A Little Stroll Down South Congress
Dress: Grace Karin // Shoes: Marc Fisher // Bag: Ted Baker
Austin is one of my favorite cities. When I lived there, I couldn't get enough. There's so much to do and it has such a young and carefree feel to it. It's laid back, casual and has some of the best food in Texas. I shared a few blog posts on different parts of the city over the past year from places to hike (Mt. Bonnell and McKinney Falls) to neighborhoods in the city (see this post on Hyde Park). Today I wanted to share a little about South Congress Avenue. South Congress is the south side of Congress Avenue which leads you from downtown out to Highway 71. It's filled with places to shop (like Feather's Vintage - see this post) to restaurants and tons to do. If you looking for a good spot to photograph for Instagram, this is your place!
Restaurants
Over the years a few of my favorites include Guero's for amazing tex-mex. Stop by South Congress Cafe for a delicious mid-century style atmosphere and brunch. Poke-Poke is a little further down and boasts of these amazing bowls complete with raw fish, rise and delicious seasonings. If you are a pizza lover, Home Slice is the way to go. Finally, my personal favorite is Magnolia Cafe. I stopped here for a late afternoon brunch and scooped up the most delicious Gingerbread Pancakes topped with bananas and chocolate chips. They serve fantastic drinks and a mouthwatering hibiscus tea.
What to See
One of the most adorable places to visit is Hotel San Jose. They have a very small amount of rooms, but have the most beautiful courtyard with live music. That's one of the best parts about being in Austin, there is always live music playing oftentimes free of charge. Heading down the street you'll find colorful walls like this one outside of Bird's Barbershop. If you keep going south you'll run into a lovely flower shop to stop in and grab fresh blooms. There's also the famous "I love you so much" wall for a great Instagram photo.
Where to Buy
South Congress Avenue is also filled with fun little shops. My personal favorite is Feather's Boutique which carries an array of beautiful and unique retro clothing (see these shoes for my most recent post). Allen's Boots has been around for forever and carries a variety of western wear. If you are looking to pick up a few novelty items food wise stop at Farm to Market for local fresh produce and groceries. There are many more places, these are just a few of my personal favorites.
What to Wear
Although you can pretty much get away with wearing anything in Austin, I prefer to lean towards the classic. This adorable boat neck dress is perfect for Spring right now. I love the floral design of blue and green on a white background. I added a pair of blush lace up heels and my favorite pink purse for a ladylike look. I really love this lemon printed one and this blue and white version here, too. You can't really go wrong with a classic boat neck and flared skirt.
