We often hear, “We know Austin has a good restaurant and music scene, but what about the shopping?” Our answer: Where do we start? Austin loves to celebrate independent artists and makers and that applies to our shopping scene, too. We feel honored to get to support local and encourage y’all to join us in keeping Austin’s maker and creator scene thriving. We’ve decided to make it extra easy for you and put together a list of the best shopping in Austin.
All of the best places to shop in Austin have one thing in common, whether they’re a home goods store, clothing boutique, or a vintage paradise: they’re all oozing with Austin’s unique style and charm. We searched high and low for hidden gems and rounded up our favorite can’t-miss spots. Each one is a testament to the artistic values and culture of this amazing city.
Featured image of Noah Marion by Rickyann Ramos.
Image courtesy of Sneaker Politics
Austin Shopping Downtown
If you’re visiting Austin, chances are you’re likely spending at least some of your time downtown. This is a highly walkable area and the best way to get around as traffic can get busy. We recommend spending some time in our 2nd Street District filled with shops, restaurants, and even music venues. While most of our recommendations fall under the 2nd Street District category, there’s plenty of great shopping to experience outside of that block, too.
Sneaker Politics
We’re so lucky to have this one in Austin. Located in the 2nd Street Shopping District, Sneaker Politics carries some of the most unique and coolest sneakers we’ve found yet, plus clothing and sunglasses that are typically hard to get your hands on. Pro Tip: Follow Sneaker Politics on Instagram for the latest releases.
221 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
Milk & Honey Spa
We’ve been big fans of milk & honey spa since the founder, Alyssa Bayer first opened in 2006. Since then, they’ve expanded to Los Angeles, Chicago, and are opening in more cities in the coming months. Not only should you mark this spot for ALL of your spa appointments in town, but their retail selection, filled with their own milk & honey products (as well as other brands), is pretty great. We love their Luxe Face Oil and Room Sprays (which double as a great linen spray).
100A Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701
Image courtesy of Eliza Page
Eliza Page
Eliza Page has been a staple on Second Street since 2004 and it’s one of the best spots to grab a jewelry gift for someone you love (or for yourself!). They have a little something for almost every price point, carry well-known and discoverable brands, and do a wonderful job with custom pieces.
229 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
Waterloo Records
For the music and vinyl obsessed, you’re headed to Austin’s beloved Waterloo Records on North Lamar. Opened in 1982, it’s received several accolades and nods including one of SPIN’s 10 Best Record Stores in America. It’s a fun spot to peruse, and during SXSW they host epic day parties and live performances.
600 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
No Comply Skate Shop
Skateboarders and sneakerheads alike, this is your spot! They bill themselves as a “Pint-sized indie skateboard shop with a chill vibe stocking decks, gear, hats, footwear & fashion,” and we agree. Admittedly, we don’t board, but we do appreciate a good sneaker and the IdleWild Coffee Collab shop inside makes a great iced coffee.
812 W 12th St, Austin, TX 78701
Image of Music Lane by Cristina Fisher
Austin Shopping Malls
Before you completely dismiss the idea of a shopping mall, we need to reiterate that these two recommendations are anything but traditional. One is nestled on one of Austin’s most prominent and famous street and the other is a stone’s throw from our FC soccer stadium and adjacent to a Top Golf. So, both have “main attraction” energy and provide an excellent one-stop-shop day trip for virtually all of your needs.
Music Lane
Music Lane is Austin’s newest outdoor shopping development and features several boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, and more. We love that a little bit of old Austin remains (looking at you, Continental Club and Guero’s) while new Austin settles in. If you’re coming to town and want a mix of shopping, food, and people watching, take a stroll on South Congress. Can we tempt you to stop at Home Slice for a slice of pizza and/or the Italian Sub? (Do it!)
1011 South Congress Ave.
The Domain
If you’re looking for more high-end shops, you’re likely headed to The Domain. With over 100 shops like Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Chanel, The RealReal, and some smaller boutiques, like Away, Diptique, Herman Miller, and even a Peloton store, The Domain has everything you’re looking for. Pro Tip: If you’re shopping at The Domain, make time to hit up the Rock Rose area featuring special Austin restaurants like the highly-lauded Thai-Kun.
11410 Century Oaks Terrace
Images of STAG by Bill Sallans
Clothes Shopping in Austin
Sure, the food scene here is pretty epic, but don’t discount our style and great list of local creators. These shops are a favorite with our team and some have styled musicians for the ACL Festival, speakers for SXSW, and actors for ATX TV Festival. Whether you’re looking for high-end or upcycled threads, we’ve got you covered.
