Waco Spots
Waco Spots
Leigh McBride
My waco love list !! All the places that helped me survive law school and made it a sweet little place to come back to.
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Casual Breakfast
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Cafe Cappuccino
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Waco-Famous, Pancakes the size of your face, probably going to wait on the weekends, no alc
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George’s Restaurant Bar & Catering
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A Waco MUST - best bar food in waco, hearty breakfast, kick-ass bloody Marys, giant beers, perfect for watching football any time of the day
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Our Breakfast Place
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Cute little place with good food on the south side of Waco near my old apartment
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Fuego Tortilla Grill
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If you need to drive through for breaky or lunch you must drive here (also open at 2am)
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Nice Brunch
J.S. Barnett's Whiskey House
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Unbelievable brunch, great cocktails, but you’ll smell smoky after
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Magnolia Table
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The place where you wait 2 hours to take a picture and show people you visited Waco
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MOROSO Italian Ristorante
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One of my fav places in waco!!! Amazing vibes, perfect for guests, parents, the girls, or a date. Weekend brunch only, but so great
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Casual Lunch
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Cupp's Drive Inn
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Pretty sure this place has been open for like 100 years and there’s a reason it still exists - old school burgers right by Baylor campus
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J-Petal & Poke’ Waco
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I could eat this every single day - this was my go to lunch before a final!! Healthy and not over priced
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Torchy's Tacos
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You all know how i feel about this place - the Waco torchy’s has a full bar ;)
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Schmaltz's Sandwich Shoppe
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Think scholtzky’s but 10 million times better. I could also eat this every single day
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Fuego Tortilla Grill
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If you need to drive through for breaky or lunch you must drive here (also open at 2am)
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Nice Lunch
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Union Hall - Waco
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A food court you could literally make sure everyone gets whatever they want
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Casual Dinner
Union Hall - Waco
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A food court you could literally make sure everyone gets whatever they want
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Poppa Rollo's Pizza
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Waco staple, the locals love it! Speak easy in the back behind a phone booth for pizza and beer
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Cathay House
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The ultimate trashy Chinese takeout when you want to sit at home and watch tv
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Tejun The Texas Cajun- Robinson
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Crawfish is elite and cute little patio on a pond - doesn’t feel like waco
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Baris
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Waco local favorite - HUGE portions for EXTREMELY CHEAP. Restaurant is BYOB !!! I could eat this every day
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Clay Pot Restaurant
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Pho is my go to when I was sick - i swear it had special healing power
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Slow Rise Slice House
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Super fun place to get a drink and eat pizza on a doc by the river! People can get takeout on their boats
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Fine Dining
DiamondBack's
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Great for bringing your rich parents or a date - steak, salmon and fried rice, sushi, etc is yum
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Semi-Nice Fun Dinner
Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
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Best sushi and habachi in waco, but bar is also VERY nice for a drink and sushi. Very upscale but can still dress casual if you want
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Ninfa's Mexican Restaurant
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Fun and casual, in the heart of downtown if you’re feeling Waco-y
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Di Campli’s Italian Ristorante
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A little outside of Waco, but the food and atmosphere is unbelievable!!!!! Take your parents or a date here to impress
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Hecho En Waco Mexican Cuisine
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Food is alright, but great atmosphere and great drinks! Much better for apps and Mexican martinis than actual meal
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MOROSO Italian Ristorante
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One of my fav places in waco!!! Amazing vibes, perfect for guests, parents, the girls, or a date. Weekend brunch only, but so great
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La Fiesta Restaurant & Cantina
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Good ol Tex-Mex, great margs, be careful with the purple margs (or not depending on what your intentions are with the evening)
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Cocktails
One Day Bar
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Cute little small cocktail bar with great bartenders (not a place to drink a lot, just little drinky drinks)
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Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits
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Coffee shop (imo best coffee in Waco) turned wine bar after 5, also great bartenders with good cocktails with a rooftop that overlooks downtown.
