December 21, 2025
Austin: A Stuga City Guide
by Haley Holm-Pedersen
Our Open Shop Night in Austin, October 2025. Photo: Jessica de Souza.
Our team may be spread out across the country, but Austin is our home base. It’s where our sample shop lives, where nosing production happens, and where we all get together throughout the year. Here are the spots we come back to time and time again.
Stay
Carpenter Hotel
The Carpenter is our go-to place to stay and meet. It’s a quick bike ride from Barton Springs, which makes early morning swims an easy adventure. Thoughtful design, laid back energy, a beautiful outdoor space — what’s not to love?
Hotel Magdalena
Hotel Magdalena sits right on South Congress and above one of our favorite spots in the city, the Equipment Room. It’s a great place to stay if you want to walk everywhere (try the “million dollar smoothie” at SunLife Organics next door if you’re feeling like a million bucks).
Coffee
Mañana
Perfect for a slower morning or a quick espresso.
Radio
Radio is a classic for a reason. We love hanging out at Radio East, grabbing coffee, and then ordering tacos from the Veracruz truck while we work or catch up outside.
Merit
Good coffee, clean design, and an easy place to pop into between meetings.
Swim
Barton Springs
The reset button we all need. Barton Springs is a spring-fed swimming hole in the middle of the city. Its cool waters are the perfect antidote to hot Texas summers.
Commons Ford
A quieter alternative with beautiful views and a more tucked-away feel. Great if you want nature without the crowds.
Food
Loro
We eat at Loro literally every time we get together. It is a Stuga staple at this point. Loro combines barbecue with Asian fusion — we highly recommend ordering family style so you can try a little bit of everything.
KG BBQ
It’s Texas barbecue with Egyptian flavors: Need we say more?
Swedish Hill
We love stopping into the Heath Ceramics showroom inside Swedish Hill on South First. It’s a perfect pairing of food and design. There are plenty of baked goods to try; we love the kouign amann.
Ski Shores
One of the best hidden gems in Austin. Sit right on Lake Austin and enjoy casual food and an amazing atmosphere.
De Nada
Great tacos, great vibes, and an easy go-to when you want something casual and delicious.
Going Out
Equipment Room
Tucked beneath Hotel Magdalena, Equipment Room is a hi-fi vinyl lounge with great music and an intimate atmosphere. Try out their headphones for a more immersive listening experience.
Sam’s Town Point
We recently tried our hand at two-stepping here. We can’t say we’re the best dancers, but it is a fun Texas tradition. Watching the people who do know what they are doing is half the fun.
Esther’s Follies
For this year’s Christmas party, we stopped into Esther’s Follies, not knowing what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised; the comedy was sharp, and the magic tricks had us scratching our heads all night. Just don’t sit in the front row (unless you want to become part of the act).
Austin is where we meet up, do some of our best work, and sneak in a swim or a taco whenever possible. If you’re visiting, start here. If you’re local, keep an eye out on our email list for our next event in town.
