South Lamar Guide

About

Much like the nearby South Congress (SoCo) neighborhood, South Lamar exemplifies the notion of Austin as a place that’s both delightfully funky and joyously weird. And anyone who lives in Austin or has ever visited understands that those two descriptions are both terms of endearment for an eclectic city made up of several equally quirky (if not quirkier) enclaves. South Lamar is named after the main boulevard that defines the area, a street on which many of the neighborhood’s restaurants, bars, music venues, and galleries exist. Because of its diverse cultures and a population that runs the gamut from college students to seniors, it’s a part of Austin that thrives on trends while simultaneously tapping into its historic roots as one of Austin’s popular mid-century destinations and residential developments.

The triangular-shaped South Lamar neighborhood is bounded by Ben White Boulevard (TX-71) to the south, South Lamar Boulevard to the northwest, and the Galindo neighborhood to the east. Over the decades, the area has become a hub for renters. Apartments in South Lamar can be found in charming smaller buildings to mid-rises and more spread-out, multi-building complexes. Newer construction apartments here feature a bevy of amenities, including gourmet kitchens, large bathrooms, well-equipped fitness centers, dog parks, and resort-style pools.

Getting Around

For most residents of the neighborhood, travel within and beyond South Lamar and other parts of South Austin primarily takes place by car, truck, or motorcycle. Pretty much anything with an engine will make getting around this spread-out city as easy and comfortable as possible. Although less convenient for most people on-the-go, Austin public transportation makes getting around the immediate South Lamar area, South Austin as a larger region, and nearby Downtown Austin advantageous enough if you don’t own or have regular access to a vehicle.

Capital Metro offers several bus routes in addition to newer MetroRapid and limited MetroRail services close enough to connect South Lamar and South Austin residents with other parts of the city, too. It’s 32 miles long, but currently only has nine stops along the single line. Cycling is more popular here than in almost any US city (especially in Texas), and many parts of South Austin are very simple to navigate on a bike, whether it’s your own or one rented by the hour from numerous bikeshare stations throughout the region. In addition to nationally known rideshare services, Austin has other rideshare alternatives, including one with a fleet of electric cars. Plus, Austin has charging stations all over town (and several within South Lamar specifically) due to a large concentration of BEVs and EVs.

When it’s time to get out of Austin, the city is served by the well-appointed, easy-to-navigate Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which offers an average of 350 daily nonstop flights to more than 70 domestic and international destinations. For travel within the state to major cities, Vonlane (a luxury bus service with first-class seating and on-board bus attendant offering food and beverage service) has a pickup/drop-off point in Downtown Austin that gets people between Austin and San Antonio, Houston, or Dallas with ease.

Food & Drink

The South Lamar neighborhood welcomes food enthusiasts to its streets from morning to night with dozens of options to serve both local residents and destination diners. Chefs in these parts flex their creative muscles when crafting menus that feature everything from perfectly executed classics to unique twists on traditional favorites. No matter what you’re craving, restaurants in South Lamar are sure to please. Head to Ramen Tatsu-Ya or Michi Ramen for incredible noodle-and-broth soups; Odd Duck for farm-fresh New American; Matt’s El Rancho for Tex-Mex (for more than 70 years!); Chi’Lantro for Korean-Mex; El Naranjo and El Meson for traditional Mexican; Uchi for wildly inventive sushi and Japanese staples; East Side King for Asian-inspired fare; Gourdough’s Public House for sandwiches, burgers, and other treats made with donuts; Kerbey Lane Café for all-day breakfast; Loro for a fusion of Texas BBQ and Asian ingredients; Luke’s Inside Out for French-inspired food truck eats; Maudie’s for handmade Tex-Mex; Crepe Crazy for modern European; OPA! for Mediterranean; and Phil’s Ice House for burgers.

For great drinks (and often equally wonderful food), South Lamar bars worth checking out include Black Sheep Lodge; Lavaca Street Bar; the ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.); Aviary Wine & Kitchen; Gibson Street Bar; Barton Springs Saloon; and The Park. Finally, visit Iris Bean Coffee Bar, Maha Coffee, Radio Coffee & Beer, or Patika for delightful coffee. And for dessert, save room for Lick Ice Creams, Moonlight Bakery, Tiny Pies, and Amy’s Ice Creams.

Shopping

Much of the real estate in South Lamar that isn’t residential is taken up by food-and-beverage establishments, but a few key shopping opportunities await in strip centers such as Brodie Oaks Shopping Center. For big-box options, Target meets most needs. Local favorite Half Price Books has an outpost in South Lamar, and Secret Oktober’s a must-visit for vintage apparel and other items. South Austin Music is one of the best music stores anywhere. Grocery stores in South Lamar include Mr. Natural, Sprouts Farmers Market, and the Wheatsville co-op. There are Central Market, H-E-B, and Whole Foods locations nearby, as well.

Things to Do

You’ll find several arts-and-culture opportunities in South Lamar, too. Locals and visitors alike enjoy Alamo Drafthouse for dine-in movies with a welcome no-talking/no-texting policy during films, art galleries Austin Art Garage and Art on 5th, and the ZACH Theatre for live stage productions. For live music and country-western dancing, Broken Spoke should definitely not be overlooked as people have been flocking to it since 1964 for a few hours of honky-tonkin’. When you’re ready for some outdoor fun, check out Peter Pan Mini Golf or pay a visit to the Barton Springs Greenbelt and its numerous parks and trails due northwest of the South Lamar neighborhood. Northern parts of the South Lamar neighborhood are also within walking or cycling distance of Lady Bird Lake, where fresh-air opportunities abound, including kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming in designated areas.

Colleges & Universities

There are no colleges or universities within South Lamar’s actual borders, but it’s quite close to St. Edward’s University, located less than a 10-minute drive approximately three miles to the east. South Lamar is also only five miles south of the University of Texas at Austin, making this an equally popular neighborhood for the city’s largest university’s students, faculty, and staff ready to make the short 15-minute commute to potentially save a little cash on monthly rent. The Riverside and South Austin campuses of Austin Community College are also near enough to make this a viable place to call home.