43 Best Places to Shop in Austin, Texas

This year-round, open-air market with roots stretching back to the early 1970s is the soul of the Drag. The unreconstructed hippie ambience is at least as much of a draw as the actual merchandise crafted and sold by various local artisans. The wares include jewelry, leatherwork, candles, photographs, paintings, sculpture, textiles, and the inevitable tie-dyed T-shirts. Note that the market is firmly regulated by the city, and all vendors must be licensed by a commission. Days and hours of operation have been changed and scaled down since COVID; current status updates can be found on their website and social media pages.

A South Congress landmark for decades, this place is impossible to miss—just look for the huge red cowboy boot above the door. Set amid trendy, touristy SoCo, Allens is anything but. More than a dozen brands of cowboy boots (including Frye, Justin, Lucchese, Liberty Black, and Tony Lama) are displayed on rows upon rows of shelves, along with hats, belt buckles, and other classic Western wear. If you're a newcomer to the boot world, study the store's website before your visit for some basics on proper fit, but staff members are exceptionally helpful once you walk through the door.

South Congress is filled with shops that pack a nostalgia factor, but none is quite as sweet as this place, where bins upon bins of colorful sour candies, chocolates, and lollipops line the oh-so-colorful walls. There’s Shakespearean Insult Gum, Texas-made Chick-O-Sticks, and gobs of themed candy. Beat the heat on a hot day here at the old-fashioned soda fountain counter, where you can order classic egg creams, homemade cherry limeades, ice cream sundaes, and an expanded menu of boozy milkshakes and handmade hard seltzers.

Established in 1970, Texas's largest independent bookstore is a homegrown alternative to Amazon and corporate chains. The quirky bookshop, staffed with a passionate team of dedicated booksellers, has been voted Austin's best bookstore for more than 20 years, stocking bestsellers along with books on topics from celebrity memoirs to alternative home-building texts; there's also an incredible children's section. Browse magazines; shop for literary-inspired tchotchkes and Austin- and Texas-centric gifts; and catch readings and signings by local and touring authors. Heavy-hitting literati luminaries, including former presidents, make stops here while on book tours.

Austin's premier shopping and entertainment district, the Domain is just a short drive north of downtown, situated along North MoPac (Loop 1) at the beginning of North Austin's IBM campus and surrounding tech corridor.

The sprawling, open-air center is home to more than 100 aspirational and name-brand shops, like Gucci, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., and Tesla, that cater to the platinum-card set. Those on more modest budgets have plenty to appreciate, though, with familiar favorites like Bath & Body Works, Levi's, and Zara found amid dozens of excellent eateries and other noteworthy offerings, including luxury movie theaters, pop-up museum installations, salons, and dance studios.

Some complain there's very little Austin-specific about the North Austin locale, but more local flavor continues to arrive in the ever-expanding shopping district, including a lovely Kendra Scott jewelry location and homegrown eateries such as Juiceland. It's also home to the new flagship location of Cap City Comedy Club.

It's a pleasant place to spend a few hours, if only to window shop after a nice meal—or enjoy a full-blown retail-oriented weekend with a bevy of delicious fine-dining options to choose from and plenty of luxury and business-friendly hotels in the immediate vicinity.

The buyers for this large, independently owned world-market store comb the planet for colorful and unusual examples of folk art from more than 40 countries. African trade beads and baskets, Nepalese jewelry, Turkish textiles, and lots of Mexican items (including milagros, postcards, and cheap souvenirs and gifts) are just a few of the goodies stashed away in this delightful place.

Pop into this beloved neighborhood grocery store in the heart of South Congress and browse thousands of hand-selected food and specialty items, from fresh produce and gourmet grab-and-go snacks to artisanal made-in-Austin gifts and travel-size essentials of luxury bath and body goods. It's a perfect place to refuel on a hot, sunny day thanks to an on-site deli with delicious, hot, made-to-order offerings. Don't ignore the ice-cold alcoholic beverages, such as their signature frosé, in which you can slip a straw and take right outside to keep SoCo shopping. A second location debuted in Hyde Park, just north of downtown, and boasts an on-site French bistro, Bureau de Poste, that is open for daily dinner service.

