Local Area Info

An Introduction to South Lamar Living

The South Lamar neighborhood of Austin, also known by locals as SoLa, has undergone a renaissance in recent years as the street sprung new life with a mixture of boutiques, coffee shops, lounges, funky shops and a wide variety of delicious dining options. These new buildings have sprung up around older Austin businesses and music venues, such as the historic Broken Spoke and the long-standing Saxon Pub, making South Lamar one of the hottest spots in Austin.

There are plenty of rental options, whether you’re looking for a house, condo or apartment, and the neighborhood is relatively safe and has a low crime rate. You’ll find a mix of ethnic groups here, mostly Caucasian and Hispanic, and a mix of families, students and retirees. South Lamar has everything you’ll need to live and play without ever having to leave the neighborhood, however, it’s easy to get around as major arteries bisect the area. From here you’ll have easy access to Mopac(Loop1) and Hwy 290/71, and there are several public transportation stops nearby making it ease to use Capitol Metro to get to any part of the city. The South Lamar neighborhood is served by the Austin Independent School District and several private schools are just minutes away.

The South Lamar neighborhood has helped give south Austin its reputation as a unique, funky and eclectic town. The South Congress neighborhood may reign number one for its coolness factor but it’s more of a new Austin cool while South Lamar still retains that old Austin feel.

The Best of 78704

So you’ve moved to the area, but now what? It’s time to explore your new neighborhood! Here are some activities and hot spots you won’t want to miss.

  • Barton Springs Pool – Located in Zilker Park, Barton Springs is a recreational outdoor swimming pool filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs. The pool measures 3 acres in size and maintains temperatures of 68-70 degrees year-round. Barton Springs is a local favorite for all walks of life and is a wonderful place to sunbathe, swim and socialize, right in the heart of the city.
  • Zilker Park – Zilker Park is over 350 acres and it has it all! Besides Barton Springs Pool you’ll find an 18-hole disc golf course, 5 volleyball courts, the Zilker Hillside Theater, a playscape, the Zilker Botanical Gardens, 3 picnic sites and fields for frisbee, dogs, soccer and more! From Zilker Park there’s also access to Lady Bird Lake where you’ll find hike and bike trails and water rentals like canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and pedal boats.

  • Enjoy the Live Music Scene – There are several live music venues in the ’04 area code that you’ll have to experience and what’s great about this neighborhood is that there’s something for everyone. Whether it’s boot-scootin’ to honky tonk at the historic Broken Spoke or sitting intently listening to your local favorite singer/songwriter at the One 2 One, South Austin has it all. Here are a few more of our favorite venues: Saxon Pub, supports local artists and usually charges a small cover at the door. The Continental Club, located on South Congress, you’ll find the best rock, jazz, country and blues acts, national and local. The ABGB, a warehouselike beer garden serving microbrews, pizzas and sandwiches featuring high-energy full bands. The Highball, a colorful cocktail bar with live music shows and private karaoke rooms. Green Mesquite, a local Austin favorite when it comes to BBQ and they have some great local acts perform on the stage on their back patio.

  • Dining – The 78704 area code has an extremely wide variety of dining options, from food trucks to fine dining, guaranteeing to satisfy your every craving. We’ve got BBQ, Mexican cuisine, Italian, Oyster bars, breakfast diners(some open 24 hours), seafood, Cajun, ramen houses, pizza parlors, savory donut dishes, sushi, coffee shops and more! Take a stroll down South Congress and stop in at Guero’s for a margarita and a taco and live music in their Oak Garden – or try an award-winning burger at Hopdoddy! If you’re on South Lamar we recommend oysters and seafood gumbo at Deckhand, or a savory crepe at Crepe Crazy. These places, however, only barely scratch the surface of your culinary options in the ’04, and we know you’ll have a blast finding your own favorite haunts.
  • Festivals – Austin is the home of several large festivals that occur annually, but living in the ’04 puts you smack dab in the middle of the best of them. You’ll be just a short distance from ACL(Austin City Limits), Blues on the Green, the Kite Festival, and SWSX, Marley Fest and more!