Best Things To See And Do In Downtown Waco

By Kelsey Kennedy | November 11, 2024

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Waco isn’t a big city (the population is somewhere around 150,000), but since it’s the largest city on I-35 from the drive between Dallas and Austin, and since Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame kind of made it famous, Waco has been experiencing a tourism boom! Downtown Waco is the hub of the city, so here are the best things to see and do in Downtown Waco.

1. Tour Balcones Distillery

Balcones Distillery is one of the biggest and most famous whisky distilleries in Texas, yet it’s tucked into a small pocket of downtown Waco! I was a bit surprised when I saw it; lots of Texas distilleries are out in the country with huge amounts of land (like all of the distilleries in Dripping Springs), but Balcones is incredibly local.

It’s very easy to stop by the tasting room and try the whisky. And if you really want to get to know more about it and find a fun thing to do in Waco, book a distillery tour in advance! They're about an hour long, and you can read all about my experience doing one here.

WEBSITE | 225 S 11th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States

2. Magnolia Market

Magnolia Market is probably the top thing to do in Waco for tourists, and it’s located right in the middle of downtown Waco!

Magnolia Market is the huge indoor/outdoor market curated by Chip and Joanna Gaines, who are famous for their tv show Fixer Upper. It’s a shopping destination for people who are looking for home goods as well as clothing, gift ideas, beauty products, and more. Plus, there are a bunch of food trucks on site, an adorable bakery, live music, and lots of seasonal events like Celebration in the fall and Christmas at the Silos in December.

Related: Weekend Guide To Magnolia Market At The Silos

WEBSITE | 601 Webster Ave, Waco, TX 76706, United States

3. Hippodrome Theater

The Hippodrome is in downtown Waco and it’s very cool! It’s actually a historic theater that was originally used for silent films and traveling performers way back in the early 1900s, but now it’s used for theater, musical acts, and classic movies.

It’s very popular for seasonal events (keep your eyes open for tickets to Christmas concerts!), but they have events year-round. If you’re staying in downtown Waco and looking for something fun to do, plan on getting a drink at a Waco rooftop bar and then going to see a show at the Hippodrome for a fun night out.

WEBSITE | 724 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States

4. Eat and Drink

Eat and drink your way through downtown Waco, because it’s a hub of great restaurants! Here are a few worth checking out:

Milo All Day: American/southern food in a bright and pretty setting. I love it most for weekend brunch, but their lunch and dinner entrees and cocktails are delicious, too!

Red Herring: a Mediterranean-inspired modern restaurant at the gorgeous Hotel Herringbone. Red Herring has a cool art deco design, a raw bar and chefs counter, a cocktail bar, and it’s probably the best fine dining restaurant in downtown Waco. (Or possibly all of Waco.)

Songbird: Also located at Hotel Herringbone, Songbird is a cute wine bar where you can stop by for a glass of wine and a cheese board. Take your wine out to the courtyard if it’s a nice day! There might even be live music playing on the weekend.

5. Dr. Pepper Museum

The Dr. Pepper Museum is going to be on every single list of Best Things To Do In Waco because … this is Texas, y’all! Our love for DP runs deep.

If you want to know more about Dr. Pepper and how it came to be Texas’s favorite soft drink, stop by for a visit at this fun, interactive museum. This is a very kid-friendly thing to do in downtown Waco, complete with the make-your-own-soda adventure you can add on to your ticket.

WEBSITE | 300 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States

6. Stay at the Hotel Herringbone

I mentioned a few of the eateries at Hotel Herringbone earlier, but booking an overnight stay at Hotel Herringbone is easily one of the top things to do in Downtown Waco. This is a luxury boutique hotel made of shipping containers, so it’s also one of the most unique hotels around!

From the pros/cons of this little Waco hotel to photos of the interior space and rooms, here’s my honest review of Hotel Herringbone.

WEBSITE | 319 S 4th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States

7. Fabled Bookshop

Fabled Bookshop is the sweetest local Waco bookstore! It’s curated by the owner and staff with little cards tucked into books to help you find something fun and unique. Plus, there’s a café in the bookshop where you can order a pastry and a cappuccino to enjoy while you read your new book, and there’s an adorable children’s section in the back corner. A true Waco gem, and Fabled Bookshop has to be on your list of things to do in downtown Waco!

Related: best Coffee Shop in Waco

WEBSITE | 215 S 4th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States

8. Waco Downtown Farmers Market

The Waco Farmers Market happens every Saturday morning from 9-1 in downtown Waco. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from a local farmers market, except since Waco is located so centrally in Texas, there are vendors from EVERYWHERE!

From seasonal produce to locally raised meat and seafood, fresh flowers and artisan gift ideas, there is SO much to shop for at the Waco downtown farmers market.

WEBSITE | 500 Washington Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States

9. Spice Village

Spice Village is kind of cute. It’s a bit kitschy, with lots of bedazzled drink tumblers and cross-stitched pillow covers that say things like “bless your heart” and such, but if you want to find a HUGE amount of little boutique stores all in one space, this is your place to shop!

Spice Village is located on the second floor of a downtown Waco building. It’s nice because there’s lots of parking and it’s indoor shopping, so you can enjoy it in the hottest or coldest months of the year. And if you want some unique gift ideas, you’ll very likely find something here!

WEBSITE | 213 Mary Ave entrance located at 2nd &, Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States

10. Get Some Coffee

Of all of the incredible Waco coffee shops, there are a few of them located right here in downtown Waco! Here are two that I recommend:

Lighthouse Coffee and Wine: exceptional coffee, really friendly baristas, and an easy downtown walk from the Magnolia Silos. Plus, you can stop by in the evening hours for a glass of wine!

Magnolia Press: located at Magnolia Market at the Silos, this is probably the prettiest coffee shop in downtown Waco. The quality of the coffee isn’t as good as Lighthouse or Pinewood Coffee Bar, but if you mostly want a really pretty ambiance, go here.

Multiple Address

11. Waco Suspension Bridge

The Waco Suspension Bridge isn’t really a “thing to do” as much as a “thing to see” while you’re walking around downtown Waco. It dates back to 1869 and was originally used on the Chisholm Trail for cattle crossing. (Before it was built, the Brazos River was a really dangerous crossing point and the only way to get across safely was by Ferry boat.)

It’s been meticulously restored and now it’s a safe bridge to cross and see! On one side of the bridge is Indian Spring Park and on the other is a beautiful Doris D Miller Memorial, so it’s just a nice place to walk around on a pretty day in downtown Waco.

WEBSITE | 101 N University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76701, United States

12. Check Out A Brewery

There are a handful of craft breweries in Waco, and you can see all of them on a map right here. But if you’re looking for craft breweries in downtown Waco, here are two to check out:

Pivovar: a unique Czech-style brewery that brews in the old world style for really authentic lagers. It’s truly one of the most unique and authentic Czech breweries in the entire country, so the fact that it’s right here in tiny Waco Texas makes it extra special! Psst: I stayed at the Pivovar hotel, and you can read about that here.

Southern Roots Brewing Co: a great locally-owned Texas spot with a big taproom, really good pizza, and a wide variety of beer, cider, and wine! It’s a good family-friendly spot for craft beer and food in downtown Waco.