10 Best Shopping in Austin, Texas

South Congress is filled with shops that pack a nostalgia factor, from vintage goods to home cooking, 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. And if you slide up to the bar, you can order milkshakes, shaved ice, or old-fashioned sodas.

Texas's largest independent bookstore is a homegrown alternative to monster chain stores. It was established in 1970 and has been voted Austin's best bookstore for more than 20 years, stocking bestsellers along with books on topics such as women's studies, personal growth, and alternative home building; there's also a good children's section. Browse magazines; shop for quirky, hard-to-find gifts; and catch readings and signings by local authors, literati luminaries, and even former presidents who make stops here while on book tours.

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.

This fantastic place is so much the ultimate toy store of your childhood fantasies that it's too good to save for actual children—don't be embarrassed to come in even if you don't have little ones of your own. It's the place to get things like Edgar Allan Poe and Beethoven action figures, vinyl dinosaur figurines, reproductions of vintage toys you played with as a kid, and floor-to-ceiling diversions for all ages, including science toys, metal robots, stuffed animals, costumes, hard-to-find candy, baubles and bangles, and more.

The beating burnt-orange heart of Longhorn Nation is on display at the ultimate showcase of UT sports paraphernalia, located right smack in the middle of the Drag on campus. You can find burnt-orange-and-Longhorn-logoed everything at this three-level emporium, from Crocs and dress shirts to bath mats, a full set of luggage, and even a $350 pair of Lucchese cowboy boots and a $600 acoustic guitar. An entire room is devoted to children's wear, from the nursery on up. Founded in 1896 and modeled after a similar co-op at Harvard, UT's Co-op (which offers discounts to faculty, students, and staff) claims to be the largest seller of used textbooks in the country. Even if you have no direct (or indirect) connection to UT, do stop in if you're in the neighborhood; it's gawk-inducing and unforgettable.

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 gawk). It's a great spot to grab prepared foods on the run or join the weekday lunch crowds at the in-house café, where an outdoor patio pleases kids and where bands play on Friday and Saturday evening. The market is in a shopping center that also houses some chic boutiques and gift shops.

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-believe has never seemed as real as it does in this hometown toy store. Imaginations ignite amid shelves of dump trucks and rainbow-bright kites, pretty pink castles and music sets, and an unreal amount of children’s books. Nostalgic adults will love the selection of novelty candy: Razzles, Smarties, and Pop Rocks instantly bring to mind sunny summer childhood days. The staff is full of kids at heart, who are helpful and knowledgeable about the store’s inventory and who are always ready to make suggestions or, if you twist their arm, play for a while.

This modern, 750,000-square-foot open-air mall is almost completely occupied by Asian businesses (mainly Chinese and Vietnamese), including restaurants, a travel agency, and retail outlets selling clothing, jewelry, and videos. The mall's cornerstone is the 55,000-square-foot MT (My Thanh) Supermarket, which stocks all manner of Asian foods and related items. Dining standouts include First Chinese BBQ and Pho Saigon; though a bit short on atmosphere, both 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.

South Congress gets more attention from tourists, but stores like this huge, sun-filled and fun-filled outdoor/travel outfitter are why Austinites prize North Lamar as a shopping destination. The local branch of a Texas chain, it carries a lot of the same things you'd find at any REI—backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, running shoes, rugged clothing—but it's much more entertaining. Jazz is on the speakers, the front space is filled with kids' toys (and a few for adults), and there's a good variety of books for all ages. The staff is laid-back, but friendly and ever-willing to help. There is another branch at the Westgate Mall (4477 South Lamar) in south Austin.