NSA Influence Austin
The National Speakers Association is bringing Influence 2026 to Austin, and as someone who has called this city home since 1991, I am excited to welcome hundreds of my speaker friends to my hometown.
Influence officially runs July 25–27 at the Hilton Austin, right in the heart of downtown.
You will have plenty to do inside the hotel, but Austin deserves at least a little of your attention beyond the ballroom. This is not a complete visitor’s guide. It is my list of places and experiences that will give you a real feel for the city I have watched grow and change for 35 years.
One warning before anything else: it will be hot. Not “warm summer day” hot. Texas-in-July hot. Drink water, wear sunscreen, and do not schedule a two-mile afternoon walk just because something looked close on Google Maps.
Start With a Few Austin Essentials
The Texas State Capitol
The Texas State Capitol is one of the most impressive buildings in the city, and it is close enough to downtown that you can visit without surrendering half a day. Walk the grounds, look up inside the rotunda, and take a moment to appreciate the scale of the place.
Admission is free. Self-guided touring runs 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends, with guided tours on a more limited schedule.
The LBJ Presidential Library
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library is one of Austin’s most underrated attractions. Whatever your politics, it offers a fascinating look at one of the most consequential and complicated periods in American history.
LBJ was a larger-than-life Texan whose presidency included the Civil Rights Act, Medicare, major education initiatives, the Great Society, and the escalation of the war in Vietnam. The museum does not dodge those contradictions.
The library is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:00 p.m. During the summer it stays open until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, and visitor parking is free.
South Congress Avenue
South Congress, usually called SoCo, is the easiest place to get a concentrated dose of modern Austin. Browse the locally owned shops, look for live music, buy something you do not need at Allen’s Boots, and take the obligatory photo near Jo’s Coffee by the “I Love You So Much” mural.
You will also get one of the best views of the downtown skyline as you walk north toward the Congress Avenue Bridge (this is the bridge with the Bats living in it).
Go in the morning or later in the evening. Walking South Congress at 3:00 p.m. in late July is less of an Austin experience and more of an endurance event – like walking on the surface of the sun.
Yes, You Should See the Bats
At sunset, Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. It is weird, impressive, and completely Austin.
People line the bridge and gather along the south side of Lady Bird Lake to watch. You can also see the bats from one of several sightseeing boats on the water. Timing and size of the emergence depend on weather and other conditions, so arrive before sunset and understand that the bats do not work for the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The bridge is walkable from the Hilton, although after a full day of conference sessions you may prefer a short rideshare.
Let’s Talk About Tacos
Asking Austinites to name the city’s best taco can end friendships. We take this seriously, and there is no single correct answer (but I say it is Tacodeli).
But you should eat tacos while you are here.
Tacodeli must be on the list. It started in Austin in 1999 and has become a local institution. Try a breakfast taco with Salsa Doña, but understand the green sauce has some heat. The downtown location at 301 Congress Avenue opens at 6:30 a.m., which makes it practical before the conference begins.
Torchy’s is what some people will rave about as their favorite taco place. It is good, the the queso (think cheese dip for you non-Texans) is a MUST EAT.
Veracruz All Natural is another Austin favorite, particularly for its migas tacos. It grew from a food truck started by two sisters into one of the best-known taco names in the city.
There are dozens of other worthy choices. The safest strategy is to ask three locals for their favorite taco place and then visit all three.
Local Restaurants Near Downtown
Austin has a strong restaurant scene, but Influence falls on a summer weekend. Make reservations early, especially when gathering a group of speakers who will spend 45 minutes saying, “I’m fine with anything.”
These are local spots in or close to downtown, not national chains.
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill serves upscale Texas comfort food in a historic setting just a few blocks from the Hilton. It is convenient, relaxed, and easy for a group. Chicken and waffles, green chile macaroni, steaks — you will not return to the conference hungry.
Lamberts offers slow-smoked barbecue and modern Texas cooking in a restored downtown building. This is the choice when you want barbecue but also want table service, cocktails, and a setting appropriate for a business dinner.
Perry’s Steakhouse. This place is a great place if you want a wonderful steakhouse. Their pork chop is famous, but they don’t serve it daily.
Comedor is a modern Mexican restaurant designed by architect Tom Kundig and led by Austin chef Philip Speer. The food and the building are both memorable, and it is a strong pick for a smaller, more elevated dinner.
