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Your neighbourhood guide to South Congress in Austin, Texas

Charming yet contemporary, this compact neighbourhood offers visitors a truly Austin experience.

You know a district has worked its way into the hearts of locals when it is assigned a portmanteau nickname. And so it is with SoCo, or South Congress for long. A vibrant cultural hub in Austin, Texas, South Congress offers some of the US city’s best shopping, dining and nightlife and it’s all packed into one eminently walkable strip.

a colourful illustration of Austin, Texas, South Congress
Explore the vibrant cultural hub in Austin, Texas, South Congress. (Illustration: Mike Rossi)

This section of South Congress Avenue, with its unmatched view of the Texas Capitol, has seen numerous incarnations. More recently, its tenure as the city’s main conduit, connecting downtown to the city’s south side over the Colorado River, came to an end when Interstate 35 opened in 1962, leading traffic elsewhere. As a result, SoCo fell deep into its crime era, becoming a no-go zone complete with shuttered storefronts, until the 1980s when enterprising folk saw low rent and opportunities.

Small, unique businesses started to populate the drag, making way for the characterful neighbourhood that buzzes today. While modern architecture and ideas are now part of the fabric and the shopping includes some familiar and not-so-bohemian faces (hello Hermès), the colour and quirk endure, helping SoCo stay true to the city’s unofficial mantra, ‘Keep Austin Weird’.

a person holding boxes of pizza outside Home Slice pizzeria, South Congress Avenue
Home Slice pizzeria is one of the buzzy spots on South Congress Avenue. (Image: Giant Noise and Julia Keim)

Where to eat and drink in South Congress

Out on the patio

Perla’s is the kind of place to while away the afternoon. Despite its position in landlocked Austin, the seafood here is fresh, abundant and an absolute must, and the frozen margaritas add a little extra zest to proceedings. Grab a table on the patio for a front-row seat to the South Congress action. 

Cup of Jo

Jo’s Coffee is an Austin institution and the South Congress location is arguably the most renowned, if only for the Insta-famous street art on the external wall. The I love you so much mural is the work of the cafe owner’s then-partner in what was intended as a public declaration after a lovers’ tiff, so the story goes.

i love you so much mural on the wall of Jo’s Coffee, Austin
Jo’s Coffee is an Austin institution. (Image: Alison Marlborough)

Moreish Med

When Chicago restaurant Aba landed in Austin in 2020, it came with great expectations. And those expectations are still being met four years on. Mezze-style dining dominates the extensive menu and the setting is just as inviting, in particular the greenery-filled patio. 

Handy find

An Australian in America on the hunt for a decent flat white. A cliché, to be sure. But the fact remains, I really need that flat white.

brunch plates on the table at Two Hands cafe
The cafe makes savoury brunch meals and a mean flat white, to the delight of Aussie travellers. (Image: Jon Scotty)

Mercifully, Two Hands has itself a South Congress outpost. Via its original Nolita locale, Two Hands was a pioneer of the Aussie-inspired cafe scene in New York City. 

the Two Hands cafe in Austin
Two Hands is an Australian-owned cafe in Austin. (Image: Soleil Roth)

A day out in South Congress

Morning

South Congress is mighty but small, so the perfect day out becomes a choose-your-own-adventure as you duck in and out of shopfronts that catch your eye. Since my day will always start with a flat white, you’ll find me at Two Hands. Café No Sé, Magnolia Café and The Meteor are worthy breakfast alternatives. Then, take a wander past SoCo’s always bright, often quirky murals.

You’re the Yee to My Haw, Willie for President (Nelson, that is) and Love from Austin are among those that illustrate the city’s creative chops.

the dining interior of Café No Sé at South Congress Hotel
Nab a spot in Café No Sé at South Congress Hotel.

Afternoon

For those keen to spend some hard-earned cash, Music Lane is a mixed-use precinct fit for retail therapy. Elsewhere, vintage and antique shoppers are particularly well catered for. See ‘shopping there’ for a note on SoCo’s commitment to western wear. When in Texas!

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Evening

Austin is revered as the live music capital of the world so it would be remiss to leave the City of the Violet Crown without taking in a performance of some ilk. Enter Güero’s Taco Bar, where live music, hand-shaken margs and lunch in the form of interior Mexican favourites are served. Kick on at the award-winning Continental Club, a historic dive bar hosting live gigs nightly, ranging from country, jazz and swing to rock ’n’ roll and R&B.

tacos from Güero’s Taco Bar
Try these tacos from Güero’s Taco Bar. (Image: Richard Casteel)

More ways to explore

For a spectacular sunset, head north towards South Congress Bridge to catch the dramatic night flight of Austin’s beloved Mexican free-tailed bats. From late March to around October, the record-breaking colony (there are an estimated 1.5 million of the little critters right here) puts on a show each evening, first trickling and then pouring out from under the bridge they call home.

The sight is free if you can snare a position on the bridge or a vantage point on the banks of Lady Bird Lake. To elevate the experience, just add water… and a kayak. Rowing Dock offers a three-hour (give or take) Guided Bat Paddle tour, which comprises a six-kilometre round trip on the calm, clear waters of the Colorado River. 

Where to stay in South Congress

Locally designed, owned and operated, South Congress Hotel is an ever-so-stylish nod to its surrounds. The poolside views of Austin’s skyline don’t hurt either. For something a little more playful, check into the beloved Austin Motel, a revamped 1930s motor lodge with character to burn.

the outdoor pool at South Congress Hotel
Chill out around South Congress Hotel’s pool.

Where to shop in South Congress

Well, howdy, visitors. It just wouldn’t be a trip to Texas without embracing western wear and South Congress will fit you out good and proper. Allens Boots is a Texan classic. Aisle after aisle, the leather sea of footwear lures tourists and bona fide cowboys and cowgirls alike. Want more boot for your buck? Pop next door and try Tecovas on for size.

leather boots on display at Tecovas
Leather boots are on sale at Tecovas.

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12 grand journeys throughout North America

    Continue
    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

    Travelling with: Ricky French

    Sunset on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert.
    Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)

    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    emblematic catrina of mexico with flowers and necklace with sempasuchil flowers
    Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)

    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

    3. Museum-hop in New York City

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiralling exterior, a highlight of North America Epic Adventures.
    Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)

    Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.

    4. The USA’s music scene

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    The Seattle skyline at night, aglow with city lights on North America Epic Adventures.
    Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)

    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

    5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    A woman surfing in Hawaii, gliding across turquoise waves on North America Epic Adventures.
    Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)

    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

    6. Cruising Alaska

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Explora Journeys ship cruising in Alaska.
    Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.

    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

    7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    People journeying through the Wixarika Route.
    Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.

    For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Iceberg off the east coast of Canada
    Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)

    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

    9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia

    Travelling with: Katie Carlin

    Lunenberg Nova Scotia
    Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)

    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

    10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Overwater bungalows off a beach in the Caribbean
    Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.

    The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.

    11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada

    Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

    Red Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Minnewanka in Canada
    Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)

    No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.

    12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Sweeping views from the Rocky Mountaineer.
    The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.

    Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.