South Congress

 

South Congress is a neighborhood located around South Congress Avenue to the direct south of the Texas State Capitol and Lady Bird Lake. Originally a quiet country road leading to the Capitol, South Congress has grown over the years into one of Austin’s most vibrant areas for shopping, dining, and live music. Framed by the Capitol’s postcard views, this exciting neighborhood is packed with street performers and art murals.

 

South Congress was one of the first neighborhoods to be transformed by Austin’s economic boom in the 1990s. The area around South Congress Avenue’s lively strip mostly features chic contemporary condo developments offering stylish living spaces within reach of an endless array of amenities and entertainment.

Popularly known among Austinites as SoCo, South Congress is a quintessential part of what makes Austin special. Locals and visitors alike love this dynamic stretch for its quirky street art and street performers, chic boutique shopping, trendy restaurants, and abundant live music venues.

Whether you're looking to grab a quick breakfast burrito or wine and dine in style, South Congress is packed with options for every occasion. Perla’s is an upscale standout for seafood dining and has a beautiful patio with a live oak tree. The menu includes fish, oysters, and other seafood that’s flown in daily from both coasts. With just 12 seats, Otoko offers an intimate omakase dining experience with 20 courses and a fine choice of craft cocktails. 

 

More casual dining options include delicious New York-style pizza slices from Home Slice and locally-sourced burgers with creative toppings and hand-cut fries at Hopdoddy. Brunch destinations are also plentiful along South Congress Avenue. Local favorites include the beautifully designed patio and dining room at the South Congress Hotel’s Central Standard and Café No Sé, signature Bloody Marys and carrot-cake French toast at South Congress Café, hearty breakfast burritos from Torchy’s Tacos. June’s is an excellent choice at any time of day. Stop by for breakfast, brunch, grab-and-go pastries and coffee early in the day, or enjoy a fine selection of wines and cocktails later on. 

 

South Congress also offers a unique selection of retailers. Standouts include South Congress Books for used and vintage literature, Big Top Candy Shop for a huge selection of retro candies, and Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds for all kinds of costumes and props. Allen’s Boots is stocked with more than 4,000 pairs of cowboy boots and lots more Western apparel. Other clothing stores along South Congress include the resort-themed Cove Boutique, designer-label clothing,highly-rated and fine jewelry boutique ByGeorge, and the flagship Kendra Scott store. South Congress’ live music venues include the legendary Continental Club. A pioneer of Austin’s live music scene, the Continental Club first opened its doors in 1955 and still offers live music every night of the week.

South Congress Avenue leads directly to the Texas State Capitol, and the whole street offers stunning unobstructed views of its spectacular dome. Crossing the Colorado River between the Capitol and South Congress, Congress Avenue Bridge is famous for its huge bats’ colony. Every evening between April and October, large crowds gather on the bridge to see as many as 1.5 million bats take to the skies at dusk. Numerous colorful murals decorate the side of stores and buildings along South Congress Avenue. This lively street also offers a constant stream of entertainment, and talented musicians, mimes, dancers, and beat poets give South Congress the feel of a perpetual festival.

South Congress is served by the Austin Independent School District.