South Congress Avenue

South Congress Avenue

Amy's South Congress Exterior Courtesy of Visit Austin

The Melting Pot of Austin.

Welcome to Austin's highly popular South Congress Avenue, or SoCo District as it is lovingly called. This vibrant neighborhood sits just south of Lady Bird Lake and is considered a 'must-stroll' for visitors and a popular hangout for locals.

SoCo 'oozes homespun character and boasts the story of Austin's yesteryear in its boutiques, eateries, galleries, and music venues', truly allowing visitors to experience the living culture of the area. You will have plenty to see and do while here, the street lined with unique shops, chic boutiques, hip eateries, and as is typical of Austin, live music around almost every corner. It may be hard to decide where to start, so we are going to list a few of our favorite options for eating, entertainment, and shopping.

Eating: Amy's Ice Creams is always a classic sweet treat shop stop while in SoCo, and we also really love Burro Cheese Kitchen and Home Slice.

Entertainment: Save time to visit Arlyn Studios, this popular studio seeing the likes of artists such as Willie Nelson and Neil Young. Guero's Oak Garden is a fun spot for live music in the evenings, and if you happen to be visiting on the first Thursday of the month you can enjoy a block party atmosphere around South Congress Hotel.

Shopping: Enjoy 'every kind of shopping experience imaginable' while exploring SoCo, a favorite stop always being Allens Boots, a landmark Austin bootery featuring over 4,000 unique pairs inside. Yard Dog Art Gallery and Cove Boutique are also excellent shopping options.