This eclectic Austin purveyor moved its famed treasure trove of antiques and collectibles from its longtime home on South Congress Avenue to a different location off South Lamar in recent years. It might not catch as much foot traffic as its former storefront, but if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, don't miss a trip to this kaleidoscopic collection of cool finds, especially during the last Sunday of every month (10 am–3 pm) when the backyard transforms into the massive outdoor Uncommon Flea market. Dozens of unique, keen-eyed vendors keep the ever-changing stock of varying gems, from mourning jewelry made of human hair and tribal masks to 20th-century anatomical charts and plenty of Texan taxidermy.

This large independent records shop has been an integral part of the local music scene since 1982. With an outstanding selection of vinyl, CD, DVD, and cassette offerings, superb customer service, funky Austin-inspired gifts, and a packed calendar of free in-store concerts (including some pretty impressive names during SXSW), it may be the only Austin record store you'll ever need to visit.

Right at the cusp of downtown, the 80,000-square-foot flagship store for the natural/organic supermarket chain's world headquarters is both a showcase for the company's philosophy and one of the most entertaining supermarkets you'll ever visit. It's been a major tourist attraction (seriously) since it opened in 2005. You can enjoy a casual sit-down lunch at several places inside the massive store, and the options for a hot, grab-and-go selection are abundant, whether you're craving sushi, pizza, or seafood. The store also has one of Austin's largest wine selections and a walk-in beer cooler, plus several café and bar operations. Ample free underground garage parking is provided.

More than 45 vendors spread out over nearly 11,000 square feet here. Lose yourself in the vintage linens, lunchboxes, posters and postcards, and sparkling rhinestone jewelry scattered among the antique chests of drawers, cabinets, and tables.

With an emphasis on local blues music and Texas players, this shop was opened by the legendary local Clifford Antone as a hangout for showgoers back when his original Antone’s Nightclub was located across the street. Over the years, performers like Memphis Slim, Pinetop Perkins, and Doug Sahm played the club and recorded for the Antone’s label, which operated its "headquarters" out of this humble record store. Today, you’ll find bins of vinyl here as well as new releases and various posters and gifts. An expert staff can help serious music lovers with any and all inquiries. Check the events calendar for news on upcoming in-store performances and SXSW showcases.

Look no further than this ultra-modern shop when you're on the hunt for unique pieces like hand-carved onyx sculptures from Mexico. The large establishment also offers contemporary art, custom framing, and art restoration, but it's the extensive selection of knockout contemporary art glass of the highest quality (including huge pieces of Murano glass) that really sets this space apart. Founded in 1985, it also carries exceptional crafts from throughout the world, plus small bronzes and exquisite stemware.

The classiest hardware store in Austin, adjacent to the UT campus, doesn’t just stock a prism of paints and garden gadgets. It’s dedicated to home improvement in all regards. Browse the Waterford china, Simon Pearce dinnerware, and aisles upon aisles of designer kitchen tools and decor. It’s the go-to place for popular local cookbooks from the Tipsy Texan, Uchi, and Fonda San Miguel and a variety of other locally made art and gifts, like sweetly scented soaps and candles and swoon-worthy leather goods all made in Austin.

This is not your average Austin clothing boutique. While you may find up-and-coming independent designers when perusing other store’s racks, ByGeorge’s inventory looks like a compilation of the season’s greatest high-fashion runway hits. At its two Austin locations, you’ll be smitten with extravagances like SUNO frocks, Givenchy dresses, and Helmut Lang and Derek Lam tailored trousers. Austin’s all about keeping things weird, but in this shop, chic wins every time.

This upscale, foodie-friendly offshoot of the giant Texas-based H-E-B supermarket chain is a few years older than its competitor, Whole Foods, down Lamar Boulevard, but no less popular (expect big weekend crowds). It's equally serious about the cheeses, wine, beer, meat, and deli products it purveys, but compared to Whole Foods it seems more like a place real people go to shop (rather than promenade). It's a great spot to grab organic prepared foods on the run or at the in-house café, where an outdoor patio is ideal for families and large groups. Live music is hosted on weekends.