STAG (South Lamar)
STAG is a “modern-day general store for every man and specializes in contemporary clothing with classic roots.” We love every single item inside STAG, so it’s no wonder they’ve been named a top men’s store in America by GQ and Esquire. This is right on South Congress next to Home Slice Pizza, so it’s a good idea to place a pizza order and shop while you wait.
1423 S Congress Ave
Image courtesy of Estilo
Estilo (Central Austin)
For a great selection of brands both high and low, we love Estilo. We’re partial to their denim selection, though they came in clutch while trying to find the perfect summer dresses. Pro Tip: They have a great seamstress onsite if you need anything hemmed.
2727 Exposition Blvd #121
Daughter’s (South Congress)
The sister store to STAG, Austin’s “Daughter’s” is nestled on South Congress is for the buyer who wants cool, creative, casual vintage-inspired designs from a host of brands. It’s coming from Stag, so you know it’s well-curated.
1210 S Congress Ave
Image of MOSS by Kaity Cox
MOSS (South Lamar)
Run by the same owner as Garment, so you know it’s going to be good. MOSS is easily one of our favorite consignment shops in town, carrying the latest, trendiest, and most unique pieces. We don’t know how Masha scores such great consignors (but we’re not complaining). Clothes, handbags, shoes, accessories—oftentimes brand-new. Pro Tip: The second MOSS posts something on Instagram, don’t wait. We’ve had our hearts broken a few times.
705 South Lamar Blvd
Garment Vintage (South Lamar)
Some of our favorite pieces of clothing have come from Garment Vintage. Owner Masha does an incredible job of sourcing unique and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces that tend to go the second they’re posted on Instagram. When festival season hits Austin, they bring out some of the coolest pieces from Gucci belt bags to vintage Chanel.
701 S Lamar Blvd
Image of Miranda Bennett Studio by Andrea Calo
Boutique Shopping in Austin
For something special you likely won’t find outside of Austin, look no further than our list of boutiques. This is where we send our out-of-town friends who want to bring something unique back home, or for the pal who has a special occasion and they want to support a local business. We’re big fans of each of these and hope you are too.
Miranda Bennett Studio (East Austin)
We love what Miranda Bennett is up to as a designer (and you may remember her from our interview a few years back). All of her pieces are made locally in Austin using plant dyes. She’s a fierce advocate for size inclusivity, designing clothes that connect women to their body and make them feel good. She’s garnered national media attention from The New York Times, Coveteur, Who What Wear, Vogue, Martha Stewart, and more.
1211 E 11th St Suite 101
Images of Maurfrais by Sean Greenberg
Maufrais (South Congress)
This is a fun stop for any out-of-town guests who are looking for a solid custom hat. And they make the experience so fun! Grab a cocktail at the bar (or coffee at Little Brother inside) and let one of their experienced staff members guide you through the process.
1512 S Congress Ave
Allen’s Boots
It wouldn’t be an Austin shopping list without Allen’s Boots, an Austin-based, family-owned tradition since 1977. Allen’s Boots is (literally) packed from floor to ceiling with thousands of boots. The smell of leather is the best greeting when you walk through the door.
1522 S Congress Ave
Good Company (North Lamar + South Congress)
A stop into Good Company makes us want to completely reconsider our closets and home décor. We love that we can find both the classic designers we know and love, and at the same time, it’s a place of discovery on the clothing and home goods front. It’s so well-curated and well worth your time.
918 W. 12th St & 1714 B S. Congress Ave.
Image of By George by Clay Grier
Luxury Shopping in Austin
As Austin continues to grow, so does our access to high-end apparel and luxury goods. While a few of these shops have long carried the torch as high-end outposts, we love that their lines and footprints in Austin have expanded, letting us continue to explore some of the best fashion.
Esby
Esby is an Austin-based, sustainably and ethically-made brand using quality all-nature fabrics that are sourced worldwide. We love their approach to designing for comfort and wearability with a small-batch ethos. We’re pretty partial to their jumpsuits and dresses.
2124 E 6th St suite 101
ByGeorge (North Lamar & South Congress)
ByGeorge has been an Austin go-to since 1979 and their dedication to celebrating luxury designers and bringing the best to Austin remains unrivaled. They’ve recently expanded their North Lamar location to include beauty curated by makeup artist Erin Lee Smith. (Their home goods selection is pretty stellar, too.)
524 N Lamar Blvd #103 & 1400 S Congress Ave
Kick Pleat (North Lamar)
When we want to know what’s trending, we pop into Kick Pleat. Rightfully so, after Vogue called it one of the “Best Fashion Boutiques in the Country.” We love that they carry timeless pieces that we know we’ll have in our closets for quite some time. Pro Tip: Watch their website—they tend to have pretty epic sales every season.