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Sloane's - Waco
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My fav cocktail bar in waco - It gives Austin with funky 80s theme and great drinks
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Hemingways Watering Hole
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Where the locals go. Super small bar right next to Moroso’s with a great cocktail bar vibe for a good night cap
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J.S. Barnett's Whiskey House
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Unbelievable brunch, great cocktails, but you’ll smell smoky after
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Margaritas
Ninfa's Mexican Restaurant
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Fun and casual, in the heart of downtown if you’re feeling Waco-y
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Hecho En Waco Mexican Cuisine
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Food is alright, but great atmosphere and great drinks! Much better for apps and Mexican martinis than actual meal
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Torchy's Tacos
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You all know how i feel about this place - the Waco torchy’s has a full bar ;)
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La Fiesta Restaurant & Cantina
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Good ol Tex-Mex, great margs, be careful with the purple margs (or not depending on what your intentions are with the evening)
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Fuzzy's Taco Shop
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Good margs, this fuzzy’s is more fun than other fuzzy’s bc it’s on the River and has live music a lot
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Beer and munchies
Oakley's Texas Bar and Grill
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Great local dive bar if you want to mingle with the Wacoans - embrace your inner trashy
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Brotherwell Brewing
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Low key brewery near Baylor campus that has good rattlers and other local brews!
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Cricket's Draft House & Grill
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One of the great college bars where you can meet 18 year olds and play some pool - yet we ended up here every weekend
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Southern Roots Brewing Co.
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Good local brews and pizza, great for a happy hour and something lowkey with friends
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Slow Rise Slice House
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Super fun place to get a drink and eat pizza on a doc by the river! People can get takeout on their boats
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The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill
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THE concert venue in waco, but also decent food and great place to watch football, drink beer, and play some cornhole
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George’s Restaurant Bar & Catering
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A Waco MUST - best bar food in waco, hearty breakfast, kick-ass bloody Marys, giant beers, perfect for watching football any time of the day
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Walk-On's
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Nicer not-as-local sports bar, but good food and great place to take everyone to get what they want to eat/drink
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Wine
The Grape Wine Bar and Bistro
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Off the beaten path, where the fancy pancy locals go drink good wine in a little garden with great munchies - great for a date or take your mom
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Lighthouse Coffee & Wine
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Another coffee shop turned wine bar - great little place to go read at any time of the day
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Fabled Bookshop & Cafe
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Precious little book shop with coffee and wine to go ready or study, great atmostphere
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Z's at the Curry
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Usually quiet and not busy, but great atmosphere. Law students love it bc the drinks are named after legal things because it’s next to the courthouse
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Stay Classy - Cocktail Bar
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Great little place to go with the gals for wine - speakeasy in the back
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If you want to party…
Freight Icehouse and Yardbar
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Always where we ended up every weekend, so great when the weather is nice! One must try the peanut butter shot to be a true wacoan
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Trojan Cork & Keg
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Tiny little local bar in spice village with great vibes to hang with friends
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Coffee
Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits
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Coffee shop (imo best coffee in Waco) turned wine bar after 5, also great bartenders with good cocktails with a rooftop that overlooks downtown.
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Fabled Bookshop & Cafe
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Precious little book shop with coffee and wine to go ready or study, great atmostphere
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Common Grounds Waco
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Where all the Baylor kiddos go study and sit outside - might get a ring by spring here
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Pinewood Coffee Bar
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Big debate of pinewood v CG - I’m team pinewood. Also has great brews in the afternoon
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Magnolia Press Coffee Co.
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Where you go when you want to take a picture and tell people you’re in Waco
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Lighthouse Coffee & Wine
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Another coffee shop turned wine bar - great little place to go read at any time of the day
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Treats
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Shopping
Lane's On Austin
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My go-to rich lady home decor store with Mackenzie Childs and pretty wedding gifts. But i love the snooty vibes
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Spice Village
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You’ve got to dig through some junk but it has cute little gifts, fun experience to shop here
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The Findery
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Good little home decor place if you need a hostess gift or something for a baby shower
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Waco Downtown Farmers Market
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The cutest ever!!!!! Great vibes, right by the courthouse with great local items
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Other Activities
Cameron Park
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My happy place in waco, I hiked or ran here almost every day. Miles and miles of trails, fantastic cliff side and riverside views. A MUST
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Waco Hippodrome Theatre
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Like a time capsule - go watch an old movie like the good old days
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Armstrong Browning Library
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Most Gorg building on Baylor campus with beautiful garden to sit and read - great inside and out
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leigh McBride
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