While home life is serene and private at the Brown Building, residents always have the option of enjoying the wonderful urban experiences that downtown Austin so elegantly provides. Nightlife is forever in full swing with the 4th and 6th Street entertainment districts offering numerous bars, dance clubs, nightclubs, restaurants, and even a comedy club or two.
When cooking at home, residents often shop at the nearby 80,000 square foot Whole Foods Market for fresh produce, grass-fed beef, hormone-free chicken, and a huge inventory of healthful and organic groceries. There is also a convenient upscale HEB market within a short drive.
Design-Forward Home Furnishings, Upscale Boutiques
The burgeoning shopping district on 2nd Street, just a short walk away, has a large number of high-end services and stores. Bonobos, Estilo, Fransesca’s, Langford Market, and Urban Outfitters are just a few of the stores offering high quality fashion. Mercury Studio, Design Within Reach, and BoConcepts are some of the retailers that sell sleek, chic furnishings and home goods. The district also includes popular restaurants, spas, hair salons, and more.
And, as if that all weren’t enough, there are nine major malls within a 15-minute drive of the Brown Building. Together, these shopping centers host over 700 retailers, department stores, movie theaters, restaurants, local merchants, and more.
South Congress — Funky, Chic and Pure Austin
Another popular shopping option is South Congress, lovingly known as “SoCo.” This district, only about 5 minutes from home, includes a variety of locally owned, eclectic boutiques, gift shops, salons, restaurants, music, and art galleries. Boutiques like Creatures and Parts & Labour feature funky and just plain chic clothing, shoes, and accessories. Popular and worthy stalwarts that have been doing business on South Congress (since before anyone had thought to call it SoCo) like Lucy in Disguise costume shop and Allen’s Boots western wear still draw many old and new customers alike.
And restaurants here range from the informal Magnolia Café, Homeslice Pizza, and Jo’s Coffee Shop to upscale dining at places such as Vespaio. Vespaio serves exquisite Italian food in an elegant dining room, while Home Slice Pizza serves some of Austin’s best pizza by the slice or by the pie. Home Slice also serves hot and cold subs, calzones, salads and famous, nearly irresistible garlic knots along with a great selection of wines, beers, and New York-style desserts. There’s more. South Congress is also home to one of Austin’s most enduring live music venues, the legendary Continental Club.
Austin’s Best Wurst and Blood Orange Margaritas
Additional area restaurants include several Austin favorites such as Chez Nous, Truluck’s Seafood, Trace Austin and Sweetish Hill Bakery for a delicious scone and favored chai tea. More choice establishments include Garrido’s and La Condesa, both serving central Mexican-inspired dishes on dining decks overlooking romantic Lady Bird Lake. For the best classic New York dog and more, The Best Wurst food stand brings it with a street cart of desirable and inventive takes on brats, wursts, and dogs.
Trace Austin, located in the W Hotel, has weekend brunch featuring live music served with Spinach and Crab Benedict or a hearty portion of Texas Market Migas and perhaps a “Patio Pitcher” of Jalapeño and Blood Orange Margaritas. Trace Austin’s goal is to provide the freshest of ingredients in their cuisine, including fresh honey made by their own bees at their roof top hive on the W. Now that’s commitment to freshness and sustainability.