Let’s face it, there’s a lot to love about Texas’s capital city. Austin brings southern charm together with convenient metropolis living to create a friendly, livable, and adventurous city. With things like local microbreweries, a natural spring available to swim in year-round, and bar-lined main streets, Austin is a place where you can really live your best life. The hard part is choosing the neighborhood that’s right for you. That’s where we come in. Here’s our list of Austin’s trendiest neighborhoods, and what makes them so desirable to locals.
North Austin
Much further north and away from the city center, North Austin includes multiple, smaller neighborhoods. Lots of breweries have set up shop here, with Celis Brewery, Oskar Blues Austin, and 4th Tap Brewing Co-op leading the charge. A fairly new addition to the neighborhood is Adelbert’s Brewery, a microbrewery started in 2011, that boasts some truly delicious beer.
The hood is also home to some fun entertainment activities. Top Golf is a great place to kick off any weekend. Outside, you’ll find a putting green and a driving range with individual seats and tables. Inside is where you’ll grab drinks at the full bar, food from the restaurant, and maybe even play a game of pool on the pool tables. Reserve a driving range spot and have your food and drink delivered to your booth while you get some golf practice in. Just down the street, K1 Speed offers indoor go kart racing and a full food menu. You won’t run out of things to do in this hood, trust us.
Downtown
Unlike other cities’ downtown areas, Austin’s downtown is a vibrant place where people go for drinks, dinner, and entertainment. Since it’s not imposingly large, locals can explore the neighborhood on foot. Just a few blocks from the Texas Capitol are hot spots like Easy Tiger Beer Garden and Waller Creek Pub House that draw crowds to their outdoor patios on warm, Austin nights. A seemingly endless amount of dive bars and upscale restaurants, spots with live music and cocktail bars line the downtown streets.
If you’re a college student, you know all about Sixth Street, or “Dirty Sixth”. The strip of 6th Street between Congress and I-35 is usually flooded with rowdy college students and tourists in need of a cold drink (or two). If you’re looking for an entertaining night, this is your spot. Check out Maggie Mae’s roof deck or Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar on this stretch of 6th. For a more refined night out, head out to West 6th Street to RIO, where you’ll get to enjoy their lounge, dance floor, pool and cabanas while you sip on a fancy cocktail. Although not really an ideal place for retail shopping, Downtown is certainly the spot to go out or even work at one of Austin’s best coffee shops.
Clarksville
Just next door to the central downtown area is Clarksville. The proximity to downtown is what draws many to this neighborhood, but nearby Lady Bird Lake, local eateries, and stunning country views keep residents here. There’s a great sense of community in this historic part of town. It’s the oldest surviving freedom town west of the Mississippi and homes have been restored, streets have been cleaned up, and it’s become a sought-after neighborhood.
Clarksville is chock-full of trendy diners, grocery stores selling local produce, and salons and spas dotting W 6th Street. And let’s not forget another major perk of this neighborhood: just a quick hop over the Colorado River (or a drive over the river on S Lamar Blvd), you’ll be in Zilker Municipal Park, home to the beloved Barton Springs Pool.
East Cesar Chavez
There are reasons this neighborhood is loved by all. Named for its main thoroughfare, East Cesar Chavez sits just on the eastern side of downtown and the Rainey Street Historic District, meaning there’s a lot to do just steps outside of this hood. But even within Cesar Chavez East you’ll find some of your new favorite spots.
Head out to Weather Up, an offshoot of this NYC-based cocktail bar and restaurant that fits in perfectly here; a backyard patio with lights strung provides locals with a place to eat, drink, and be merry. Those with food allergies or restrictions will love Mr. Natural, a neighborhood mecca for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free grub. Taqueria Chapala is the go-to spot in this hood for authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex food, and Capital City Bakery is where we’re certain you’ll fall in love with vegan cupcakes.
North Loop
When you think of “Keep Austin Weird”, North Loop should come to mind. This neighborhood is full of vintage and antique shops, eclectic jewelry shops, funky clothing stores, and restaurants with names like Home Slice Pizza. In North Loop, bookstores are also cafes and bars double as casual neighborhood hangout spots. Many Austin trends come from this hood, as residents are hip and inventive without necessarily trying to be.
North Loop is close enough to Central Austin (home of UT Austin) but far enough away that it gets to be a quiet, standalone neighborhood with its own character. A quick Lyft ride will take you to where all the action is, but in North Loop, you’ll be so comfy at your local hangouts you might just stick around there instead.
Austin’s vibes and community atmosphere are second to none, and locals know they’re lucky to live in one of the hippest cities in the South. Check out our Austin apartments for rent so you can move into your new hood and start enjoying the city.
*Featured image courtesy of: Visit Austin
Contenu associé
