Best hotels in Waco
Courtyard by Marriott Waco
101 Washington Avenue, TX, 76701
Location is key for this downtown Marriott – you’re close to Magnolia Market, Cameron Park Zoo and Baylor University. If you’re in town for business, it’s also near to Waco Convention Center. Rooms and suites are available, with an outdoor pool, fitness center and all the modern amenities you’d expect from Marriott.
Hotel Indigo Waco-Baylor
211 Clay Ave, TX, 76706
This recent addition to the city’s hotel scene is three blocks from Magnolia Market and perfect for the Baylor University campus. Rooms are slick and modern, as well as spacious, and the restaurant – Brazos Bar & Bistro – a cut above your usual hotel offering.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Waco
5620 Legend Lake Parkway, TX, 76712
Just off I-35 and Loop 340, Homewood Suites has more going for it than just great transport links. Some suites have separate seating areas, others work desks and kitchens – perfect for self-catering and longer stays. There’s an outdoor pool for a splash in the sunshine.
Best restaurants in Waco
Jakes’s Texas Tea House
613 Austin Ave, TX, 76701
There are rib-sticking southern classics galore at this gas station-themed retro favorite. Go for a hubcap burger, with options including spicy, blue cheese, mushroom Swiss and the ‘Cadillac Melt’ with pepper jack cheese, bacon and poblanos on grilled jalapeno bread.
Vitek’s BBQ
1600 Speight Ave, TX, 76706
This is a legendary local eatery, serving up premium barbecue for over 100 years. You can’t go wrong with the brisket, pulled pork or smoked turkey sandwich, while the barbecue plates are generous. However, the real rite of passage dish here is the famous ‘Gut Pak’ – a huge sandwich filled with cheese, Fritos, brisket, cheese, sausage, beans, pickles, peppers and more.
Franklin Avenue Mac House
3428 Franklin Ave, TX, 76710
If you’re going to specialize in macaroni and cheese, it had better be good. Don’t worry, comfort food lovers, you’re in safe hands here. In addition to the much-loved classic, you can also dive into the ‘Uncle Rico’, rich with brisket, jalapenos and horseradish-pecan cheddar. Feeling creative? Mix and match your own ingredients.
What to do in Waco
Waco Mammoth National Monument
6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr, TX, 76708
From a bone found by chance in 1978 to a National Monument, this is an intriguing look into the history of the area and paleontology. It took 30 years to carefully excavate the site, with the remains of 24 mammoths eventually unearthed, dating back some 68,000 years. The remains are impressive, the site informative and engaging.
Cameron Park Zoo
1701 N 4th St, TX, 76707
Natural habitats cover the 52 acres of Cameron Park Zoo, which is not just home to a broad range of animals, but also packs in hiking and biking trails. The African Savanna is particularly impressive, with mighty lions and delightful meerkats. Brazos River Country gathers native Texas animas such as cougars and American black bears.
Magnolia Market
601 Webster Ave, TX, 76706
Magnolia Market at the Silos is the perfect place to take your family. Spread over two Downtown blocks it’s a buzzy area with two huge silos and stores and gardens run by the stars of TV’s Fixer Uppers. Pick up seeds and plants, shop for furniture and homeware, then dine at Magnolia Table or one of the range of food trucks.