624 North Lamar Blvd
Nak Armstrong
If you caught “And Just Like That,” chances are that you saw Carrie Bradshaw wear a few pieces of Nak Armstrong. If you didn’t, you’ve definitely seen it on the red carpet and among Austin’s most stylish. Nak’s pieces are so unique and fun, it’s hard to walk into his flagship store and not want one of everything. This is definitely a “treat yourself” moment.
1011 S Congress Ave Building 2, Suite 110
Unique Shops in Austin
Austin’s motto is “Keep Austin Weird,” and while some of these shops play into that, they’re also simply fun spots that you should add to your must-visit list. We’ve got you covered with everything from a cheese shop to the coolest candy/toy store that kids and adults will love.
Antonelli’s Cheese Shop (Hyde Park)
Why yes, we ARE recommending a cheese shop for you. Here’s why: Antonelli’s not only carries an impressive selection of meats and cheeses, but their retail section makes for a great hostess gift—or simply a present for yourself.
4220 Duval St
South Congress Hotel Gift Shop (South Congress)
Anytime we’re near the South Congress Hotel, we pop into the gift shop to see what’s in store. From candles to towels, perfume to hand soap, and fun straw hats, we always find something unique and different for our home, ourselves, or as a gift.
1603 S Congress Ave
Toy Joy (South Congress)
Their tagline is “Keeping Austin Fun since 1987” and we concur! This shop transports you straight back to childhood with its arts, crafts, and toys, (plus the most robust candy selection we’ve ever seen!). It’s a great spot if you need to pick up a gift for a kid or browse 20+ different types of gummies.
403 W 2nd St
Uncommon Objects (South Congress)
Quirky, random, and unique is exactly how we’d describe Uncommon Objects. In their words, “Since 1991, Uncommon Objects has matured over the years into the one-of-a-kind emporium of transcendent junk that you see before you. Twenty-four hardworking antique sellers have been assembled under one roof to bring you this very genuine and sometimes quirky slice of American culture and history.” This is definitely for the collector and antique-obsessed in your life.
1602 Fort View Rd
Image of Noah Marion by Rickyann Ramos
Best Gift Shops in Austin
Sure, we’d consider ourselves to be excellent gift givers, but the reason we love these shops so much is because you can literally spend hours of your day perusing and still not get through everything. We’re literally kids in a candy store (minus the candy) with these spots. We have a feeling that you will be as well. Every single one of our recommendations are unique to Austin. Can you tell we’re pretty proud to have them in our city?
Book People
Fun Fact: Book People is Texas’ largest independent bookstore and has been around since the 1970s. We love getting to support local businesses and especially love the traveling authors and talks they organize in their space.
603 N Lamar Blvd
Keith Kreeger Studios (online)
If you’re looking for updated ceramics for your home and dining, we’re pointing you in the direction of Keith Kreeger’s work. He’s a one-man band and everything is made with intention and love. If you’re dining in Austin, you’ve likely seen his wares at Olamaie, Emmer & Rye, Uchi, and more as he often does bespoke pieces for local restaurants. Keith is a pillar in the community and he’s dedicated to producing impactful work, so we love supporting him.
Lovecraft (East Austin)
Lovecraft is a place of designer discovery and always leaves us inspired to try something new, out of the box, and outside of our big-box store tendencies. Their Instagram feed is also gorgeous.
1107 E 11th St
Noah Marion (South Congress)
Simply put, everything Noah Marion makes is stunning. He’s been at it since 2006 bringing high-quality untreated, undyed natural vegetable-tanned leather goods into our homes. From handbags to belts, he’s even reupholstered a friend’s old chair as seen here. Pop into his store and you’ll be fascinated by his own goods as well as the products he’s curated in the space.
1606 S Congress Ave
Take Heart (East Austin)
If you’re on the East Side of Austin (perhaps shopping at Miranda Bennett Studio), head next door to Take Heart for their selection of home goods, personal care products, books, and more. We always leave with a new candle or something for the kitchen that we didn’t know we needed.
1211 E 11th St Suite 100
eleMINT Skin Health & Wellness Studio
While we’re absolutely going to point you to one of the best facials in town, we also recommend stopping by eleMINT to check out their retail selection. Founder Shauntavia Ward has done an incredible job of featuring an impressive lineup of indie skincare products that you won’t find in big-box retailers.
1105 E 6th St
This post was originally published on March 7, 2020, and has since been updated.
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