Austin Metropolis Limits Music Pageant: Finest Meals and Drinks at ACL

The Austin Metropolis Limits Music Pageant (ACL for brief) returns this October 2024 for 2 weekends in a row, with plenty of music, meals, drinks, and common merriment. Pageant attendees returning to the Austin music pageant will be capable of debate the lineup and determine what they’ll see. As friends arrive from across the nation to see Chappell Roan, Dua Lupa, Chris Stapleton, Tyler the Creator, and others carry out reside, it’s price fascinated with find out how to maximize your eating and ingesting enjoyment throughout these three full days at Zilker Park.

C3 Productions, the pageant organizers, have tailor-made the foods and drinks choices to swimsuit the occasion over time — and it stays a a lot better meals courtroom than it must be. Naturally, Austin’s biggest hits — tacos, barbecue, beer, and burgers — characteristic closely. Fortunately, the choices additionally showcase native foods and drinks for weekend guests, which definitely provides to the general expertise.

There are at all times annual tweaks and adjustments to ACL’s foods and drinks lineups, and this 12 months isn’t any exception. There’s the first-ever taco courtroom that includes a few of the finest Mexican eating places on the town like Con Todo, Paprika, and Veracruz All Pure, curated and together with Cuantos Tacos and Discada. Likewise, Neapolitan pizzeria Bambino is slinging pies throughout the previously named Springs Beer Corridor (now known as the Large Tent). There’s nonetheless the desserts-forever part ACL Sweets. And most significantly, pageant standby the Mighty Cone is again. There are 62 meals distributors this 12 months.

Beneath are Eater’s suggestions for navigating the pageant, and picks for on-site eating, in addition to alternatives for brunch, late-night, cocktails, and extra exterior of the grounds. The pageant takes place from Friday, October 4 by Sunday, October 6, after which once more from Friday, October 11 by Sunday, October 13, all at Zilker Park.

ACL Pageant Ideas

With all out of doors festivals, the very best experiences consequence from superior planning. Be aware the next meals and drink-related guidelines and associated issues to know:

• Clearly, exterior meals and drinks aren’t allowed.
• There’s a strict bag coverage (clear baggage no bigger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches and/or common baggage that aren’t greater than 6 inches by 9 inches and/or smaller baggage with just one pocket. i.e. clutches and fanny packs).
• Empty wearable hydration packs with at most two pockets and plastic/steel/aluminum water bottles are allowed. No glass containers. Refill stations can be found throughout the park.
• Keep hydrated! Water is your good friend.
• The climate predictions for each ACL weekends at this level will probably be good, with sunny skies and sizzling throughout the daytime (low 90s) and pleasant-to-chilly within the evenings (excessive 60s the primary weekend and low 60s the second). Put on layers. There’s an under-20-percent probability of rain the primary weekend, however do not forget that umbrellas are banned.
• Blankets and chairs are allowed. Coolers should not.
• It’s honest to anticipate eating places alongside Barton Springs Highway to promote to-go booze once more this 12 months.
• Normal admission bars will serve cocktails.

ACL Pageant Grounds Eats

For these new to Austin’s meals scene, the alternatives on the meals courts might be daunting, particularly when strains get lengthy throughout peak dinner hours. Right here’s the place to focus your eating throughout these meals breaks to avoid wasting time.

Friday

Lunch

Cease by Nervous Charlie’s at ACL Eats: The bagel slingers will supply all-day sandwiches made with its all the things bagels: bacon/egg/cheese ($12), the vegetarian-friendly avocado/egg/cheese ($12), and even what it’s calling a bagel canine (!!!) the place said-frank is positioned in an everything-bagel bun ($8).

or

Head to the La Pachanga Eatery for Con Todo: The Eater Award-winning meals truck will probably be slinging what it’s calling XL carnitas tostadas ($16), the place two corn tostadas will probably be topped with slow-cooked pork, guacamole, cilantro, onions, and salsas. Per the identify of the enterprise, all the things ought to be ordered “con todo” (with all the things).

Dinner

Go for barbecue truck CM Smokehouse at ACL Eats: the crunchwraps are a conveyable approach to slot in this meal whilst you’re making your technique to the headlining phases to safe good views. There’s the brisket one ($13 for half, $24 for entire) and the vegetarian-friendly cauliflower model ($24) made in both corn or flour tortillas.

or

Cuantos Tacos at ACL Eats: The important meals truck serves unbelievable Mexico Metropolis-style tacos. Throughout ACL, it’ll supply trios of brisket ($18), carnitas ($18), and grilled mushrooms with adobo sauce ($18) for filling meals.

Dessert

Finish the day with JP’S Pancake Firm at ACL Sweets: The little pancakes in cups from the meals truck work very properly for wandering the grounds. Of the obtainable flavors, make it a festive course with the birthday cake choice ($11), the place the pancakes are coated in a birthday cake glaze and sprinkles. Gluten-free and vegan pancakes can be found, plus you’ll be able to add all of the toppings you need.

Musical performances

Take a look at Chris Stapleton, Blink-182, the Marías, Santigold (weekend two), Dasha, Norah Jones, and Model Pussy (weekend one).

Saturday

Lunch

Strive T-Loc’s Sonora Scorching Canine at ACL Eats: Get a style of Arizona in Austin by the Sonoran sizzling canines ($15) from this meals truck. The bacon-wrapped sizzling canine is doused in pinto beans, sauteed onions, diced tomatoes, mayonnaise, mustard, and jalapeño sauce.

or

Tiny Pies at ACL Eats: Sure, the bakery doles out nice sweets, however the savory choices work for a filling meal. The rooster hand pie ($14), which is mainly a rooster pot pie, is the very best wager.

