Your SoCo Home Guidebook
Food scene
Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs RdThe best Texas Barbecue nearby!
The best Barbecue in the city! A little further out and a longer wait that Terry's - get their early and you won't be disappointed!
919 locals recommend
Franklin Barbecue
900 E 11th StThe best Barbecue in the city! A little further out and a longer wait that Terry's - get their early and you won't be disappointed!
Aba
1011 S Congress AveDelicious mediterranean food
Lucky Robot
1303 S Congress AveSushi!
Two Hands
1011 South Congress AvenueAmazing breakfast / cafe
Perla's
1400 S Congress AveSuper sceney and ever popular seafood restaurant on SoCo
Home Slice Pizza
1415 S Congress AveThe best Pizza in Austin, close to NYC style!
As famous for its exterior signage as well as its great coffee. Get the Iced Turbo!
495 locals recommend
Jo's Coffee
1300 S Congress AveAs famous for its exterior signage as well as its great coffee. Get the Iced Turbo!
Traditional diner style food - think pancakes, omelettes, and endless drip coffee. Cheap and very popular! Get there early, sign up to the waiting list and then go and do something else while you wait the 30+ minutes
478 locals recommend
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress AveTraditional diner style food - think pancakes, omelettes, and endless drip coffee. Cheap and very popular! Get there early, sign up to the waiting list and then go and do something else while you wait the 30+ minutes
Delicious French / Vietnamese Breakfast / brunch spot. Amazing food just a short walk away
426 locals recommend
Elizabeth Street Cafe
1501 S 1st StDelicious French / Vietnamese Breakfast / brunch spot. Amazing food just a short walk away
Vespaio Restaurant
1610 S Congress AveCute Italian restaurant serving up delicious food
Vegetarian outpost but popular with everyone! Very highly rated especially for breakfast and lunch!
565 locals recommend
Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S 1st StVegetarian outpost but popular with everyone! Very highly rated especially for breakfast and lunch!
June's
1722 S Congress AveAll day bistro serving delicious food in updated settings!
The best restaurant in Austin for us! Get the jerk chicken and be prepared for your head to blow off!
18 locals recommend
Canje
1914 East 6th StreetThe best restaurant in Austin for us! Get the jerk chicken and be prepared for your head to blow off!
Ice Cream right outside your apartment. Perfect for those hotter than hot Austin days.
397 locals recommend
Amys Ice Creams
1301 S Congress AveIce Cream right outside your apartment. Perfect for those hotter than hot Austin days.
For the non-drinkers Sans Bar specializes in amazing cocktails that contain zero alcohol. Creativity is on display here and here's proof you don't always need alcohol to get a buzz!
Sans Bar
918 E 12th StFor the non-drinkers Sans Bar specializes in amazing cocktails that contain zero alcohol. Creativity is on display here and here's proof you don't always need alcohol to get a buzz!
An Austin institution, for a quick and easy lunch roll in to Thundercloud subs for delicious sandwiches, subs or salads in a rush.
124 locals recommend
ThunderCloud Subs
2308 Lake Austin BlvdAn Austin institution, for a quick and easy lunch roll in to Thundercloud subs for delicious sandwiches, subs or salads in a rush.
Neighborhoods
South Congress is THE place to be for your stay in Austin. With everything you love about Austin just a short walk, scooter or cab ride away. Some highlights include:
- The Best BBQ: Terry Black's Barbecue, Franklin Barbecue, Leroy and Lewis BBQ, (a little further out is) Micklethwait Craft Meats, la Barbecue, Kerlin BBQ
- Tons of Restaurants: Soho House, Aba, Joann's Fine Foods, Lucky Robot, Two Hands, Summer House, Perlas, Home Slice Pizza, Uchi, Odd Duck, Otoko, Gueros Taco Bar, Lenoir, June's, Elizabeth St Cafe, Magnolia Cafe, Jo's Coffee and more!
- Live Music: The Continental Club, Saxon Pub, Elephant Room, Friends Bar, and more! The central entertainment area of 4th St and 6th St are walkable or 3-4 mins in a cab.
- Breweries: Zilker Brewery, Lazarus Brewing Co, Hops and Grain Brewing, Blue Owl Brewer, Central Machine Works are all easily reachable via scooter or cab
- Shopping - Allens Boots, Nike, Hermes, Le Labo, Alo, Tecovas, Lululemon, Madewell, Reformation, Everlane, Stag, Allbirds, and more!
Less than 1 mile to Lady Bird Lake and the Hike and Bike Trail. Stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, and boat tours available. See the famous bats on Congress bridge during certain times of the year!
Only 15 minutes by car from the airport. There is not a better location for your trip to Austin.
650 locals recommend
South Congress
South Congress is THE place to be for your stay in Austin. With everything you love about Austin just a short walk, scooter or cab ride away. Some highlights include:
- The Best BBQ: Terry Black's Barbecue, Franklin Barbecue, Leroy and Lewis BBQ, (a little further out is) Micklethwait Craft Meats, la Barbecue, Kerlin BBQ
- Tons of Restaurants: Soho House, Aba, Joann's Fine Foods, Lucky Robot, Two Hands, Summer House, Perlas, Home Slice Pizza, Uchi, Odd Duck, Otoko, Gueros Taco Bar, Lenoir, June's, Elizabeth St Cafe, Magnolia Cafe, Jo's Coffee and more!
