14 Best Shopping in South Austin and South Congress District, Austin

A South Congress landmark for decades, this place is impossible to miss—just look for the huge red boot above the door. Set amid trendy, touristy SoCo, Allens is anything but. More than a dozen brands of cowboy boots (including Frye, Justin, Lucchese, Liberty Black, and Tony Lama) are displayed on rows upon rows of shelves, along with other Western wear. If you're a newcomer to the boot world, study the store's website before your visit for some basics on proper fit. Staff members are exceptionally helpful.

South Congress is filled with shops that pack a nostalgia factor, from vintage goods to home cooking, but none is quite as sweet as this place, where bins upon bins of colorful sour candies, chocolates, and lollipops line the oh-so-colorful walls. There’s Shakespearean Insult Gum, Texas-made Chick-O-Sticks, and gobs of themed candy. And if you slide up to the bar, you can order milkshakes, shaved ice, or old-fashioned sodas.

The buyers for this large, independently owned world-market store comb the planet for colorful and unusual examples of folk art from more than 40 countries. African trade beads and baskets, Nepalese jewelry, Turkish textiles, and lots of Mexican items (including milagros, postcards, and cheap souvenirs and gifts) are just a few of the goodies stashed away in this delightful place.

This eclectic purveyor was a staple of South Congress Avenue for decades but has moved its treasure trove of antiques and collectibles to a different location off South Lamar. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary or want to browse the King of Austin vintage, this is the place. Stocked with antique items that have been procured from dozens of vendors, Uncommon Objects has an ever-changing stock that at varying times has included mourning jewelry made of human hair, tribal masks, anatomical charts from the turn of the 20th century, and plenty of taxidermy.

This is not your average Austin clothing boutique. While you may find up-and-coming independent designers when perusing other store’s racks, ByGeorge’s inventory looks like a compilation of the season’s greatest high-fashion runway hits. At its two Austin locations, you’ll be smitten with extravagances like SUNO frocks, Givenchy dresses, and Helmut Lang and Derek Lam tailored trousers. Austin’s all about keeping things weird, but in this shop, chic wins every time.

What started more than a decade ago as a small Austin jewelry outfit has grown to be one of the capital city’s most successful businesses, with stores nationwide. Though owner and designer Kendra Scott does design ready-to-wear pieces, the genius behind her work is a paint-by-numbers approach to jewelry making: she’s fixed the templates, and you get to be the designer. At the Color Bar, select from a rainbow of stones to make endless combinations of custom earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. The flagship store on SoCo is retail therapy and art therapy in one.

Perhaps Austin's top outlet for quality and unusual Mexican art and crafts, Mi Casa goes far beyond your usual Mexican-imports souvenir shop. You'll find contemporary paintings and sculptures, painted furniture, religious art, ceramics, and much more. It's a great place to go for gifts for folks back home.

Make yourself at home in this South Austin shop. Like many spots around town, design is central to this home goods store. There’s a heavy influence from independent artisans and designers who have created much of the stock, like one-of-a-kind furniture, wooden dolls, patterned trays, and inspired paper goods. The store holds special events with local makers, who teach classes on their respective crafts. Depending on the day, you could learn about anything from perfume blending to mastering the art of feng shui.

On South Congress Avenue, in the epicenter of Austin’s weird culture, this nondiscreet store offers tokens of the city from local designers. Yes, you'll find typical souvenirs like Texas-branded tees and tote bags, but then you’ll discover the rest of the store. Local artists design everything from the huge collection of screen-printed gig posters to the fabulous leather goods; the variety is incredible. Whatever the type of souvenir or handcrafted artisan creation you're looking to take from the capital city, this is the place to get it.

Sharp dressers take note: some of the coolest guys’ clothes and grooming products around are on display within the industrial-chic walls of Service. The open space has been designed to fit racks of tailored blue blazers, graphic tees, selvedge denim, and designer footwear and cases of rock-star Ray-Ban and Super sunglasses. If you find yourself without the right thing to wear on your travels to Austin, this is the place to fix that.

For guys who like that American-made look, search no further than this upscale boutique. Start with a pair of good-fitting denim—STAG stocks brands like imogene + willie and RRL—then move on to a flannel shirt, which come in endless color combinations here. Finish with a cool pair of Red Wing boots and accessorize from a selection of watches, wallets, and belts galore. Best yet? Once you’re dressed, Home Slice is next door, so you can grab some pizza on your way out. They really did think of everything.

With ample trails and roads with generous bike lanes, Austin is home to many serious bicyclists, and this homegrown shop has been outfitting them for more than three decades. Seasoned athletes use Trek as a resource. Not only is the store stocked with clothing and accessories from brands like Pearl, Bontranger, and Endura, it also hosts mountain, road, cyclo-cross, and triathlon clubs so that bicyclists can ride with others in the community. Newer riders will find a helpful staff of bike pros, who are ready and willing to answer questions about their wide selection of bicycles.