

We did a lot of eating throughout the weekend. There were many spots we didn’t get to try so another visit is in order.  No matter where we go, we always try their local mexican food. Thankfully, my sister is just as obsessed as I am. Our first stop was Ma’Coco, a quaint Mexican restaurant located in Downtown Bastrop (but will soon be moving to Community Gardens in Bastrop). We were hungry from traveling all day so I ordered lots of appetizers for the table. You can’t go wrong with elotes, fresh guac and carne asada fries. They did not disappoint!

I also ordered tacos to go with my meal that were delicious. They are authentic mexican tacos served with guac, cilantro and onions. You don’t want to miss these. 

For breakfast, we stopped at Maxine’s Cafe and Bakery for a quick meal before heading out for a day of adventure. Maxine’s is the cutest hometown cafe around with food that pleases every stomach that walks through the doors. From the second I saw biscuits and gravy on the menu, I knew that is what I was going to have. They threw me for a loop when the waitress asked if I wanted bacon or sausage gravy. Why have I never had bacon gravy in my entire life? I couldn’t pass it up and I’m so glad I gave it a try because it was amazing.  I need more bacon gravy in my life. If you ever get the chance to try it, do it! T

For lunchtime, we dined at Neighbor’s Kitchen and Yard. I loved that this was a 2 minute walk from our loft. I can’t stress how amazing not having to get in our car to go places was – especially with two kids.  I think it’s safe to say that Neighbor’s was the boys favorite place we ate all weekend. The atmosphere and the food was just what they needed. We sat on the patio which overlooked the Colorado River. It was such an amazing sight and I heard that the view at night time was one of the best views in Bastrop.

Neighbor’s has live music and lots of different events in this space and I can only imagine how fun it is. We ordered chips and salsa and split a pizza. The chips and salsa reminded me of pico de gallo but was so good and fresh! 

The Mergherita Pizza stole the show. Even though both the boys ordered kid’s meals (which they ate every bit of) they also helped us finish off the pizza in no time and I don’t blame them one it. It took a lot of self control to not stuff the whole thing in my mouth. They offer a lot of different pizzas in all sizes so I would suggest going with friends and splitting a few to be able to try them all. 

When leaving Neighbor’s Kitchen, don’t skip stopping by Tough Cookie Bakery. It’s a hidden gem that offers mostly organic fresh baked vegan and vegetarian options. Serving brunch, lunch and espresso all day. We were so stuffed from Neighbor’s but I couldn’t pass up an iced coffee and treats to snack on later. I love that they had a play area for the kids. Momma’s get to sit and relax with their coffee while the kids play in a safe area. More restaurants need this type of atmosphere!

Our last food stop was Roadhouse, a burger joint located a couple miles from Downtown Bastrop. While Roadhouse is known for their burgers, they also offer steaks, hot dogs and more. The boys enjoyed the largest hot dogs I have ever seen while I tried their famous Juicy Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger which was voted as a one of the top 50 burgers in Texas by Texas Monthly. The burger was full of flavor and deserved the title. 

The boys couldn’t get enough of their fried pickles. I love that they were the actual spears instead of the pickle chips. They had the perfect amount of coating and made the perfect appetizer for the whole table. 

Things to do in Bastrop, Texas

We ate our way through Bastrop but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have some fun too! Bastrop is very family friendly and great for all ages. One afternoon, we spent a few hours at the Dinosaur Park. This park features a half mile loop that takes you on a journey of a large variety of dinosaurs. The dinosaurs they have on display are realistic life-size dinosaur replicas with information on each dinosaur. It’s fun to go through the park and test your knowledge and learn about new dinosaurs. These statues range in size from the 2-foot long Compsognathus to the 85-foot long Brachiosaurus.

There were so many great shops in Downtown Bastop that we visited. One of my favorites was Bastrop Beer Company. With over 25 beers on tap and hundreds of local beers to choose from in their cases, this is the perfect place for any beer lover or someone who loves to try new brews. Not only was the Bastrop Beer Company great for the beer lover but it is kid friendly. There are pin ball machines, old school games and all sorts of activities to keep you and the family busy. This would be such a fun day date with your loved one!

One stop that we knew we had to make while in Bastrop was to the iconic gas station from the opening scenes of the original Chainsaw Massacre. The building was bought out and made into a BBQ joint called “Slaughter.” We didn’t eat there but we did stop by for some pictures and to check it out.  The gas station is located at 1073 SH 304, Bastrop, TX. 

Bastrop is located on the Colorado River and as ever Texan knows, we love to go tubing. The Bastrop River Company has tube rentals and tours for you to enjoy your time on the water without any worries. Float time ranges from 1 to 2 hours depending on water flow.  There are places to pull over along the way if you want to spend more time on the river.  

Bastrop Texas is such a charming town with so many great places to explore. I love that the town is full of mom and pop shops and very little to know chain stores. Bastrop was such a fun weekend getaway and it’s only a few hour drive from Dallas. We stopped in Waco on the way down and stopped through Austin on the way back home which made a fun little Texas tour. 

The people were all so sweet and there was always something to do. With Bryce being 2 years old and my nephew being 9, there was quite an age gap and difference in what they would usually enjoy doing but we didn’t have any issues pleasing everybody in our party. The vacation rental was not only in the perfect location but we really enjoyed having a large space that we could all spread out in. Bastrop, Texas is a hidden gem that offers something for everyone. From its charming downtown district to its scenic beauty and cultural attractions, this town is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway or a day trip from Austin. So, what are you waiting for? Plan your visit to Bastrop, TX today and discover the best of small-town Texas. If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, give Bastrop a try, you won’t be disappointed.