The number of new condo projects and conversions during the last decade is staggering for our little downtown. Then again, so is the number of people moving to Austin each day. Our little downtown is not so little anymore with a Whole Foods flagship store and a stunning new public library at the old Seaholm Power-plant. There are several options to taking it all in from a Segway Tour to the PubCrawler Beer Bike.
Retail – Waterloo Records – Austin loves it, they love Austin and they are so good to our musicians; Book People – voted the best independent bookstore in the nation.
Restaurants – Jo’s on Second Street – great food, great vibe, great people and some of the best coffee around; Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue in the historical Schneider Brothers Building on 2nd has amazing food and live music upstairs. Owner, Lou Lambert is one of our best chefs and Austin is fortunate to have Lou and his sister Liz investing their talents in our town; Amy’s Ice Cream – my favorite is cop stop, coffee ice cream with doughnut pieces; La Condesa – a dining experience you’ll want to savor and 24 Diner – open all night and has one of the best veggie burgers in town.
A little west of downtown is Clarksville with the famous Nau’s Drugstore, one of few places left where you can have lunch at an old fashioned soda fountain.
Clarksville is also home to locally owned Galaxy Cafe which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual setting and some pretty amazing cookies, too. A block down the street you’ll find their sister cafe, ZoCala, serving authentic Mexican food.
Cipollina’s is a wonderful, old-world Italian bistro with wood fired pizzas and handmade pastas. Don’t miss Josephine House for a cozy, neighborhood dining experience featuring an upscale menu.