West Campus Guide

About

True to its name, the West Campus neighborhood (also called West University) is literally a multi-square-block area to the immediate west of the main campus of the University of Texas at Austin (UT). With so many college students in the neighborhood, it should come as no surprise that apartments in West Campus are plentiful. Bounded by West 29th Street to the north, Guadalupe Street (pronounced Gwah-dah-LOOP by the locals and also called “the drag”) to the east, West Martin Luther King Boulevard to the south, and North Lamar Boulevard to the west, the West Campus neighborhood has a palpable energy from resident and visitor activity early morning to late night.

Because of its proximity to UT, West Campus is also home to numerous restaurants, bars, coffee shops, parks, and unusual or college-specific retailers.

Getting Around

Austin, like nearly every town and city in Texas, is a city ruled by cars because, in a state as big as Texas, everything is spread out far and wide. While it helps to have a car in West Campus or anywhere in Central Austin, this area of the city is more walkable than most, especially along Guadalupe Street. Bike lanes are readily available in much of Central Austin, and bike and scooter rentals provide easy access to on-demand human-powered transportation. ATX Metro Bike Station offers bike rentals 24 hours a day, too. Capital Metro operates numerous bus routes and stops within West Campus and Central Austin, while nearby, the newer MetroRapid and MetroRail services have broken ground to connect East Austin residents with Downtown Austin and other parts of the city. The nation’s major rideshare companies also have a large presence here. Plus, Austin residents and visitors can opt for several alternatives, including one rideshare company that utilizes only electric-powered Tesla vehicles. The increased popularity of electric cars, due in no small part to Tesla’s Austin-based factory, means finding a charging station can be easier here than in most American cities, and there are several within the West Campus zone.

The greater Austin region is served by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with approximately 350 daily flights offering nonstop service to more than 70 destinations, both domestic and international. Vonlane (a luxury, small-occupancy bus service with only first-class seating and amenities that include Wi-Fi, on-demand entertainment, a large restroom, and food/beverage service from a dedicated bus attendant) has a pickup/drop-off point nearby in Downtown Austin that gets people safely between Austin and San Antonio, Houston, or Dallas without the hassle of driving along busy stretches of high-traffic freeways.

Food & Drink

One of the biggest perks of living in West Campus—or any college-adjacent neighborhood—is the abundance of places for cheap eats and boozy beverages. Particularly helpful for students on a budget, but anyone living nearby can benefit from the affordable food and drink, and the high concentration of restaurants in West Campus. Topping the list of popular options are the following: Cabo Bob’s Burritos and Taqueria Jefe’s for Mexican and Tex-Mex; Dirty Martin’s Place, which has been serving burgers and beer since 1926; Halal Bros and ATX Gyro for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean; Kerbey Lane Cafe and Counter Cafe for breakfast and brunch; Suns Out Buns Out Burger Company; Foodheads for sandwiches; The Pizza Press and Dollar Slice Club for pizza; The Tastegasm for a wide variety of food options; Teji’s for Indian; and K-Bop, Coco’s Cafe, Pho Thaison, Tapioca House, Southcloud Ramen, and Chef Hong for all things Asian.

Caffeine lovers have numerous options, including local spots Lucky Lab Coffee Co., Medici Roasting, and Trippy Buck Coffee. For sweet treats, check out Bananarchy for all types of dipped frozen bananas, as well as Cold Cookie Company and Cookie Rich, each serving several decadent desserts.

Of course, being close to UT means nightlife is a big draw to students and area residents, and you won’t ever have a shortage of fun and casual bars (many featuring Austin’s famous live music), including The Ballroom at Spider House, Hole in the Wall, Mockingbird Saloon, Cain and Abel’s, Bar Moxy, Crow and Anchor Pub, Margaritaville, Growler USA, Arab Cowboy Cafe, The Local Pub & Patio, and Honey Moon Spirit Lounge and Hookah Lounge.

Shopping

Shopping in West Campus? You're in luck. Thrifters or anyone looking for unique, interesting merchandise and gifts have a retail paradise in West Campus, a hub for cool boutiques and shops—beyond the usual college books and paraphernalia found at stores such as University Co-Op. New apparel, footwear, and accessories can be purchased at Urban Outfitters, Nice Kicks, Longhorn Fashions, and Diesel, while Monkies Vintage and Thrift, and Buffalo Exchange are among the vintage and resale shops up and down Guadalupe Street. Malvern Books, Antone’s Record Shop, and “grownup gift and smoke shop” Planet K are all worth checking out. Dirty Dog Grooming and Self-Serve Pet Wash is a hot spot for pet owners in this extremely dog-friendly neighborhood. And cyclists have numerous options for sales, service, and repairs with University Cyclery, Ozone Bike Department, and Bicycle Sports Shop.

For groceries, West Campus is home to several convenience stores and bodegas with rather limited options, but in any direction from the neighborhood you’ll find major grocery chains including H-E-B, Central Market, Trader Joe’s, Natural Grocers and Randalls. These larger stores are technically walkable, but reaching them via car would be the most convenient and least time intensive.

Things to Do

Outdoor activities, as in many of Austin’s neighborhoods, are a draw here. The Shoal Creek Greenbelt at West Campus’ western edge offers several miles of paths for running, walking, and cycling. Opened in 1899, Hancock Golf Course is a 9-hole public course that’s a favorite for a quick round with friends, along with two other city-owned 18-hole courses only about 10 minutes away: Lions Municipal Course (The Muny) and the 18-hole Morris Williams Golf Course. The Caswell Tennis Center, plus nearby Hancock Recreation Center, Hyde Park Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, Anytime Fitness, and several other boutique fitness centers offer plenty of indoor spots to get some exercise, too.

Though West Campus’ main focus tends toward restaurants, bars, and stores, one notable museum is a popular place to visit for people from all over. The Neil Cochran House Museum is situated inside a majestic mansion built in 1855, one of the city’s oldest former residences and intact slave quarters. Now home to numerous artifacts and period-specific vignettes throughout the home, the history of both Austin and Texas in a larger context come to life here. Art exhibits, lectures, and other events also take place throughout the year.

Colleges & Universities

Though not even among the top 10 United States college campuses by land size, the University of Texas at Austin’s main campus still covers a considerable amount of Austin, clocking in at 437 acres. By comparison, Downtown Austin is only 283 acres. With more than 50,000 students and 3,000 faculty and staff members, it has a considerable population compared with other parts of town, too, with many calling West Campus home. The university is divided into 13 different colleges and schools, with the College of Liberal Arts consistently attracting the most students. Another nearby college that’s close enough to make West Campus a viable place to live is St. Edwards University, but most residents have a connection to UT in some capacity.