The Essential Guide to LGBTQ+ Friendly Businesses in Austin, Texas

Austin features many establishments friendly to the LGBTQ+ community. These businesses provide services and wares, including the best reads, delicious pastries, Southern cuisine, and curiosities to match your aesthetic. When searching for Downtown Austin condos for sale, check out the businesses below.

Having opened 45 years ago in a small upstairs shop, BookWoman was initially known as The Common Woman Bookstore. Those who enter this inclusive establishment will love the shop’s range of literature. Titles feature feminist and womxn authors and stories exploring the intersections of LGBTQ+ identities.

The bookstore is open every day of the week and offers book lists featuring the full spectrum of Texas authors and centering on relevant topics like pride and disability. Buyers interested in a souvenir can purchase a unisex shirt or tote to remember BookWoman’s admirable work spotlighting marginalized voices.

 

Made by gay people for gay people, The Little Gay Shop is a queer marketplace providing a wide range of products created exclusively by LGBTQ+ artists. They offer original finds and host community events for visitors, such as drag story time and drag bingo. Those interested in finding community through literature can join The Little Gay Bookclub’s monthly meetings about queer books and authors.

Visitors who enter this marketplace will enjoy the range of shirts, accessories, and patches the store offers. Many items feature bold graphic designs and simple yet powerful styles celebrating the store’s LGBTQ+ focus. Home décor like prints, posters, original and limited art, candles, and flags are available. The store’s book selection spans various genres in both fiction and nonfiction.

For boutique wine that welcomes the LGBTQ+ community, try Wine for the People, which provides the best flavors near Downtown Austin homes for sale. As one of the few female winemakers in the state, Rae Wilson draws on experience as a sommelier to create variations of her own. Wine for the People uses sustainable practices, as well as a process of minimal intervention in winemaking, to produce great flavors local to Texas.

Those interested in trying favorites like the Dandy Rosé, the sparkling Dandy Bubbles, or a bottle from the La Valentía collection can reserve a time for a 60-minute seated tasting indoors or outdoors. Visitors can also order a tasting flight, of which there are three options featuring four wines each. For a deeper understanding of winemaking, guests can schedule a winemaker tasting with Wilson herself.

As Austin’s oldest LGBTQ+ entertainment venue, Oilcan Harry’s is a must-visit for those out on the town. Oilcan Harry’s is a gay-owned bar that has been serving the community for over 25 years and is well-loved for its great drinks and music. With events every day of the week, visitors can enjoy karaoke Mondays hosted by Lady Grackle, drag shows on Thursdays and Fridays, games and drag competitions on Sundays, and much more.

 

Skull & Cakebones is the first plant-based bakery and café in the area, providing irresistible creations for those who visit. This bakery keeps things local, partnering with food and drink companies in the Hill Country to create the flavors that customers love. Guests searching for Downtown Austin condos for sale will appreciate this business’s all-natural approach, excluding preservatives and artificial colorings.

Those looking for a delicious vegan breakfast or lunch can order favorites like tempura battered cauliflower wings, the packed bagel sandwich on a gluten-free sourdough bagel, and more. Bakery options are wide and varied, including classic pastries like the Kouign-Amann, a flaky croissant with caramelized sugar topping. Those with a sweet tooth can order sugary inventions like the cookie dough sundae topped with dark chocolate. Pair a pastry with beverages like their house chai latte.

Named for the partner owner’s matching astrological sign (Gemini), Gelateria Gemelli makes the best handmade and seasonal gelato in Austin. This shop is familiar with local suppliers, which they partner with to source the best ingredients for bold flavors. Created in small batches, the gelato options change with the seasons. Selections include a mix of classic and unique flavors, such as miso vanilla, mango, Fernet Stracciatella, and peach bourbon.

The owners are firm believers that gelato best pairs with a good drink. Visitors can order house specialties like the companeros (a bourbon, meletti, and white vermouth mixture). A range of house cocktails, amaros, and happy hour specials are available. For a unique date night, order a private class for two, where guests learn how to make a small batch of gelato.

A gay-owned business in Austin, Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile is sure to please those searching for Downtown Austin homes for sale. This family-operated, ranch-to-table restaurant brings its rustic roots to the menu. Serving beef bred, born, and raised by the Jacoby family, the restaurant always has the freshest cuts. Guests can reserve a time for a weekend brunch or visit for lunch and supper Wednesday through Saturday.

Weekend brunch includes sweet options like the maple pecan pancakes and heartier dishes like smoked chicken migas with house chips and pico. Lunch starters like Texas caviar are the perfect lead into entrees like the steak frites with smoked tomato aioli. Supper features delicious Jacoby beef, with options like the daily butcher’s cut served with all the fixings. Other main options, like the gulf shrimp and grits, pair well with their cocktails, beers, and wines.

There’s a range of LGBTQ+ businesses in Austin, whether you’re looking for a new read, some home décor, or want to explore the city’s culinary scene. When you’re ready to live closer to these great businesses, contact experienced local agent Lyon Gegenheimer to guide you through the process. Lyon and his team will listen attentively to your preferences and get you the place you deserve. Reach us here and schedule a conversation.