South Congress: An Austin Bachelorette Party Guide to SoCo

Why This Neighborhood for a Bachelorette?

South Congress is the Austin that Austin people actually love. It is the strip where locals shop, eat, drink, and catch live music on a Tuesday night just because a good band is playing. For a bachelorette group, that translates to a neighborhood that is endlessly interesting from noon to midnight without ever feeling like a tourist trap.

The strip runs about a mile and a half, and every block has something worth stopping for. You can build a full day here: morning coffee, vintage shopping, a long lunch, afternoon cocktails on a patio, dinner at a proper restaurant, and then live music until last call. Almost no other Austin neighborhood can do all of that at once.

Where to Eat

Jo's Coffee

The SoCo location of Jo's is the most Austin thing on South Congress, which is saying something. The outdoor patio with string lights and mismatched chairs is where half the neighborhood starts their day, and the "I love you so much" mural on the side of the building is one of the most photographed spots in Austin. Coffee drinks run $4 to $7, and the breakfast tacos ($4 each) are as good as the ones you will find anywhere on the East Side.

Start every bachelorette day here. Get the iced coffee, get the taco, stand in front of the mural. That is the SoCo morning ritual.

"I have been coming to this Jo's location for ten years and it never gets old. The patio is magic in the morning. The breakfast tacos are some of the best in Austin." - Yelp Review

Home Slice Pizza

Home Slice is a New York-style pizza institution on South Congress, and the lines are long for a reason. The whole pies run $20 to $28, slices are $4.50 to $6, and the patio out back is perfect for a big group. The margarita pizza and the pepperoni are the classics, and the caesar salad is legitimately great.

Come for a late lunch or early dinner before the dinner rush. The patio line moves faster than the indoor wait.

"The pizza is perfect, the vibe is fun, and the whole place is genuinely happy. We did a bachelorette lunch here and the staff put a little flag on our table without us even asking. Classic Austin hospitality." - Yelp Review

Perla's

Perla's is the splurge dinner on SoCo and it earns every dollar. The Gulf Coast seafood menu is anchored by oysters ($3.50 each on the half shell), a raw bar that is always fresh, and grilled fish entrees in the $32 to $48 range. The outdoor patio under the oak trees is one of the best dining rooms in Austin.

This is the bachelorette dinner spot on South Congress. Book at least two weeks out on weekends and ask for patio seating.

"Perla's is where you take people when you want to impress them with Austin. The oysters are perfect, the grilled redfish is exceptional, and the wine list is thoughtfully done. Make a reservation." - Yelp Review

Elizabeth Street Cafe

Elizabeth Street Cafe is a Vietnamese-French bakery and cafe that somehow became one of the most beloved brunch spots in the city. The Vietnamese drip coffee ($6) is the best coffee on the strip, the bahn mi ($14) is outstanding, and the pastry case is full of French-Vietnamese crossover items you will not find anywhere else. Brunch mains run $14 to $22.

This is the right call for a bachelorette group brunch that feels special without being expensive or requiring a 90-minute wait.

"Elizabeth Street is the best brunch spot on SoCo. The space is beautiful, the food is creative, and the coffee is extraordinary. Get the Vietnamese iced coffee and the bahn mi and thank me later." - Yelp Review

Where to Drink

Hotel San Jose

The Hotel San Jose pool bar is one of the iconic Austin drinking experiences. The courtyard is shaded by mature trees, the cocktail menu is simple and good, and the entire vibe is deeply, specifically Austin in a way that nothing else quite captures. Cocktails run $13 to $18 and the margaritas are excellent.

Arrive around 5pm for a first round before dinner. It fills up fast on weekends and there is no reservations system for the bar.

The Continental Club

The Continental Club is the best live music bar on South Congress and one of the best in Austin, which is saying a lot. The room is small, the stage is close, and there is almost always a genuinely good band playing. Cover charges run $5 to $15 depending on the night, drinks are $8 to $12, and the whole experience feels like Austin before it got famous.

Check the calendar before you come and plan your night around a show you want to see. The early set usually starts at 9:30pm.

Güero's Taco Bar

Güero's is technically a restaurant but the Oak Garden patio bar is one of the great outdoor drinking spots in Austin. Live music on the patio, large-format margaritas ($13 to $16), cold Lone Star cans ($5), and a crowd that spans every demographic in the city. It is reliably fun on a Saturday afternoon.

The Obama taco (yes, the former president ordered here in 2005) is on the menu and it is good. Order it for the story.

Uchi

Uchi is not primarily a bar, but the sake and cocktail program at this James Beard-winning sushi restaurant is exceptional enough to warrant a dedicated stop. The happy hour (5pm to 6:30pm daily) offers select nigiri and cocktails at reduced prices, with some bites dropping to $3 to $5. For a bachelorette group that wants a sophisticated pre-dinner drink, this is the move.

Uchi takes reservations for dinner and the full tasting menu runs $85 to $120 per person if your group wants to make a proper evening of it.

What to Do

South Congress has the best vintage and independent shopping in Austin. Allen's Boots is the starting point for any group that needs cowboy boots (and every bachelorette group in Austin needs cowboy boots). Prices run from $80 for basic pairs to several hundred for custom options. Budget an hour and try everything on.

The strip also has several excellent boutiques for bachelorette-appropriate outfits. By George and Uncommon Objects are the best stops for vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces. Uncommon Objects is a multi-dealer antique market that is worth an hour of wandering even if nobody buys anything.

For a group activity with a built-in view, walk to the south end of the Congress Avenue bridge at dusk from March through October to watch the famous bat colony emerge at sunset. Up to 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats fly out from under the bridge at dusk, and it is one of the most genuinely wild things you can do in Austin for free.

A Sample Night Out

Start at Jo's Coffee at 10:30am for breakfast tacos and the mural photo. Spend the late morning shopping: Allen's Boots for an hour, then browse the boutiques heading north. Break for a late lunch at Home Slice around 1pm, order a whole pie for the table and eat on the patio. Take the afternoon slow: Uncommon Objects for browsing, then a 4:30pm drink at the Hotel San Jose courtyard while the light is good. Head to Perla's for a 6:30pm reservation, plan on two hours. Walk to Güero's Oak Garden around 9pm for a margarita and live music. End the night at The Continental Club: check the calendar in advance for the 9:30pm set and plan to stay until midnight.

Getting Around

South Congress runs roughly north to south and is manageable on foot for the stretch between Oltorf Street and Riverside Drive. Uber or Lyft to get onto the strip and back to your hotel. Scooters (Bird and Lime are everywhere in Austin) are a fun and practical way to move between SoCo and downtown.

Pro Tips

• Perla's and Uchi both have limited outdoor seating. Book Perla's at least 10 days out for weekend dinners and always request patio seats.
• The Continental Club does not take reservations. Arrive 30 minutes before the set you want to see to guarantee a spot inside.
• South Congress gets busier every year. If your trip falls on a SXSW or Austin City Limits weekend, expect every venue to be slammed and prices to spike. