South Congress Avenue

aka SoCo

Just south of Lady Bird Lake, Congress Avenue turns into South Congress Avenue (SoCo).  The stretch from East Riverside to Oltorf Street is jam packed with restaurants, bars, boutiques, music venues and food trailers.  The area is walkable with back in parking spaces lining the street.  There is also a large parking garage behind the shops off Elizabeth Street. On weekends, street vendors will also set up shop along the street with everything from clothing, jewelry, art, pottery and more.

Tip: Be sure to check out First Thursdays (the first Thursday of every month).  The shops along SoCo have extended hours and the street vendors come out in full force. Also, parking can be a bit of a challenge.  The parking garage is free for the first two hours if you get validated by one of the nearby shops.  This is an area where you will want to take the first parking spot you see rather than find something closer to your destination. Many of the surrounding neighborhoods only allow for residents to park as well.