South Austin
Hotels, Venues and Offsite Activities in South Austin
Considered by locals to be “a taste of old Austin”, South Austin is a lively area of town with old-school charm wherever you turn. South Austin boasts great accommodations and unique venues to pull off outstanding meetings and events while providing plenty for attendees to explore in their downtime.
Hotels
The Austin Marriott South offers guests a comfortable stay with the convenience of being located along one of Austin’s most prominent thoroughfares, Interstate 35. The in-house restaurant, ATX Olive Company brings a taste of Italy to guests. The Austin Southpark Hotel offers guests quality accommodations, centrally located in South Austin with great access to the airport and shopping and dining offerings just south of downtown. Take advantage of flexible meeting rooms, event space and the onsite Onion Creek Grill. Located near the Austin Southpark Hotel, Wyndham Garden Austin features multiple meeting rooms including an amphitheater-style learning center, breakout rooms and ballrooms. The modern style at the South Congress Hotel is sure to impress with three onsite restaurants, a coffee shop and a lobby bar.
South Austin features a notable selection of boutique hotels perfect for smaller groups looking for accommodations with luxurious amenities. Both located along South Congress Avenue, Hotel Magdalena and Hotel San Jose are urban oases just steps from the bustling shoppers and tourists. For a funky Austin accommodation, the Austin Motel is an iconic stop on South Congress Avenue that has held onto its ‘70s style. Hotel Saint Cecilia is a secluded Victorian-era estate with 20 private accommodations scattered across the grounds surrounding the pool. Guests at Colton House Hotel will enjoy the upscale coffee, cocktail lounge and social club in addition to beautifully designed meeting and event spaces.
Courtesy of Armadillo Den.
Venues
South Austin features a variety of unique venues that provide backdrops for incredible events and a chance to authentically experience Austin. One of the top facilities in Austin, the Palmer Events Center is the second largest convention facility in the city with 131,000 square feet of meeting space and 70,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space. The Yard is an old warehouse district that has been revitalized to house local brewers and distillers. For events, take advantage of the space at an onsite partner like Still Austin Whiskey or St. Elmo Brewing, or build out your own customized experience at one of the several open-concept industrial buildings. Host large groups in the laid-back food hall atmosphere at Easy Tiger. This multilevel property features outdoor seating beneath stunning oaks and string lights or on the second-level open-air deck.
At Armadillo Den a cold beverage and live music go hand in hand. Experience Austin in this local favorite, far South Austin venue with a great backyard atmosphere featuring a large outdoor stage, onsite food trucks and picnic tables. Bouldin Acres is a spacious bar and grill available for private parties and buyouts. The venue includes an indoor bar space, in addition to a large outdoor area with two pickleball courts for anyone looking to incorporate a bit of friendly competition into an event. Butler Park Pitch & Putt is a nine hole, 3 par pitch & putt that’s fun and accessible to all skill levels. This outdoor venue offers great proximity to Downtown Austin, tasty onsite food trucks and a unique experience for attendees.
Attractions
South Austin is a large area of town that encompasses several smaller neighborhoods each with their distinct atmosphere and things to do. South Congress Avenue is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Austin for its shopping, live music and restaurants. The iconic road to the capitol features local boutiques from women's apparel to art and home decor, live music nightly at iconic venues such as the Continental Club and historic Tex-Mex at Guero’s Taco Bar. Named for the former first lady, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is located in deep South Austin and is the official state botanical garden and arboretum of Texas meant to preserve and showcase native Central Texas flora. The center features a mix of open fields, manicured gardens and greenhouses with an onsite cafe and event space.
Barton Springs Pool. Credit to Visit Austin.
Things To Do
Tex-Mex and tacos reign supreme in Austin and Matt’s El Rancho and Maudie’s have some of the best. Sample what’s on tap at local breweries. Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. (ABGB) and Fast Friends Beer Company both offer great brews, onsite food, outdoor and patio space and space for events and meetings. At Cosmic Coffee & Beer Garden you can grab your drink of choice inside and pair it with one of three local food trucks and relax at outdoor picnic tables.
Austin has plenty of stunning outdoor spaces to explore and you’ll find several of them located in South Austin. Barton Springs Pool is the crown jewel of Austin’s outdoor spaces, this natural, spring-fed pool is open for swimming and sunning on the grassy banks year-round. Zilker Park is one of Austin’s largest parks, just south of downtown. This park is home to several annual music festivals and events throughout the year. Visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens with its beautifully landscaped grounds including the rose garden, Japanese garden and stunning water features, or opt for a sculpture garden at the UMLAUF.
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