North Central Austin

The Elizabet Ney Studio and Museum on East 44th Street in North Central Austin is one of the earliest art studios built and still standing in Texas. The German-American sculptor was a celebrated artist in Europe when marriage drew her to Texas at age 39. Ney opened the studio, which she named "Formosa," in 1892 in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Austin, where it still captivates visitors daily.

NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN

This area stretching from downtown to Koenig Lane on the north has always been popular, no doubt owing to the presence of the University of Texas, one of the largest and highly ranked state colleges in the country. Hyde Park to the north of campus is a celebrated neighborhood replete with attractive homes, lush greenery and a deep sense of community.

Though the West Campus area between Guadalupe Street and Lamar Boulevard is unmistakably student occupied and driven, nearby residents
love the proximity to the school and on-campus offerings such as the Blanton Museum of Art and the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

The Drag — Guadalupe Street from Martin Luther King Boulevard on the south to 27th Street on the north — is largely dedicated to serving students, but there are some treats for the already graduated nearby. Malvern Books is a highly regarded bookstore for the literary inclined and Texas French Bread Bakery and Bistro also draws rave reviews. Closer to the heart of Hyde Park, Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery, Hyde Park Bar & Grill and ASTI Trattoria are crowd pleasers.

Other popular neighborhoods in the vicinity of Burnet Road are Rosedale and Allendale. In the past five years. Burnet Road has become one of the most dynamic commercial strips in the city with some old favorites like Top Notch Burgers, Amy’s Ice Cream, Phil’s Icehouse, The Frisco and Hey Cupcake delivering culinary joy. Now many other local faves have taken up residence there recently as well, such as Barley Swine, The Peached Tortilla, Lucy’s Fried Chicken and Picnik.

Also in the mix is the area around the former Highland Mall, now redeveloped as a major campus for Austin Community College. Multifamily projects completed in association with the college are creating new vitality for surrounding neighborhoods just off I-35 and Koenig Lane.

The creation of new multifamily projects is spurring new retail, as well. Airport Boulevard strip malls are being remodeled to support new restaurants and shops. The Omelettry, a breakfast and lunch joint dating back to Austin’s hippie days, recently relocated to Airport Boulevard. North Loop, which is home to one of Austin’s most lauded eateries — Fonda San Miguel — is enjoying new company with other aged commercial buildings being redeveloped, including Home Slice Pizza, another long-time favorite.

Surrounding all this commercial activity are hundreds of homes — an eclectic array from traditional classics to Mid-Century Moderns. No cookie cutter monotony here.