There’s no place like home, and if you’re lucky, you have a few places that make you feel right at home—that’s how I feel whenever I get a chance to spend time in my alma mater, Auburn. This May, I was lucky enough to partner with a hotel to experience their amenities, and one of my best friends Greer and I turned it into a fun trip to experience our old stomping grounds. If you’re looking for how to spend a weekend in Auburn, I’ve got you covered with where to eat, drink, stay and more.
WHERE TO EAT + DRINK
If you want to know how to spend a weekend in Auburn, food should be at the top of your list, in my opinion. Auburn’s got a great culinary scene, and because it’s a college town, you’ll find a variety of less expensive options along with more upscale dining. On this trip, we hit up a few of our favorites and tried some new spots, but I’m including all of my top recommendations below.
Tacorita
Tacorita was one of my favorite restaurants when I was a student at Auburn, but in 2021 it closed following the death of its owner. In April 2024, a few Auburn families announced that they were reopening it with the help of the city and the owner’s family, so I was so excited to try it out. My go-to tacos were always the chicken tinga taco and the cheesy fried chicken taco, and I’m thrilled to report they taste the exact same to me.
The Irritable Bao
The Irritable Bao wasn’t open when we visited on this trip, but this is one of my favorite places to eat in Auburn! It started as a food truck when I was a student and has since turned into a brick-and-mortar in downtown Auburn (and now has a second location in Seaside). The Irritable Bao serves bao, dumplings, rice bowls and more, and each dish is a true fusion of cultures. My favorites are the buffalo chicken dip bao and the fried breakfast dumplings with pepper jelly, but the menu changes daily.
Amsterdam Cafe
Amsterdam Cafe was one of my favorite food trucks when I was a student, and when my family went to Auburn a few weeks ago for my brother’s graduation, we stopped there for lunch. Their turkey wrap is so delicious, and it comes with the best honey mustard and fries. Writing about it now makes me miss it!
1856 – Culinary Residence
On this stay, I got the chance to try 1856 – Culinary Residence which is also part of the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Center. This is a teaching restaurant with a chef in residence (Chef Joel Antunes), and they offer a la carte dishes as well as a tasting menu. Greer and I had the eight course tasting menu, and it was one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had. My favorite dish was hands down the diver scallop risotto, but the tomato gazpacho and short rib were also delicious. 1856 is definitely a more expensive option, but it would be great if you want a nicer dinner experience while you’re in town.
Walt’s on the Roof
This was another fun part of my weekend in Auburn. Walt’s on the Roof is the rooftop bar at The Laurel, and it has an amazing view of Auburn and Samford Hall. It’s open to the public, so our friend Billy met us there for a few drinks. They’ve got a menu of fancy cocktails, mocktails and small bites. I went for a few mocktails, and my favorite was the Thyme after Thyme which had blueberry thyme honey and white balsamic vinegar.
Sidetrack Coffee
Sidetrack is hands down my favorite coffee shop in the area, and it might make my top five in general. It’s located 15 minutes away from Auburn in downtown Opelika, and I used to love spending hours working on my blog there. My go-to drink is the Young Man which is frothy and sweet, but you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. While we were there, we heard people ordering a drink called the Jabroni, and when I asked the baristas what it was, they gave me a sample of that! It’s a super sweet Vietnamese-styled cold brew, so if you love a sweet drink, try that.
WHERE WE STAYED
There are plenty of hotels in Auburn (including a few that have popped up since I graduated), but this weekend, I was invited to stay at The Laurel Hotel and Spa for a night. This hotel is a part of the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, and it was truly one of the best hotel experiences I’ve ever had. The staff is so on top of everything and incredibly friendly.
Greer and I stayed in a luxury suite, which had plenty of room for us to sprawl out and relax. There was a kitchen with a stocked fridge and coffee-making station, and the bedroom’s huge bed was perfect at the end of our busy day.
The bathroom was a dream—huge bathtub with soaking salts, a large shower and two-sink vanity with mirrors that made getting ready easier. The mirror even had a TV programmed into it which I’ve never seen before (and didn’t realize someone would need) but made the whole experience feel even more elevated.
HOW TO SPEND A WEEKEND IN AUBURN: WHAT TO DO
If you want to know how to spend a weekend in Auburn and there isn’t a game to watch, there’s still plenty to do!
Get a lemonade at Toomer’s
Toomer’s Drugstore is a landmark of Auburn, and it’s always one of the first places people recommend. It’s known for their lemonade, but I also personally love to get a Vanilla Coke there. You can also browse Comfort Colors T-shirts or grab a scoop of ice cream or lunch.
Shop through the stores in downtown Auburn
If you want to kill time before an event or you’re looking to shop for a special occasion, downtown Auburn has a variety of boutiques, vintage stores and places to buy branded shirts. Charming Oaks and Behind the Glass are two of my favorites for shopping or just browsing.
Visit Opelika
Opelika is just 15 or 20 minutes away from Auburn, but it’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon! Grab a coffee at Sidetrack or lunch at one of the restaurants, then browse their vintage stores, check out John Emerald Distilling Company or Red Clay Brewery. The downtown of Opelika is so quaint and a sweet place to walk around for a few hours!
If you’ve been looking for how to spend a weekend in Auburn, I hope this guide was helpful!
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