Emmer & Rye, on Rainey Street, focuses on seasonal ingredients, local sourcing, house-milled grains, and creative contemporary food. It holds a Michelin Green Star and is one of the restaurants that helped establish Austin as more than a barbecue-and-tacos town.
Guero’s Taco Bar on South Congress is a personal go to place we bring out of town guests. It has been around about as long as we have lived in Austin. It has good food and margaritas. But the little bit of history is that both George W Bush and Bill Clinton have visited this place many times over the years (the back room has a bunch of photos on the wall). We saw the Bushes eat there many times when he was Governor of Texas, and Bill Clinton will still go there if he comes to speak locally. Thus it is bipartisan approved Mexican Food. LOL.
Péché is a downtown favorite with a New Orleans and French influence, a strong cocktail program, and a darker, quieter atmosphere. It is especially good when you want to escape the noise for a real conversation.
Barbecue Requires a Decision
If you have never had Central Texas barbecue, make time for it. Like tacos, BBQ is partly a religious experience to Austinites.
Franklin Barbecue is the famous answer, but it generally requires planning and a significant investment of time. Terry Black’s, just south of the river, is more accessible and still gives you the full brisket, ribs, sausage, and sides experience. Coopers is another place you will like (located on Congress and 3rd)
La Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meats, KG BBQ, and InterStellar are also excellent, although they require leaving the immediate downtown area.
A personal favorite is the Salt Lick. But it is 40 minutes out of town, and some weekends can have a hour wait. It is bring your own beer. This was the “go to” experience when I moved here 30 years ago. Some don’t like it as much, but I think their sides (Coldslaw, beans, potato salad, and peach cobbler) are the best. They do have an outlet in the airport.
The rule is simple: order brisket by the pound, ask for some fatty and some lean, try the sausage, and do not fill your plate with sides before you understand the size of the meat order. And if you do it right you will wake at 1 AM with the “meat sweats”.
Live Music and Sixth Street
Austin is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World”, although the music is spread across the city rather than contained on one street. But 6th Street has dozens of bars that will have bands on the weekends.
Sixth Street is the most famous nightlife district, and the Hilton puts you close to the action. Parts of it are loud, crowded, and filled with younger visitors making decisions they may revisit the next morning. It is still worth seeing, particularly with a group. Be aware of your surroundings. Austin is safe, but we have some issues with homeless and other violence on occasions. Rare, but I want you all to be safe and pay attention.
Esther’s Follies is one of the most uniquely Austin experiences you can have. It combines comedy, magic, musical numbers, and political satire in a small theater overlooking Sixth Street. Shows normally run Thursday through Saturday, so people arriving early for Influence may have a chance to attend. Buy tickets in advance rather than assuming a large group can walk in together. As someone who has spent a lot of time studying and performing comedy, I can tell you that Esther’s is not simply another comedy club. It is part of Austin’s cultural fabric.
Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar (my favorite) is a high-energy, audience-participation piano bar where the musicians take requests and the crowd sings along. It is not a quiet evening, but it can be a great night with a group of NSA friends. Walk-ins work, though reservations help when bringing several people.
The Continental Club on South Congress has been hosting music since 1955. Check the schedule and go hear a band in one of Austin’s most historic venues.
The Elephant Room, downstairs on Congress Avenue, is the jazz answer. It is intimate, unpretentious, and an easy downtown option when you want music without the chaos of Sixth Street.
The Broken Spoke is a classic Texas dance hall that has hosted generations of country musicians. It is outside downtown, but it remains one of the best places to experience an older version of Austin. Take a dance lesson, listen to the band, and accept that someone in the room will be much better at the two-step than you are.
Walk or Bike Around Lady Bird Lake
The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail runs along Lady Bird Lake and gives you a great view of downtown. Early morning is the right time in July. You will see runners, walkers, dogs, kayaks, and people who appear far too cheerful for the temperature. If you are a walker or runner… this is your morning destination. Like the advice for 6th Street, be aware of your surroundings. It is very safe, but you need to be paying attention.
You can rent a kayak or paddleboard, although that may be better before the conference than between a breakout session and the closing keynote.
