With countless nearby restaurants and the legendary live music scene that makes Austin special, Battle Bend Springs homeowners are never far from big city fun. But there’s lots of shopping and entertainment right around the neighborhood, too.
Shoppers enjoy easy access to downtown and nearby South Congress. “SoCo,” as it’s affectionately known to locals, is one of Austin’s most renowned shopping districts, a wildly popular street lined with cozy, locally owned storefronts, galleries, cafes, and restaurants. While many of the boutiques and shops are relative newcomers, others have been in the area for decades, including Allen Boots, one of Austin’s premier westernwear stores, and the quirky Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, an eclectic vintage clothing and costume store.
South Congress also boasts a number of popular restaurants. Locals especially rave about Home Slice Pizza, an award-winning pizzeria that is famous for its mouth-watering New York-style pizza. A staple for visiting celebrities such as Dave Chappelle, Home Slice Pizza is open late into the night, serving large slices of hand-tossed Neapolitan pizza with a thin, crispy crust.
Convenient Regional Shopping Malls
Less than 10 minutes away, Barton Creek Square Mall is one of the largest malls in Texas. The mall features more than 180 specialty retail stores and department staples such as Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Macy’s, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Apple, Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, Chico’s, Gap, Lane Bryant, Nine West, and Old Navy.
The mall also offers some great dining selections, including favorites such as California Pizza Kitchen, Charley’s Grilled Subs, Frullati Café & Bakery, Ruby Thai Kitchen, Sarku Japan, Steak N Shake, Villa Pizza, and more. And for date night or family fun, movie buffs also love to check out the latest blockbusters at the 14-screen AMC Barton Creek cinema.
There are five more major shopping centers within a 15-minute radius of the neighborhood including Village at Westlake, Southpark Meadows, Arbor Trails, Escarpment Village, and Sunset Valley Market Fair. Together, these shopping centers have more than 300 fine department stores, movie theaters, local merchants, services, and restaurants.
Freshly Prepared Mexican Food and Big Red’s BLT
The immediate neighborhood has a number of popular Mexican restaurants. One of the most popular is Casa Maria. Since 1997, Casa Maria has been serving Austin with delicious, authentic Mexican food. Maria says that the kitchen still uses original recipes brought to Austin primarily from northern Mexico, and they’ve added some great dishes from southern Mexico, too. Casa Maria also includes a bakery, and all bread and tortillas are prepared fresh every day.
Moonshine Bar and Grill, less than 10 minutes away in the southeast corner of downtown, is a restaurant with an inviting atmosphere, lovely patio, and exceptional food. The restaurant is renowned for its award-winning Sunday brunch buffet, where hearty Hill Country classics are served with a gourmet twist. Signature offerings include Big Red’s BLT, with tantalizing apple-smoked bacon, fresh heirloom tomatoes, and arugula, served between two slices of rustic grilled bread and topped off with a fried egg.