- Live Music: The Continental Club, Saxon Pub, Elephant Room, Friends Bar, and more! The central entertainment area of 4th St and 6th St are walkable or 3-4 mins in a cab.
- Breweries: Zilker Brewery, Lazarus Brewing Co, Hops and Grain Brewing, Blue Owl Brewer, Central Machine Works are all easily reachable via scooter or cab
- Shopping - Allens Boots, Nike, Hermes, Le Labo, Alo, Tecovas, Lululemon, Madewell, Reformation, Everlane, Stag, Allbirds, and more!
Less than 1 mile to Lady Bird Lake and the Hike and Bike Trail. Stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, and boat tours available. See the famous bats on Congress bridge during certain times of the year!
Only 15 minutes by car from the airport. There is not a better location for your trip to Austin.
Rainey Street
Rainey StreetOne of Austin's famed party neighborhoods
Sixth Street Historic District
Another one of Austin's famous party districts!
Shopping
Wanna be a cowboy? Come visit Allens. An endless supply of cowboy / cowgirl boots and Steston / Resistol hats and everything in between!
136 locals recommend
Allens Boots
1522 S Congress AveWanna be a cowboy? Come visit Allens. An endless supply of cowboy / cowgirl boots and Steston / Resistol hats and everything in between!
Upscale Austin-based western clothing label delivering beautiful threads and treads. Beautifully designed store and friendly staff!
12 locals recommend
Tecovas
1500 S Congress AveUpscale Austin-based western clothing label delivering beautiful threads and treads. Beautifully designed store and friendly staff!
Voted one of the best stores for men in the USA. Unassuming from the front, dive inside to get your fix on the latest clothes. Also featuring a huge selection of coffee table books, Austin souvenirs and anything to bring your own place to life when you return home.
67 locals recommend
STAG Provisions For Men
1423 S Congress AveVoted one of the best stores for men in the USA. Unassuming from the front, dive inside to get your fix on the latest clothes. Also featuring a huge selection of coffee table books, Austin souvenirs and anything to bring your own place to life when you return home.
H-E-B
5808 Burnet RdThe closest large shopping / grocery store
Beautiful, small grocery store offering high quality produce and drinks.
17 locals recommend
Tiny Grocer - Opening March 8th @ 8 am
1718 S Congress AveBeautiful, small grocery store offering high quality produce and drinks.
Nightlife
Live Music almost every night! Leans into blues, country, jazz. Get there
815 locals recommend
The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveLive Music almost every night! Leans into blues, country, jazz. Get there
Zilker Brewing Company
1701 E 6th StExcellent local brewery making beautiful beers
Sightseeing
Come here to see the famous Austin bats at sunset! An Austin tradition, the SoCo bridge is the home of North America's Largest Urban Bat Population
286 locals recommend
Congress Avenue Bridge
Congress AvenueCome here to see the famous Austin bats at sunset! An Austin tradition, the SoCo bridge is the home of North America's Largest Urban Bat Population
THE place to go in Austin when it's too hot (or even when it's cold!) Barton Springs pool is spring fed and sits at a balmy 68F all year round. A nice cool dip in summer and a warm-me-up in winter. Barton Springs pool is always super popular and full to the brim on weekends. $5 entry
Important to note: no food or beverage is allowed in. Only bottled water will be allowed past or closed canisters. Anything seen that breaks these rules will be taken off you.
2454 locals recommend
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrTHE place to go in Austin when it's too hot (or even when it's cold!) Barton Springs pool is spring fed and sits at a balmy 68F all year round. A nice cool dip in summer and a warm-me-up in winter. Barton Springs pool is always super popular and full to the brim on weekends. $5 entry
Important to note: no food or beverage is allowed in. Only bottled water will be allowed past or closed canisters. Anything seen that breaks these rules will be taken off you.
The closest place to rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards, canoes or even lazy swans! Prices start at about $18 an hour and this is a must do when in Austin!
41 locals recommend
Capital Cruises
208 Barton Springs RdThe closest place to rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards, canoes or even lazy swans! Prices start at about $18 an hour and this is a must do when in Austin!
Austin is the capital city of Texas and here stands "The Capitol" of Texas. A beautiful building that is great to walk around and even tour inside.
1119 locals recommend
Texas Senate
1200 Congress AveAustin is the capital city of Texas and here stands "The Capitol" of Texas. A beautiful building that is great to walk around and even tour inside.
The lake that runs through Austin, Lady Bird Lake has so much to do on it. Whether it's a walk along the Lady Bird Lake Trail, some kayaking on the water or a dip at nearby Barton Springs, the lake is a hive of activity every day.
959 locals recommend
Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailThe lake that runs through Austin, Lady Bird Lake has so much to do on it. Whether it's a walk along the Lady Bird Lake Trail, some kayaking on the water or a dip at nearby Barton Springs, the lake is a hive of activity every day.