Soho House Austin

Worth getting out of bed for

Soho on SoCo – it was meant to be. Austin isn’t wanting for namecheck neighborhoods, but South Congress is a firm favourite with both locals and those calling it home for a little while. Its colour, coolness and full social life are in step with Soho House Austin’s ethos, and there’s much to entertain. For one, street artists have gone to town on its main drag, resulting in some of the city’s most photographed murals. Take yourself on a tour, hitting the Mr Rogers tribute ‘Won’t you be my neighbour?’; ‘I love you so much’, allegedly drunkenly spray painted by musician Amy Cook as a peace offering after a fight with her hotelier girlfriend Liz Lambert (former owner of fellow Smith stays Hotel San José and Hotel Saint Cecilia); ‘Willie for president’, which gives Mr Nelson his due; and Candy Chang’s ‘Before I die…’ wall, where you can add your own intentions in chalk. Another perk to this prime location is its proximity to Congress Avenue Bridge, which acts as a summer home for the most famous bats beyond Dracula – stroll along as the sun sets and you’ll see a colony of 1.5 million swarm the skies. And, you’re just a 10-minute drive from Lady Bird Lake; looped by hiking and biking trails, calm enough for canoeing, kayaking and SUP-ing, and with a romantic boardwalk hovering over its surface it pulls in locals in bat-rivalling numbers. SoCo also hosts hip indie boutiques, such as Allens Boots, for authentic Western footwear; Feathers Boutique Vintage for flower-child ensembles; and Stag Provisions for masterful menswear. And it’s worth making the pilgrimage to Uncommon Objects, a strange and wonderful flea shop. Swing by Preacher Gallery for more wall candy, or muse over works at the Contemporary Austin and Blanton Museum of Art (home to Ellsworth Kelly’s colourful Austin monument). Come evening, Austin lives up to its Live Music Capital of the World rep. You’re rarely more than a two-step away from a club with an occupied stage, but we like the Continental Club, just down the road; the city’s longest running and ongoing music series at ACL Live (just 20 minutes’ walk away); the White Horse honky tonk, where whiskey’s on tap; and the famous Broken Spoke (you’ll need to book a taxi, but it’s worth it), where the country is hot and the dance floor heaving. If you roll into town on the first Thursday of the month, you’ll find a party going on along SoCo as businesses band together to celebrate all that’s good about Austin, and the next day, support businesses owned by Women of Colour at the Frida Friday market.

Local restaurants

Austin’s dining scene isn’t easily corralled – even the most busted-up food truck might serve something that would have a Michelin inspector salivating, you could probably eat your way around the world given enough time, and well, there are just so darn many places to try… A five-minute drive away on Pickle Road, LeRoy and Lewis’s food truck is parked up in the Cosmic Coffee + Beer garden; it’s a humble setup, but this is stellar ‘new-school barbecue’ with meats sourced from responsible ranches. Choose from Akaushi brisket, pulled hog, house sausage, served with frito pies, hash or kimchi, and finish with a cheddar cheesecake. Still hungry – longstanding institution Franklin Barbecue has your back (or baby back ribs), with a very meaty menu of the usual grill suspects, plus cheddar-jalapeño sausage and the jaw-unhinging Tipsy Texan sandwich. And, for the likes of peach-tea-glazed pork and robust kielbasa, land at Interstellar BBQ. For something a little less hands-on and more romantic, Aba has a gorgeous leafy terrace and delicious Mediterranean dining: grilled carrots with lemon jam and rosemary-smoked yoghurt, eggplant-wrapped leg of lamb with cinnamon and dates, or shawarma-spiced steak with horseradish labneh and a black-garlic jus. Colourful Perla’s focuses on seafood, with Creole oysters, lobster rolls, Gulf catches and a cold bar. A tempting all-day menu  at June’s includes ‘ndjua clams, whipped ricotta with hazelnuts and habanero honey and bone-marrow bolognese. 

Local cafés

Jo’s Coffee (another Liz Lambert hit) serves a strong cuppa, but also has seasonal specials (say caramel-apple cold brew or French toast latte), live gigs and other community-focused events. For coffee with kolaches (fruit pastries) sidle up to Little Brother’s window. The original Home Slice Pizza is on the street too for custom pies, calzones and subs; and for those all-important day-starting tacos (or margaritas after noon), there’s Güero’s and Torchy’s. 

Local bars

Start your night with a round of frosés on Hotel San José’s neon-lit patio, then cross over to Downtown for heavenly drinks at church-themed hangout Higher Ground – where the windows are stained and Gothic arched and outdoor space is beautifully festooned with hanging flowers. On the more down-to-earth side of things is Garage, whose low-lit pared-back industrial look makes it feel somewhat carpark-like yet striking, and their drinks have fun, themed names. There’s more gritty fun to be had at Central Machine Works beer hall, too – a brewery and artspace with a range of IPAs and juicier picks, Palomas on draft, and brats and pizzas to snack on.