10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Austin

It might be the city’s central business district, but Austin’s City centre area is anything but drab. This buzzing area on the north bank of the Colorado River is home to off-beat museums and intriguing boutiques as well as independent bars, cafés, and restaurants.

City centre Austin is also a major draw for lovers of live music, thanks in no small part to the always-lively Red River Cultural District, where you’ll find venues showcasing local and international acts ranging from hip-hop to big-name DJs to punk. City centre Austin is also home to a good number of hotels and a famous street food scene, making it a good base for visitors who want to be close to Austin’s after-dark action.

If you want to hang out at some of Austin’s coolest spots (and find the trendy boutiques to help you look the part), Austin’s Market District should be high on your agenda. Located to the west of city centre between 3rd Street and 9th Street, this hipster hub is popular with record collectors digging for vinyl treasures (try the famous Waterloo Records, which also hosts live shows).

It’s also popular with exercise enthusiasts – thanks to some top-notch gyms and yoga studios – who flock to the neighborhood’s enormous Whole Foods Market to refuel. You’ll also find some fascinating antiques stores and appealing wine merchants among the increasing number of upscale apartments, and there’s a lively late-night eating, drinking, and dancing scene to balance out all that clean living.

Around 2 miles (3.2km) from City centre, East Austin is fast becoming a must-visit for foodies. Austin’s east side is one of its most traditional districts, although ongoing gentrification has rubbed away some of its rougher edges. Today, artisanal bakeries, artsy coffee shops, and vegan restaurants sit alongside traditional taco spots and modest watering holes.

Head to East Sixth Street for street eats and craft cocktails, or to Cherrywood and Manor Road for hearty brunches, soul food, and late-night live music. Bookworms might want to visit East Cesar Chavez Street to browse for reading material at Resistencia Bookshop before settling down with a craft cocktail at one of the patio bars nearby.

To really get to know Austin, be sure to visit Clarksville. Located just west of City centre, the historically significant area is home to some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, making it well worth at least a day’s exploring. Founded in 1871 by emancipated slave Charles Clark on land bought from Texas Governor Elisha Pease, Clarksville is located close to Lady Bird Lake, west of City centre, and the Clarksville Historic District is a must-visit for anybody wanting to understand the city’s history.

The fascinating Hezekiah Haskell House and Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church are just 2 of the notable buildings dating back to the neighborhood’s origins, and you’ll also find stores and restaurants that have been in business for generations and now sit alongside trendy craft beer bars and taco spots.

Home to Austin’s biggest urban park, laidback South Austin can also lay claim to some of the best shopping in the city (try South Congress for an appealing array of boutiques). There’s an excellent arts and entertainment scene, and a diverse drinking and dining scene that sees trendy cocktail bars sitting right alongside long-standing area watering holes and mom-and-pop restaurants.

A haven for foodies, South Austin’s restaurant and street food scene offers a chance to try everything from traditional TexMex barbeque to Ethiopian vegetarian feasts. Encompassing popular outdoorsy spots like the vast Zilker Park and Barton Springs, the south side of Austin is popular with locals and visitors keen to get some time in nature without leaving the city.

If the buzz of Austin’s urban scene gets a little too lively, the outdoor attractions of West Austin provide the perfect antidote. There are picnic opportunities and strolling potential galore in the Westlake area of Austin’s west side (don’t miss the vast Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve), but West Austin is also home to significant city sightseeing in historic Clarksville.

Visitors can enjoy an abundance of foodie adventures – from Italian pizza restaurants to traditional Texan tacos – at West Sixth Street, which also attracts night owls to hang out at famous spots like the Johnny Cash-inspired Mean Eyed Cat. West Austin’s attractions are as diverse as the inhabitants of Austin, and it’s a good idea to set aside a couple of days to explore all it has to offer.

The south-central Austin area of Zilker is a great option for outdoorsy types who still want to be close to big city attractions. Stretching south from Lady Bird Lake, the affluent area is home to the famous Zilker Park and Barton Springs, making it a popular destination for hikers, cyclists, and swimmers.

The nearby Umlauf sculpture gardens and museums are another major draw, while an abundance of coffee shops, live music venues, patio bars, and restaurants that range from high-end to hole-in-the-wall ensures that the area appeals to urban adventurers as well as outdoor enthusiasts.

Central Austin is a popular hangout for everybody from art enthusiasts and museumgoers to dedicated partiers. The area spans north of the University of Texas at Austin, and the university campus itself has some visit-worthy galleries and museums (don’t miss Blanton Museum of Art), while the student population lends the area a youthful buzz.

There’s more art at the impressive Elisabet Ney Museum in leafy, residential Hyde Park, and Anderson Lane is a top spot for craft beer, coffee, or above-average burgers. To get that Austin look, head to the shops of Burnet and North Loop, then show off your new style at one of the many laidback restaurants and nightlife spots nearby.

Funky South Lamar is famed for its artsy vibe and thriving drinking, dining, and dancing scene. Musicians and artists once flocked to the area for its affordable property prices and proximity to city centre, and while prices have crept up in recent decades the creative buzz remains. You can browse (and buy) locally produced artworks at spots like Austin Art Garage.

Just south of city centre Austin, bustling South Lamar Boulevard winds southwest from Ladybird Lake, so it’s a great base for outdoor hiking, biking, and swimming. Close to city centre, South Lamar has plenty of cosmopolitan charm right on the doorstep: find pre-loved designer fashions at Moss Designer Consignment, a colourful culinary scene, and live music until late at spots like Broken Spoke.