Best Places to Shop in Austin

One of the best parts of living in Austin is the eclectic variety that “keeps Austin weird,” and the shopping scene is no exception! From local boutiques to major retailers, this city has it all in spades. Best of all, no matter where you live in Austin, there’s a shopping hub within 5 or 10 minutes of home (except maybe during those brutal Austin rush hours) that offers everything from daily essentials to holiday gifts and home decor. Here are some of our top shopping hubs in Austin that are well worth exploring.

South Congress

When you’re looking for boutique shopping, there’s no better place in Austin than South Congress. Walking up and down SoCo ducking into whatever shop catches your eye is the perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon—you can even stop into some of Austin’s most iconic eateries and cafes for a bite to eat along the way.

Some of our favorite shops on SoCo are the Kendra Scott Flagship store, Allens Boots, Parts & Labour, and Tesoro’s Trading Company, but there are plenty more to explore!

2nd Street

Another great place in Austin to explore local boutiques is 2nd Street, right in the heart of Downtown Austin. In addition to major retailers like Urban Outfitters, you’ll also find clothing boutiques like Austin Rocks, Hemline Austin, and Francesca’s alongside jewelry boutiques like Eliza Page and specialty shops like Toy Joy and Luxe Apothetique (a clothing boutique and hair salon).

Barton Creek Square

For residents of our luxury apartments in South Austin, Barton Creek Square is a convenient shopping hub focusing on major clothing, gift, and home goods retailers. Here, you’ll find big names like Macy’s, Hollister, JCPenney, Nordstrom, and Banana Republic alongside specialty chains and boutiques like Modern Man, Label Society, LOFT, and James Avery Artisan Jewelry.

Central Park

Located near the Triangle in Central Austin, the Central Park Shopping Center is home to boutiques and chains alike, all situated around the Central Market. Stop by and explore if you’re looking for clothing boutiques, stationery, cosmetics, and salons. You’ll also find multiple mattress stores, Gap, and Athleta. Plus, in the Triangle nearby are additional options like Texas Blooms and Gifts, InStep Austin, Natural Grocers, and Sound Sanctuary.

Mueller

For residents of our luxury apartments in North Austin, Mueller is one of the most convenient shopping hubs in town. Flanked by the Northwest Greenway, Mueller Lake Park, and Bartholomew Park are multiple clusters of shops, eateries, and attractions that have helped make Mueller one of the up-and-coming Austin hotspots. Here, you’ll find the Mueller H-E-B and major retailers like Marshalls, Bed Bath & Beyond, and rue21. Also present are boutique shops like Lilla & Beth, Toy Dojo, and ino Scarf Boutique.

What’s your favorite place to shop in Austin? We hope we’ve given you some new spots to explore near our Austin apartments! Meanwhile, if you want to shop our luxury apartments in Austin and other RPM communities across the US, don’t forget to check out our Communities page.