University of Texas

Books, booze, and fine arts
Noteworthy for: Youthful energy, high-brow culture, and cheap food and drinks keep the UT area buzzing day and night.

The 50,000-student University of Texas is like a small town within a mid-sized city. And it's not all about higher learning: the 350-acre campus offers numerous cultural amenities for non-students, including seven museums, the Bass Concert Hall, and the Cactus Cafe, an intimate live music venue.
Guadalupe Street is the dividing line between UT and the West Campus neighborhood. Also known as 'The Drag', it's home to budget-friendly sandwich shops, pizza joints, bookstores and clothing boutiques. At the Hole in the Wall, a dive bar that's been around since 1974, you can always find cheap beer and loud, up-and-coming Austin bands.

The West Campus neighborhood - tucked in-between The Drag and Lamar Boulevard - is a densely packed mash-up of upscale condos, low-rent apartments, beautiful old houses, restaurants and bars. The strong drinks at Cain & Abel's on Rio Grande have been fueling poor judgment since 1991.