39 Best Shopping in Austin, Texas

For guys who like that American-made look, search no further than this upscale boutique. Start with a pair of good-fitting denim—STAG stocks brands like imogene + willie and RRL—then move on to a flannel shirt, which come in endless color combinations here. Finish with a cool pair of Red Wing boots and accessorize from a selection of watches, wallets, and belts galore. Best yet? Once you’re dressed, Home Slice is next door, so you can grab some pizza on your way out. They really did think of everything.

It’s not that you’ll find anything out of the ordinary at this east Austin boutique, it’s just that everything you find will be extraordinary. Take the kitchen wares, for instance, like porcelain mugs from Japan beside the shop’s artisanal wooden serving tools. Knickknacks from across the country, such as wooden toys and mobiles, blend impossibly well with vintage items, almost as though they were curated to live in the gallery-worthy space. The store has a beautiful assortment of hand-pressed cards by artists if you’d like to write 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.

A postmodern vision of an affluent downtown district, the Domain is home to Gucci, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., the Apple Store, and other name-brand shops that cater to the platinum-card set. Those on more modest budgets should check out kitchenware emporium Sur La Table, Macy's, and the large, cheerful Anthropologie. Some complain that there's very little Austin-specific about the open-air Domain, but more local flavor is showing up in the growing shopping district, such as popular food truck Little Lucy’s Mini Donuts and the new location of the Cap City Comedy Club. It's a pleasant place to spend a few hours (if only to gawk at the pricey goods in the windows). You'll find it along North MoPac (Loop 1) between Braker Lane and Burnet Road, near the North Austin IBM campus.

Run by Project Transitions (an organization providing hospice, housing, and support for HIV/AIDS patients) as a funding source, this large store is fun and funky as all thrift shops should be. Go for posters, vintage costume jewelry, bric-a-brac, and even used computer and stereo components. The selection is in a state of constant flux, and, as you'd expect, everything is dirt-cheap.

With ample trails and roads with generous bike lanes, Austin is home to many serious bicyclists, and this homegrown shop has been outfitting them for more than three decades. Seasoned athletes use Trek as a resource. Not only is the store stocked with clothing and accessories from brands like Pearl, Bontranger, and Endura, it also hosts mountain, road, cyclo-cross, and triathlon clubs so that bicyclists can ride with others in the community. Newer riders will find a helpful staff of bike pros, who are ready and willing to answer questions about their wide selection of bicycles.

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.

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. There are several places inside the massive store to enjoy a casual sit-down lunch, and the options 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 (to keep those six-packs cold). There's ample free garage parking available.