2 Best Shopping in Austin, Texas

University Co-Op

University of Texas Area Fodor's choice

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.

take heart

East Austin

It’s not that you’ll find anything out of the ordinary at this east Austin boutique, it’s just that everything you find will be extraordinary. Take the kitchen wares, for instance, like porcelain mugs from Japan beside the shop’s artisanal wooden serving tools. Knickknacks from across the country, such as wooden toys and mobiles, blend impossibly well with vintage items, almost as though they were curated to live in the gallery-worthy space. The store has a beautiful assortment of hand-pressed cards by artists if you’d like to write home.