Healthy Austin: Where to Eat, Drink and Get Fit in 2025
January 13, 2025
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The new year is the perfect time for a reset, which, for many of us, means getting our health in check.
In Austin, there are so many ways to stay fit and eat clean year-round. From visiting healthy restaurants to hitting up local gyms, here are some of our concierge team’s favorite picks for enjoying the healthy side of Austin.
Austin Gyms and Yoga Studios
There’s nothing like a good workout to clear your head. Austin is home to several local gyms and premiere yoga studios to help you find your flow. If yoga isn’t your thing, perhaps a hike on one of our famous trails, or kayaking on Lady Bird Lake is just what the doctor ordered. With temperatures as high as the 70s in January and February, enjoying the great outdoors in Austin during the winter is still quite comfortable.
Black Swan Yoga
Black Swan Yoga has online and in-person classes at multiple locations, including just down the street from the Heywood Hotel on East Cesar Chavez. Sweat it out in this vibrant studio where most classes are heated to over 90 degrees. BSY is community-driven and donation-based (with a suggested price of $15-$20), which makes it accessible for anyone looking to try yoga for the first time or get back into a regular practice in the new year.
Image courtesy of Black Swan Yoga
Practice Yoga
Another great way to continue your practice in Austin is by checking out Practice Yoga. Practice offers “absurdly high-quality donation-based yoga classes” and their location on East 6th St. is just a few blocks away from the Heywood Hotel.
Yoga With Adriene
If you prefer to get fit while staying in, consider tuning into Yoga With Adriene. This free and wildly popular YouTube series is hosted by Austin’s own Adriene Mishler (who also happens to be a co-owner of Practice Yoga!). Get into a flow alongside Adriene and her dog Benji, along with her thousands of viewers worldwide.
East Austin Athletic Club
If you’re looking for a local gym in East Austin, consider stopping into East Austin Athletic Club. The gym offers large group training and open gym opportunities, making it ideal for all types of workout styles. A day pass is $45 and includes access to both the gym and the recovery room, while a single workout drop-in is $30. The gym is located on East Cesar Chavez a little over a mile away from the Heywood.
Castle Hill Fitness
Another popular local gym in Austin is Castle Hill Fitness. The boutique gym offers in-person and virtual classes, open gym access, and spa services such as acupuncture, massages, facials, and infrared saunas. Guests can purchase a la carte passes for $30 which includes one class or gym access. Memberships and class packs are also available.
Image courtesy of Castle Hill Fitness
Fun Austin Fitness Options
If you’re looking to mix up your fitness routine and try something new, alternative fitness activities might be the answer. These activities not only provide a fun challenge but also engage your body in unique ways that traditional workouts might not.
Ballet Austin
Ballet Austin is known as one of the largest and most respected ballet companies in the US, but we locals also know them to be a great dance partner. Through its Butler Center for Dance and Fitness, Ballet Austin offers dance classes for adults of all ages and skill levels. Join them on January 19, 2025, for a free “Get Fit” day of fitness and Pilates classes. Throughout the year, they offer workshops in styles ranging from ballet to hip hop to Hawaiian to African. Their drop-in classes are a great way to get started, costing only $5 for your first class with no membership commitment. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, it’s a great way to move, groove, and improve your fitness.
Image courtesy of Ballet Austin
Austin Bouldering Project
Rain or shine, indoor rock climbing is an opportunity to make working out fun. Austin Bouldering Project’s Springdale Location is located on the Eastside, just a little over two miles from the Heywood Hotel. Here, you can practice bouldering, which is rock climbing without using ropes or harnesses. Bouldering is an excellent full-body workout, as it engages multiple muscle groups, particularly the core, arms, and legs, while also improving balance, flexibility, and endurance. The gym also offers yoga and fitness classes.
Outdoor Activities in Austin
Austin’s mild climate and abundance of scenic parks and trails make it an ideal city for outdoor fitness activities year-round. With options ranging from hiking and biking to kayaking and taking one of the world’s most famous public pools, there’s always an opportunity to stay active while enjoying the city’s natural beauty.
Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail
With Austin’s abundance of sunshine and warm weather, running and biking along Lady Bird Lake is always a great option for getting fit, any time of year. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail — which leads to the famous Boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake — is conveniently located just blocks away from the Heywood, and we offer free bikes to our guests.
Outside of the city’s main trail, central Texas is fortunate to have hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Some nearby options include the Barton Creek Greenbelt, Violet Crown Trail and McKinney Falls State Park.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Of course, getting your exercise in Lady Bird Lake is another option! Our friends at The Expedition School offer private kayaks, canoes and SUPs (stand up paddleboards), as well as outdoor adventure tours. Water sports in the winter? Why not? This is Austin, after all! Their boathouse is located nearby at Festival Beach and their hours vary depending on the season (our concierge team can help you coordinate your outing!).
Image courtesy of the Expedition School
Barton Springs Pool
While we’re on the topic of water, we have to mention Barton Springs Pool. Considered the “Crown Jewel of Austin,” this 68-degree natural spring fed pool is open year ‘round and one of the best places to swim in Austin. It’s a great way to get your laps in or wake your body up with a natural cold plunge. Best of all, Barton Springs offers free admission during the winter months and won’t charge entry fees again until March 15th, 2025.
Healthy Restaurants in Austin
While it’s common to associate Texas with BBQ and queso, in Austin, we’re lucky to have the best of both worlds with plenty of juice shops, vegan restaurants, and colorful dining options, too. You couldn’t find a more vegetarian friendly city than Austin. Check out some of our favorite healthy dining options in the neighborhood and around town.
JuiceLand
In the Heywood Hotel’s neighborhood, you’re always blocks away from a healthy choice.
If you are looking to do a light cleanse or just boost your vitamin intake for the day, look no further than Austin-original JuiceLand. There are JuiceLand shops all around town; the closest is just a few blocks east of the hotel on East Cesar Chavez St. Choose from juices, shots of wheatgrass and more, and superfood lattes and tonics.
Image courtesy of Juiceland
The Soup Peddler
If you want to ease your way into healthy eating this year, nothing is as warming and comforting as a big bowl of soup. The Soup Peddler has been dealing soup in Austin for nearly two decades and their East Austin location is only about a mile from the Heywood. Choose from soups, smoothies and salads…and go ahead and splurge on the grilled cheese sandwich — no judgment here!
Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Austin
There’s no shortage of healthy restaurants in Austin, including plenty of options for those who are plant-based. We put together a guide to our favorite vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Austin with more details, but here are just a few of our favorites:
- Mr. Natural
- Bouldin Creek Cafe
- Casa De Luz
- Zucchini Kill
Image courtesy Casa De Luz