Southwest Austin
OVERVIEW
Impossible to categorize yet inviting on all fronts, Southwest Austin is a bountiful blend of rural, urban and everything in between. Welcome to your future.
Public Transportation
With the convenience of the MetroBus system at your disposal, you can traverse this public transportation friendly area with ease.
Proximity
While I-35 flanks this area to the east, our residents enjoy the serenity of distance while also having the convenience of smaller thoroughfares like routes 1 and 290.
School System
Your little ones will flourish in the elementary system of Southwest Austin. Some of the K-5 schools include Baranoff, Bertha Casey, Cunningham, Menchaca, Nan Clayton, Oak Hill and Sunset Valley. From there, they will graduate into the middle school excellence of Bailey, Paredes, Small and Covington. The area high school of note is Bowie.
Population
Older estates mingle with new developments as the gentrification of the neighborhood brings the average age down and the median income up. That is reflected in the rising property values of Southwest Austin, which have seen boosts since the year 2000 from 25% to an unprecedented 127% in census tract 13.08, specifically. The 78748 zip code is particularly attractive, accounting for over 24% of the staggering 3,852 homes sold in the region in 2017. That’s an increase of approximately a thousand units moved just six years prior. The prices of these dwelling also skyrocketed over the same time period, ranging from a 47.1% increase to a whopping 89% in the desirable 78736 zip code.
ART & CULTURE
Live bands are at the top of the menu in this Mecca of music, so click on over to this directory of venues to explore the variety of options.
Nightlife
The beverages flow as liberally as the hospitality at local mainstay District Austin Kitchen + Cocktails. And check your compass, because the South by Southwest crowd loves North by Northwest Brewing Company. To keep the rustic vibes flowing, check out the Rusty Canyon Pub. Their Bloody Mary menu pairs perfectly with the bar bites that explode (metaphorically, with flavor) in your mouth. Another great food & libation combination can be found at nearby Pinthouse Pizza.
Shopping
Bust out your walking shoes (or buy some new ones) and let’s go shopping! There are browsing centers galore in Southwest Austin, from Oak Hill Centre to Sunset Valley to the Cannon Oaks Shopping Center. For an upscale walk on the YAAS side, stroll on over to the Shops at Arbor Trails. Get your banking done, pick up your pet supplies for Señor Fluffita, and check off your grocery list at Whole Foods. Then it’s time to pamper yourself at one of the many beauty and wellness shops at this essential Southwest Austin shopping mall. After you’re done sprucing up your personal look, peruse their home and furniture options.
Museums & Galleries
Our city reflects the history and nature of the Texas region as a whole, as evidenced by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, named for former first lady Claudia Alta Johnson. The grounds are festooned with blossoming beauty, as well as a resident owl named Athena and her adorable family. Whooo could resist this place?
Entertainment
Austin is proud to feature its signature (and sassy) movie theater franchise Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, and the Southwest neighborhood has its very own chapter. The South Lamar screening house proudly features the latest and greatest titles, along with adult beverages and delicious eats, not to mention most of the SXSW Film Festival Screenings.
RECREATION
If you’re looking for an unconventional park experience, jump for joy at Altitude Trampoline Park. People of all ages can enjoy this unique activity.
Food Scene
You can peruse a vast menu of eating options in Southwest Austin. Jack Allen’s Kitchen offers farm to table realness in the heart of the Oak Hill neighborhood while Fabi + Rosi strikes a more European chord just a few minutes north. For our vegetarian friends out there, Bouldin Creek Café is dicing up deliciousness daily. The culinary influences in Southwest Austin range from the spice of Tarka Indian Kitchen to the great, great, great 888 Pan Asian Restaurant.
Hotels
Ready to sleep off all of that vigorous activity? There are plenty of places to rest your head at the intersection of the 1, the 290, and Southwest Parkway. Hampton Inn, Residence Inn, La Quinta, and Holiday Inn all have a presence in this thriving thoroughfare, so put up your feet and relax for a while.
Parks & Natural Landmarks
Southwest Austin is a wonderland of natural beauty. Bike, hike, or horseback ride your way through the majesty of Slaughter Creek Trail, conveniently located near Circle C Ranch.
Outdoor Activities
You’ll love-love to raise a racket at the Grey Rock Golf and Tennis Club. If you’re feeling wild, roar on over to the Austin Zoo and its sprawling adjacent territory of Barton Creek Habitat Preserve.
