The favorite grocery of Milago Condominium homeowners is the 80,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market flagship store. The world’s leading purveyor of a full line of healthful groceries, Whole Foods features fresh organic and conventional produce, grass-fed beef, and healthful versions of everything else you’d find in a grocery — as well as several mini-restaurants, an awesome bakery and delicious prepared food. Also, a Randalls and HEB supermarket are each about 10 minutes away.
Even the most extensive shopping lists are easy to fill. There are nine major shopping centers within a 15-minutes of the Milago’s enviable central location. These include Barton Springs Square Mall, Southpark Meadows, Village at Westlake, Arboretum at Great Hills, Gateway, Arbor Trails, Escarpment Village, Sunset Valley Market Fair, and the Shops at Arbor Walk. Together, these nine shopping centers host a staggering 594 department stores, national and local retailers and boutiques, fine and casual restaurants, services, and movie theaters.
Couture Fashion on 2nd Street and Funky “SoCo” Boutiques
The 2nd Street Shopping district downtown is a pleasure to shop, and just a few minutes from home. Fashion and home décor dominates the 2nd Street District, highlighted by chic fashions at Francesca’s, great casual denim from Girl Next Door, and Austin’s finest in locally crafted jewelry and exciting accessories at Eliza Page. Area Men’s fashion retailers include Bonobos, Estilo, and Urban Outfitters. BoConcept, Mercury Design Studios and Design Within Reach offer elegant Scandinavian-inspired furniture and home furnishings. A trip to 1020 Glass Art may just reveal that special locally made art piece that elevates a well-decorated room to a one-of-a-kind living space that no one will soon forget.
South Congress (or, as locals know it, “SoCo”) is another nearby shopping destination with many trendsetting boutiques as well as a wide variety of casual and upscale cafes. Shopping for clothing, artisanal accessories, shoes, bags, home goods and gifts in SoCo is a seemingly endless and always delightful pursuit. Boutiques include Tesoro’s, Maya Star, Co-Star, My Obsessions, Creatures Boutique, Prototype Vintage Design, by George, Stag, Eleven Eleven, Limbo Jewelry Design and many others.
Legendary Live Music on 6th Street and Hopdoddy’s Magic Shroom Burger
Also nearby, 6th Street offers a variety of restaurants and a legendary bar and nightlife scene shared by Austinites from all over the city. Within easy reach of the Milago, there are scores of fine and casual restaurants including Garrido’s, Parkside, Casino El Camino, Bess Bistro, Trio at the Four Seasons, Chez Nous, Perla’s, Uchi, The Best Wurst, and Trace Austin.
Meanwhile, Hopdoddy Burger Bar is among locals’ favorites on SoCo. Their Magic Shroom Burger is made with Angus beef, Texas goat cheese, field mushrooms, mayo and a basil pesto served on their own home-baked bun. The comfort food menu is filled with other burgers, salads and a variety of side dishes. The hand-cut fries or truffle fries are delicious with any of the dishes and the milkshakes are the best in town. The Raspberry White Chocolate Shake is a must-have or for adult beverages, Hopdoddy’s is well known for their huge selection of craft beers from local, artisanal brewers. Their classic frozen margaritas are also a delightful treat.
Corndog-Style Shrimp and Moonshine Under the Stars
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, less than a 10-minute walk from Milago, is popular for their delicious menu and ample shaded outdoor seating. Their seasoned mixologists prepare delicious classic and house-special cocktails, including their own special white lightning concoctions. As unlikely as it may sound, one of the most popular starters are the corndog-style shrimp served with honey mustard with a swirl of blueberry. If a diner is feeling a bit more staid, the fried calamari is also excellent.
Both boldly inventive and traditionally delicious entrees are also on offer. Southern-fried chicken and waffles with maple butter and chipotle gravy is excellent, as is pecan-crusted catfish served with crawfish tails, homemade hot sauce and brown butter sauce. Careful when ordering desserts — while they are all delicious, many are big enough to serve more than one diner. (Those in the know encourage asking the server about the portion size.) The fudge stout brownie with chocolate malt ball ice cream is one rich and delicious favorite dessert that normally leaves at least two diners satisfied.