4 Best Shopping in Central Austin and the University of Texas, Austin

This year-round, open-air market with roots stretching back to the early 1970s is the soul of the Drag. The unreconstructed hippie ambience is at least as much of a draw as the actual merchandise crafted and sold by various local artisans. The wares include jewelry, leatherwork, candles, photographs, paintings, sculpture, textiles, and the inevitable tie-dyed T-shirts. Note that the market is firmly regulated by the city, and all vendors must be licensed by a commission. Days and hours of operation have been changed and scaled down since COVID; current status updates can be found on their website and social media pages.

The beating burnt-orange heart of Longhorn Nation is on display at the ultimate showcase of UT sports paraphernalia, located right smack in the middle of the Drag on campus. You can find burnt-orange-and-Longhorn-logoed everything at this three-level emporium, from Crocs and dress shirts to bath mats, a full set of luggage, and even a $350 pair of Lucchese cowboy boots and a $600 acoustic guitar. An entire room is devoted to children's wear, from the nursery on up. Founded in 1896 and modeled after a similar co-op at Harvard, UT's Co-op (which offers discounts to faculty, students, and staff) claims to be the largest seller of used textbooks in the country. Even if you have no direct (or indirect) connection to UT, do stop in if you're in the neighborhood; it's gawk-inducing and unforgettable.

In the self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World, nothing is as sweet as finding a record store like this one. With an emphasis on local Texas players and blues music, the shop opened as a hangout for showgoers back when Antone’s Nightclub was across the street. Over the years, performers like Memphis Slim, James Cotton, Pinetop Perkins, and Doug Sahm played the club and recorded for the Antone’s label. Today, you’ll find bins of vinyl as well as new releases and various posters and gifts. An expert staff can help serious music lovers with any and all inquiries.

The classiest hardware store in Austin doesn’t just stock a prism of paints and garden gadgets. It’s dedicated to home improvement in all regards. Browse the Waterford china, Simon Pearce dinnerware, and aisles upon aisles of kitchen tools. It’s the go-to place for popular local cookbooks from the Tipsy Texan, Uchi, and Fonda San Miguel and a variety of other locally made art and gifts, like sweetly scented soaps and candles and swoon-worthy leather goods.