A Few More Austin Experiences
Have a drink in the bar at the Driskill Hotel. It opened in 1886 and remains one of downtown’s most recognizable buildings. There are two bars off the lobby. The iconic one is up the stairs (or accessed off 7th Street) has a copper ceiling. It was closed for renovations, but I believe it is open again.
The balcony Bar at the Stephen F Austin Hotel at 7th and Congress has a great view of the Capitol Building. There is limited seating on the balcony, but if you can grab a table there you will love the experience.
Stop at BookPeople, one of the country’s great independent bookstores.
Take a picture at the “I Love You So Much” mural on South Congress, even though dozens of other people will have the same original idea (you just wait your turn, and someone will gladly take you picture for you. Be sure to volunteer to do it for the people ahead or behind you..
Try queso (mentioned above – Torchy’s queso will change your life. Make sure you get it with guacamole scoop in the queso). This is not merely melted cheese. Order it with chips and share it with the table, although “sharing” often becomes theoretical once it arrives. My daughter who lives in Madison, WI will make this her first stop when visiting.
Listen for live music coming from somewhere you did not expect. It may be a restaurant, a hotel lobby, a grocery store, or an airport terminal. We are not particularly restrained about where musicians are allowed to perform. Always stop and listen and admire the talent. Tip them.
The Most Important Influence Advice
Do not build such an ambitious Austin itinerary that you miss the real value of Influence.
The main-stage speakers and breakout sessions will be excellent, but the most important people at an NSA conference are often sitting next to you. Have breakfast with someone you do not know. Invite another speaker to join your group for tacos. Stay for the conversation after the session ends.
During the convention, do not be cliquey. NSA has a bad habit of claiming “Family” and then the long time members are so happy to see old friends that they build walls and only socialize with their friends. Too many of us run off to private suites or off property gatherings with only old friends, intentionally excluding people they don’t know (and some they do know who may have annoyed them once long ago- the actress Kristen Bell said “Annoyance is the price we pay for community“. That is a good reminder – Try to include one or two first timers to your private gatherings). But those who are attending Influence the first few times need the serendipity of colliding with long-time attendees to get the maximum experience and feel welcomed to our “Family”. Yes, I will be going off to dinner with my mastermind group and other friends, but I always make a point each day to spend time with someone new to Influence. Be sure you are doing the same thing. If you know a person who prefers to avoid others they don’t know the whole time, make a choice “Clique or Community?” For the good of NSA we need people to hang out in the lobby bar part of the time.
Cigar Peg has planned their annual “Party with a Purpose” event at the Parkside (Sunday night, 6:00 PM – Midnight). If you are not usually a “Cigar Peg Kinda NSA Member”…. the group is not the same as it was 10 years ago, so don’t judge a book by an old cover. And, their venue for their party is really really good and walking distance to the hotel. Plus Friday, Saturday, and Monday night their suite is open each nice to those who are paid Cigar Peg members at NSA Influence Austin. There is a nominal fee to join Cigar Peg, but they give their extra money to charities.
And the hotel bar and lobby are large and ideal for hanging out at night or during the day and late into the evening. There is a Starbucks in the hotel, too. And a great Taco and Margarita restaurant. Be visible and talk to people.
Enjoy the Vibe of Austin
When I moved to Austin in 1991 there were 700,000 people in the greater 5 county area. There are now 2.6 million people. Austin has grown because people came here, met one another, shared ideas, and built things together. (NSA works much the same way).
Not every city that hosts national conferences has the ability to become part of the vibe of the event. Austin is one of those cities. I describe the personality of Austin as Tacos, Titos, Tunes, and Tech (Food, party, music, and technology). Let Austin’s vibe come into the mix of your Influence experience.
Enjoy the city, eat well, listen to music, and see the bats. But remember that all opportunities come from people, and nearly 800 of them are coming to Austin for the same reason you are.
I am excited to be your unofficial host for this event. Happy to answer any other questions.
See you soon at NSA Influence Austin.
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Thom Singer, CSP, has been a member of the National Speakers Association since 2008. He attended his first Influence (then called the “Summer Conference”) in 2009 and has never missed a year. He is the original host of the “Speakernomics” podcast (now one of the eight rotating hosts), and he currates the NSA Blog. Thom also serves as the CEO of the Austin Technology Council (as 34 year old organization designed to promote and unite the local tech ecosystem).