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Austin/South

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South Austin can refer to any part of Austin, Texas south of Lady Bird Lake and the downtown area, although many people use it to specifically refer to the south-central area directly south of downtown in the 78704 zip code. 78704 is bordered by Lady Bird Lake to the north, I-35 to the east, Ben White Blvd (Hwy 290/71) to the south, and Mopac (Loop 1) to the west. The area is a very popular neighborhood for young people and has historically been the center of Austin's counterculture, although it has been rapidly gentrifying in recent years. The area contains several attractions for visitors.

[edit] Get in

South Austin is easily accessible. From Downtown, head South either by foot, bike, or car and cross Lady Bird Lake over the Congress, 1st, or Lamar bridges.

You will need motorized transport from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Bus or taxi are available. If traveling by car from the airport, take Ben White Blvd (71) West, then turn right on Riverside Dr. Take Riverside to S. Congress.

[edit][add listing] See

  • The Continental Club, 1315 South Congress, [1]. This legendary South Austin venue was opened in 1957 and for nearly four decades has been serving up the best live music Austin has to offer. The venue is small so get there early if you want to get in.
  • Riverside is the first street on the south side, parallel to the Colorado River (not to be mistaken with 1st Avenue that runs north-south on the south side) one block west of Congress. As you travel east past IH 35, you will get into Austin's version of Mexican night life. During the day you can eat in a wide variety of Mexican and Chinese restaurants, some very good and inexpensive, shop in a variety of Latino-oriented stores, visit the Mexican Flea Market one block north of the Riverside and Pleasant Valley intersection (weekends only), or visit the Riverside Austin Community Campus. At night from 11 PM to 2 AM East Riverside becomes the Latin party alternative to the famous 6th street in downtown.
  • The Cathedral of Junk is an art installation in Austin resident Vince Hannemann's back yard built over 20 years from scrap metal and other junk, now standing at three storeys high. A very interesting sculpture and probably something you probably find in the guidebook. 4422 Lareina Drive, Austin. Free entry but donations are welcomed. Call ahead (512-299-7413) to check if he's open.
  • The Museum of Emphmerata is an occasionally opened museum in the front room of someone's house. [2]. As above, it's best to call ahead.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • First Thursday, South Congress Ave.. Every first Thursday of any month, lots of shops have deals and there is a festival atmosphere around South Congress.  edit
  • Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd (1/2 mi W of South Lamar), ☎ 512-974-6700, [3]. Austin's city park, near downtown, it is the home of Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical Garden, Zilker Hillside Theatre, Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, and soccer fields which, in October, host the annual Austin City Limits (ACL) festival. The park is free, but parking is $3 during peak usage. (30.265517,-97.769995) edit
  • Barton Springs Pool, 2101 Barton Springs Road (Enter through the main area of Zilker Park, NW of Barton Creek), ☎ 512-476-9044, [4]. 5AM-10PM; Closed Th 9AM-7PM. Nothing beats the heat on a hot afternoon like a dip in Barton Springs Pool. This natural spring pool is fed from an underground aquifer, keeping the water between 68°F and 72°F (20°C-22°C) year-round. Entrance fee varies from free to $3. (30.2639,-97.77) edit
  • Kayak on Lady Bird Lake, 2201 Barton Springs Rd. (In Zilker Park), [5]. Rent a kayak. Zilker Park Boat Rentals is along the Barton Springs Creek. Just paddle down to Lady Bird Lake and see great views of Downtown Austin. Turtles are common in the lake and creek. Paddle over to the southern part of the Congress Ave. Bridge and hear the squeaking noises of the bridges 1.5 million resident bats (don't hang out under the bridge-- bat guano is a problem).  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • South Congress Avenue (SoCo). Main drag in South Austin that features upscale boutiques and condos alongside more traditionally "hippie" places.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • South Congress Cafe, 1600 South Congress Ave, ☎ +1 (512) 447-3905, [6]. M-F 10AM-4PM and 5-10PM, Sa-Su 9AM-4PM & 5-10PM. In the heart of South Congress Avenue, this cafe serves up spectacular and inventive fare. The tomato soup with stilton cheese is tasty to start, and the blackened tuna tacos are downright phenomenal. Mains $10-25.  edit
  • Artz Rib House, 2330 S Lamar Blvd, ☎ +1 512-442-8283 (), [7]. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su Noon-9PM. Excellent ribs, as the name implies. Often has live bluegrass music. Dinners $7-17.  edit
  • Maria's Taco Xpress, 2529 S Lamar Blvd, ☎ +1 512-444-0261, [8]. M 7AM-3PM, Tu-F 7AM-9PM, Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 9AM-2PM. Maria's features some of the best breakfast tacos in town. On weekend mornings there is usually a line from the counter out the door, so if you don't want to wait call in your order. They only take cash, so be prepared. Live musicians featured on Sunday mornings and weekday evenings out on the patio.  edit
  • Romeo's. Italian food. One of the few restaurants that is casual and romantic. Has a great outdoor patio.
  • Matt's El Rancho, 2613 S Lamar Blvd (1/2 blk N of Manchaca), ☎ +1 512-462-9333 (), [9]. 11AM-10PM, Fr-Sa 11AM-11PM; Closed Tuesdays. The quintessential Tex-Mex restaurant in Austin, you won't find anything non-traditional or creative here. It has been around for over 50 years and for good reason. The first thing to order is the first thing on the menu: the "Bob Armstrong Dip." Watch out for the strong margaritas! Complete dinners $12-18. (30.245587,-97.779409) edit
  • Casa de Luz. 1701 Toomey Rd. Austin's only completely vegan restaurant. [10]
  • Green Mesquite BBQ & More, 1400 Barton Springs Rd, ☎ +1 512-479-0485 (), [11]. The original location on Barton Springs is in a funky building with a good biergarten in back with entertainment. BBQ is decent and the sides are good. All-you-can-eat BBQ $14.  edit
  • El Gallo, 2910 S Congress Ave (across the street from St. Edwards University), (), [12]. Tu-Th 8AM-10PM, F-Sa 8AM-11PM, Su 8AM-9PM. Norteño-influenced Tex-Mex. They still have cabrito as well as all the normal fare. Yummy and relatively inexpensive. Dinners $11-15.  edit
  • Little Mexico Restaurant, 2304 S 1st St, ☎ +1 512-462-2188. This restaurant has some of the finest enchiladas of a Tex-Mex style. Nothing at all bad on the menu either. It's one of those places mostly only the locals go to so keep it quiet. Also a good place to spot hungover Austin luminary musicians easing that Sunday morning pain. Little green and red building on the West side of S 1st, just a bit north of Oltorf. Good margaritas, Negro Modelo and XX are available. Good homestyle interior Mexican dishes as well as Tex-Mex. If you want to be trendy go to Guero's, if you want to eat, check it out and you won't be disappointed. Live music on Thursday nights.  edit
  • Guero's Taco Bar, [13]. M-F 11AM-11PM, Sa-Su 8AM-11PM. High-class, sit-down Tex-Mex in the middle of the South Congress maelstrom. Always busy, always Austin. Lots of musicians frequent the place when they're in town. Many famous Austinites, and wanna-be Austinites have visited, including President Clinton, (then-)Governor Bush, and the rest of the Bush clan. Has live music. Dinners $9-14.  edit
  • Magnolia Cafe, Two locations: 1920 South Congress and 2304 Lake Austin Blvd, [14]. Always open. Great place to get a short stack for breakfast. The dinner specials are pretty tasty and fairly inexpensive.  edit
  • Marco Polo, 2200 S I-35 (at Oltorf), ☎ +1 512-445-5563. Mediocre buffet during the week, but excellent dim sum on weekends.  edit
  • Vespiao. For a taste of Italy nowhere in Austin is better. Extensive wine list and beyond excellent food.
  • Bakehouse Restaurant & Bar, 5404 Manchaca Rd, ☎ 512-443-5167, [15]. A South Austin tradition. They have one of the most inexpensive and hearty breakfasts around. Their fresh fruit and texas toast sitting next to your eggs make it worth waking up in the morning.  edit
  • Uchi, 801 S Lamar Blvd (0.2 mi N of Barton Springs Blvd), ☎ 512-916-4808‎, [16]. 5PM-10PM, Fr-Sa 5PM-11PM. Creative seafood and Japanese cuisine, including sushi/sashimi. A good place to see and to be seen, dress is nighttime-casual to formal but, like almost anyplace in Austin, jeans are acceptable. Reservations are strongly recommended. Entrees $10-$30. (30.257582,-97.75981) edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Coffee

  • Jo's Coffee, 1300 S. Congress Ave, ☎ 512.444.3800. Hip coffee spot right on South Congress, all outdoors. You can often find bands playing on the patio right off the street.  edit

Alcohol

Almost all of the restaurants listed above have a full bar available and are suitable for grabbing a few drinks without having to order food. If you're looking to hop from bar to bar, listen to loud recorded music, and don't care about food, heading into Downtown Austin might be a better option.

  • Doc's Motorworks, 1123 S. Congress, ☎ 512-448-9181, [17]. Full bar, and over 30 beers on tap in a laid-back atmosphere. Has a great patio to enjoy the warm weather. Food also served.  edit

[edit] Live Music

Austin is The Live Music Capital of the World, and South Austin has its fair share of live music venues. Many of the restaurants and coffee shops in South Austin have live music. Some venues of note include The Continental Club, Threadgills, and Gueros Taco Bar.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Austin Motel, [18]. The one, the only, located in colorful, wonderful South Austin.  edit
  • Austin HI Hostel, 2200 South Lakeshore Boulevard, ☎ 512-444-2294, [19]. Austin's only hostel.  edit
  • Motel 6 Austin South - Airport, 2707 Interregional Highway South, ☎ (512)444-5882, [20].  edit
  • Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs, ☎ (512) 477-1234, [21]. A beautiful hotel on the south shore of Austin's Town Lake close to downtown.  edit
  • Hilton Austin Airport, 9515 New Airport Dr, ☎ (512) 385-6767. The Airport hotel. This cylinder-shaped hotel is on the grounds of Austin-Bergstrom International airport.  edit
  • Hotel San Jose, 1316 S. Congress Ave., ☎ (512) 852-2350, [22]. Boutique Hotel right in the heart of SoCo. A very trendy place, but more expensive than many other options in the area. It's also a popular spot to hang out for locals to have a drink or two in the evening around the beautifully landscaped pool.  edit

[edit] Contact

Free Wi-Fi is available at many of the local restaurants and coffee shops.

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