South Central Austin

 

South Central Austin combines some of Austin’s greenest neighborhoods with an abundance of hip shopping, dining, and live music spots. The area immediately south of the Colorado River is best-known for the sprawling outdoor space of Zilker Park and the hike and bike trail at Lady Bird Lake. South Central Austin neighborhoods enjoy access to these and numerous other parks and green spaces.

Zilker is an attractive neighborhood offering easy access to parks and outdoor recreation spots in addition to some of South Central’s coolest restaurants, bars, theaters, and live music venues. To Zilker’s west, Barton Hills runs along either side of the greenbelt surrounding Barton Creek, extending from Barton Creek Wilderness Park in the southwest to Zilker Park in the northeast.

The sought-after community of Travis Heights to the southeast of Zilker and Bouldin is known for the eclectic architectural styles of its historic and contemporary homes. Travis Heights’ real estate includes renovated 1920s properties and luxurious modern custom-builds.

Great restaurants, cool bars, and performance venues abound throughout South Central Austin. Restaurants and entertainment spots are mostly concentrated along Barton Springs Road and the connected streets of South Lamar Boulevard and South Congress Avenue, which run through Zilker and Travis Heights, respectively. On Barton Springs Road, Terry Black’s BBQ offers mouthwatering pit-fired meats, and Shady Grove serves delicious Tex-Mex with live music and pecan tree-shaded patio dining. El Alma’s creative cocktails and Mexican dishes can be enjoyed on a rooftop deck looking out over the Colorado River to the Austin skyline.

Zilker Park on the Colorado River’s south bank is Austin’s largest green space, covering 350 acres. Amenities and attractions here include sports fields, picnic areas, Barton Springs’ pool, and Zilker Botanical Garden. Zilker Park also hosts the Austin City Limits Music Festival, a major annual event in October featuring some of the biggest names in music. The 10-mile Lady Bird Lake bike and hiking trail begins to the south of Zilker Park and follows the path of the river.