Browse an excellent selection of hand-picked vintage and small-batch designer goods at this oh-so-charming East 11th Street boutique. You'll find plenty of Stevie Nicks–worthy caftans, rare couture gems, and a curio cabinet full of eccentric jewelry and statement pieces. An assortment of "apothecary" items, from face and body oils to incense and crystals, lend to its overall hippy-witchy aesthetic.

This 180,000-square-foot open-air mall and cultural center is occupied by 35 Asian-owned businesses (mainly Chinese and Vietnamese), including restaurants, nail salons, bakeries, boba tea shops, and retail outlets selling clothing and jewelry. The cornerstone here is the MT (My Thanh) Supermarket, the largest international grocery store in Texas, which stocks all manner of Asian foods and related items. Dining standouts include First Chinese BBQ and Pho Saigon Noodle House. Though a bit short on atmosphere, eateries deliver well-prepared, simply presented lunch plates and noodle-based soups at easy-to-digest prices. The center is open daily, but some stores close one day a week.

Top off your travels to the Capitol City with something to top off your outfit. You might expect to find cowboy hats with wide, folded brims (and you will), but the store also stocks an impressive collection of charming bowlers, caps, and fedoras. The standouts, however, are the floppy, adorned women’s hats that will instantly transport you to the Old South. The staff is super knowledgeable and will help you to get the perfect fit.

What started as a small Austin jewelry outfit has grown to be one of the capital city’s biggest success stories, with an international customer base and boutique outlets nationwide. Though owner and designer Kendra Scott does design ready-to-wear pieces, the genius behind her work is a paint-by-numbers approach to jewelry making: she’s fixed the templates, and you get to be the designer. Select from a rainbow of stones to make endless combinations of custom earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. This flagship location is a lovely stop on South Congress, plus an in-store café serves coffee, sweet treats, and happy hour wine and beer selections every day.

Perhaps Austin's top outlet for quality and unusual Mexican art and crafts, Mi Casa goes far beyond your usual Mexican-imports souvenir shop. You'll find contemporary paintings and sculptures, painted furniture, religious art, ceramics, and much more. It's a great place to go for gifts for folks back home.

Make yourself at home in this South Austin shop. Like many spots around town, design is central to this home goods store. There’s a heavy influence from independent artisans and designers who have created much of the stock, like one-of-a-kind furniture, wooden dolls, patterned trays, and inspired paper goods. The store holds special events with local makers, who teach classes on their respective crafts. Depending on the day, you could learn about anything from perfume blending to mastering the art of feng shui.

When most women fantasize about the wardrobe of their dreams, it looks something like the inside of this East Austin boutique. Brightly printed vintage finds complement cool-girl-approved staples, with more than a few standouts in stock. You’ll also find well-known designers like Anna Rifle Bond’s paper products to pen a letter home, chic Province Apothecary lip balm, and geometric necklaces and bracelets galore.

Calling all sports fans: this Austin lifestyle brand is reinventing workout gear. Somewhere between Nike's high-performing, sweat-wicking staples and your favorite broken-in cotton T-shirt or bottoms, the Outdoor Voices gear is wearable and fashionable without being overly sporty. You’ll find sweats, hoodies, and tanks that have movement and are perfect for a hike on the Greenbelt, an afternoon spent at Zilker Park, or an evening perched around a fire.

On South Congress Avenue, in the epicenter of Austin’s weird culture, this nondiscreet store offers tokens of the city from local designers. Yes, you'll find typical souvenirs like Texas-branded tees and tote bags, but then you’ll discover the rest of the store. Local artists design everything from the huge collection of screen-printed gig posters to the fabulous leather goods; the variety is incredible. Whatever the type of souvenir or handcrafted artisan creation you're looking to take from the capital city, this is the place to get it.