People who live in Hyde Park shopping for just about anything have plenty of choices close to home. Choose amazing baked goods, specialty gourmet cheeses, fresh brewed coffee, ice-cold beer or fresh organic juice, as well as healthful Mexican food or a classic American dinner– all at locally-owned shops, locals find everything they need on nearby Duval Street.
At the top of the list of local favorites is the neighborhood grocery store, Fresh Plus. Here, Hyde Park residents buy organic produce and specialty items in addition to a full line of regular groceries. Just up the street, it’s impossible to miss a convenience store covered in flags from different nations around the world. The Flag Store of Hyde Park is a deceptively small and humble market that carries more than 500 domestic and imported craft beers and wines.
Just a few minutes away, Hancock Shopping Center has an assortment of stores for all of your shopping needs including HEB Grocery, Sears, Rack Room Shoes, Bath and Body Works, and Radio Shack. Austin’s own Central Market is also nearby on 38th and Lamar.
Classic Chicken-Fried Steak, Exotic Salads, and a Hookah Lounge with Belly Dancing
Another Duval Street favorite, Hyde Park Bar & Grill is the best place in Austin to buy a classic chicken fried steak with all the fixings. After dinner, patrons go next door to Dolce Vita for one of a dozen choices of gelato and sorbets. Couples sip espresso as friends play chess on the patio and students type away on their laptops.
Other Hyde Park favorites include Julio’s Café, Mother’s Café & Garden and Asti Trattoria, known for its exotic salads, pizza, pasta and fish dishes, such as the mouthwatering Grilled Duck Breast with farro, blackberries, radicchio, grilled onion and saba.
Homeowners in the mood for something completely out of the ordinary take a short 6-minute drive north to Phara’s for authentic and savory Mediterranean cuisine. One of the favorite night spots for people in Hyde Park, Phara’s is also home to a wildly popular hookah lounge featuring live music and belly dancing.