As an Austinite, sometimes I feel left out. I don’t work downtown; I don’t live in the ’04; I work and live in North Austin. As a North Austinite, I’ve had to travel further to get to the latest hotspots and coolest venues. I’ve had to do more work to find those uniquely Austin places that make this such a great city to live in. But found them, I have. One such place is Genuine Joe’s on Anderson Lane. Granted, Genuine Joe’s is still technically in Central Austin, it’s the north end of Central Austin and any easy distance from my house. Genuine Joe’s is a great little coffeshop, cozy and homey, but with a lovely patio and ample parking, and serving up a great decaf cappucino.

Another fun North Austin find is The Hideout Pub at Mopac and Waters Park Road. The drinks are tasty, the food is delish (for pub grub at least), and the waitstaff is friendly. There’s a great patio area if you still count smokers among your friends or if you just want to enjoy the latest cool front to hit Austin. And best of all, there’s a fantastic jukebox with just the right mix of tunes to fuel your happy hour.

What are your favorite North Austin gems?