Dinner

Enterprise over to Paprika at La Pachanga Eatery: The meals truck’s suadero taco trio ($16) isn’t to be missed, with confit brisket and goodies atop corn tortillas.

or

Although New Texan butcher store and restaurant Salt & Time is technically closed, it’s nonetheless serving on the ACL Eats meals courtroom: Discover a model of its iconic burger, however this time, it’s a smash burger ($12 for a single patty, $16 for double) made with wagyu beef layered with cheese, mayonnaise, pickles, and non-obligatory bacon for an additional $3.

Dessert

Scope out Holla Mode: The ice cream truck dishes up enjoyable rolled Thai ice lotions, an ideal technique to cool off after a day of music. The sticky rice mango ($10) is a good decide.

Musical performances

Take a look at Dua Lipa, Reneé Rapp, Vince Staples, Khruangbin, Remi Wolf (weekend two), the Seashores, and One thing Company (weekend one).

Sunday

Lunch

It’s apt to get tacos for the final day of the pageant, no? Make your approach over to Discada at La Pachanga Eatery: The truck will probably be making its namesake tacos, the discada, obtainable in threes ($16). The meaty combination is made with confit beef and pork, plus onions, cilantro, pineapples, and habanero escabeche.

or

Steamies Dumplings at ACL Eats: Chinese language dumplings make for a superb lunch, and the farmers market stand-slash-cafe-slash-shop serves up a few of the finest iterations in Austin. Half-dozen potstickers will probably be obtainable in pork-cabbage ($16), chicken-shiitake mushrooms ($16), and vegan ($16).

Dinner

For the ultimate (savory) meal of ACL, head to La Santa Barbacha at La Pachanga Eatery: The meals truck is all about barbacoa, per the identify, so, sure, order the trio of barbacoa tacos ($16) served on corn tortillas with cilantro, onions, salsa, and limes.

or

Burro Cheese Kitchen at ACL Eats: The grilled cheese truck’s been a staple on the pageant for fairly a while. Go for one of many vegetarian-friendly sandwiches, particularly the sweet-savory Through 206 ($12) with cheddar cheese and a balsamic-apricot-fig sauce on sourdough bread. Bonus: there’s vegan cheese and gluten-free bread obtainable too.

Dessert

Shut out ACL with ice lotions from newcomer Dulce Amor Mio at ACL Sweets: The ice cream truck focuses on Mexican-ish flavored frozen sweets obtainable in cups ($10) or waffle cones ($12). The fresa con cream (aka strawberries and cream) sounds completely refreshing.

Musical performances

Take a look at Tyler the Creator, Sturgill Simpson, Chappell Roan, Dom Dolla, Kehlani (weekend one), and Orville Peck.

Drinks

Beers

ACL turned what was beforehand the Barton Springs Beer Corridor into the Large Tent, however it’ll nonetheless supply beer cans and draft cocktails. Additionally new this 12 months is a complete pizzeria setup by Austin restaurant Bambino. It’ll fireplace up pies just like the Mi Scusi (smoked mozzarella, marinara sauce, basil, and olive oil with a sesame seed crust), the Little Stinker (a white pie with provoline cheese, mozzarella, purple onions, kale, and non-obligatory sausage), and the Joe Mars aka the Tracksuit (with these picturesque cupping pepperoni slices, mozzarella, ricotta, sizzling honey, basil, and marinara sauce). There are additionally gluten-free crust choices and dairy-free cheeses. Anticipate the tent to be very crowded noon on Saturday, October 12 as individuals watch the College of Texas at Austin versus the College of Oklahoma faculty soccer sport.

Cocktails

ACL continues to be serving precise combined drinks in the primary pageant space. There are its common admission bars (plus bars obtainable to various VIP-style wristbands) in addition to sponsored areas such because the Hendrick’s Gin backyard, Tito’s Vodka’s setup, Topo Chico’s exhausting seltzer bar, Aperol Spritzes, and the Flor de Cana rum bar on the Barton Seaside Membership tiki bar. From the primary bars, anticipate Tito’s vodka-sparkling lemonade ($15 for 12 ounces and $23 for 16), amongst different choices.

Wines (alas, there are not any Texas choices)

The ACL’s Wine Grove is an efficient wager for carafes of wines, usually lighter ones like sparklings, rosés, and whites.

Nonalcoholic drinks

• Lemonade: The Come and Take It stand is providing freshly squeezed lemonade at ACL Eats.
• Excessive Brew Espresso: These moveable coffees are ubiquitous in Austin for a cause. Gasoline your rally to the end with a can — the double espresso is essentially the most balanced of the alternatives, with much less sugar than flavored choices.
• Rambler Glowing Water: The Texas-based fizzy water firm will supply its signature plain fizzy water in addition to flavored ones.

Ashley Osborn for ACL 2022

Meals Close to Zilker Park

For these seeking to escape the pageant grounds for a bit, try Eater’s vetted listing of foods and drinks choices proper close to Zilker Park. It covers migas, barbecue, cocktail bars, ramen, and all the things in between.

Exterior of the ACL Pageant Grounds

Different Austin Necessities

Eater’s complete metropolis information is a cheat sheet of kinds for newbies to city. In search of extra choices? Listed here are a couple of extra maps and guides that could be of curiosity.

Breakfast

The primary meal of the day is essential to get you ready for all of the standing, dancing, and ingesting that’s forward of you at ACL. Gasoline up.

Consuming

Hydration is essential, however so is booze, and Austin has every kind of cocktails, beer, and completely satisfied hours to maintain you going.

Late-Night time Meals

Embrace the truth that you are in all probability going to remain up actually late (or actually early, relying on the way you have a look at it). May as properly soak up some meals throughout these waking hours.

This information was initially written by Tom Thornton.

10001 Metric Boulevard, , TX 78758

2100 Barton Springs Highway, Austin, Texas 78746