South Congress Avenue

Shopping, Restaurants & Things to Do on South Congress Avenue

Discover the offbeat boutiques of pedestrian-friendly South Congress Avenue. Stop for coffee, cocktails, and culinary delights during your walk, and catch live music seven days a week.

South Congress Avenue | Visit Austin, Texas

Dining
Bars & Nightlife
Murals
Shopping
Hotels

Dining

Back to Top of List

Image of a group of men and women sitting at a table smiling at one another on the patio at Joann's.
Joann's Fine Foods. Credit Inti St. Clair.

The handmade burgers at Hopdoddy Burger Bar range from beef to chicken and ahi tuna to veggie. Neighborhood joint Home Slice Pizza serves oversized New York-style pies with foldable slices. At Habana, claim a private outdoor cabana for Cuban specialties and mojitos. Charming Aba draws influences from Israel, Lebanon, Greece and Turkey in its Mediterranean cuisine.

Or gather with friends on the large patio at Perla’s for coastal oysters and champagne. Joann’s Fine Foods, next to the Austin Motel, blends genres with its upscale diner feel and Mexican/American menu. Before you leave SoCo, sample classic and inventive flavors from Amy’s Ice Creams or grab a scoop of gelato, made fresh daily, at Gelato Paradiso. Farm-to-table fare brings local flavors to Vinaigrette’s menu, which emphasizes healthy eating, with salads, soups and sandwiches. Opt to eat indoors or under the oak tree on the patio with a frozen, fizzy or fresh-pressed beverage in hand.

Toasty Badger brings the 1970s retro diner vibes. Try their oversized pancakes, brioche French toast or the Blue Plate Special of the day. What to drink? How about a Bloody Mary, Paloma or Wired Woodpecker (cold brew, Tito’s vodka and Baileys Irish Cream)? Pizza is the obvious order at The Meteor, a cafe that also serves lattes, craft beer and bubbles surrounded by custom-made bicycles and accessories. Must-orders include their wagyu burgers, huevos rancheros and sweets like Rice Krispies Treats. The Meteor is also the place where you can reserve a spot on a group Austin bike ride.

Bars & Nightlife

Back to Top of List

Image of a band on-stage at the Continental Club.

Historic venue The Continental Club hosts live music on their main stage and in the second-floor Continental Gallery. For live soul and R&B, visit C-Boy’s Heart & Soul. Upstairs, The Jade Room is inspired by the 1950s GI bars of Japan. Take the stage at Ego’s, a cozy dive tucked under a parking garage featuring nightly karaoke.

Soak up the Texas night at Hotel San José's courtyard lounge for cocktails and light bites. With live music nearly every night of the week and an extensive shots menu, a night spent at White Tiger is sure to be a good time.

Photo Credit: The Continental Club. Credit to @thebeachalchemist-Instagram.

Murals

Back to Top of List

While you’re on the go in SoCo, check out some of Austin’s famous murals and pop into local businesses. Take a selfie in front of the i love you so much mural at Jo’s Coffee, where an iced coffee or cafe au lait pairs nicely with their breakfast tacos. Head to STAG Provisions to view a Texas country music icon at the Willie for President mural outside, with high-end menswear inside. Outside Prima Dora, which sells art, apparel and gifts made by local artists, admire the Texas-shaped Love from Austin mural. See our Austin’s Best Murals blog post for more on our city’s fascinating street art.

Shopping

Back to Top of List

Walkable South Congress is a boutique shopping paradise. At the north end, visit the chic shops of Music Lane for jewelry, apparel and home goods. To the south, Kendra Scott offers custom jewelry and a pretty counter-service cafe. Down the street, shop handcrafted paper goods, artwork, and gifts from Letterpress PLAY. Indulge your sweet tooth at Big Top Candy Shop, packed with nostalgic candies and chocolates. All the tees, art and home decor at Paper Work are the creations of Texas-based artists and artisans.

Wander the huge selection of cowboy boots and western wear at Allens Boots, and get a custom-shaped hat at Maufrais. For unique second-hand finds, stop by Feathers for a curated selection of women's clothing and accessories. At Prima Dora you’ll find fun Austin-themed magnets, mugs and clothing designed by local artists. Shop for handcrafted, vegetable-tanned leather bags, wallets and even dog collars at the flagship Noah Marion shop.

Shop for western togs such as boots, belts, shirts and hats at Tecovas’ flagship store on South Congress. Men, women and kids will all find something they’ll want to take home. Howler Brothers’ South Congress Outpost is the place where outdoor lovers shop.

Girl reaching for a pair of cowboy boots at Allens Boots.
Allen's Boots. Credit to Carolina de Mauro.

Hotels

Back to Top of List

Stay in the middle of all the action and check into a hotel on South Congress. Located on the shore of Lady Bird Lake, the Hyatt Regency is perfectly positioned to explore Downtown Austin to the north or head south to browse the shops and nightlife on South Congress.

Stay in style at one of SoCo's many boutique hotels. Lounge by the pool and soak up the 70s vibes at the iconic Austin Motel. At Hotel San Jose the minimalistic bungalows and lush gardens provide an escape from the bustling street just steps away. The Bunkhouse Group leaned into Hotel Magdalena‘s history when it built the timber hotel on Music Lane — Willie Nelson once owned the property and ran the Austin Opry House here. The 89-room boutique hotel features a vinyl listening room and Summer on Music Lane, a lake house-inspired restaurant.

Find more dining, hotels, and things to do in the South Congress neighborhood.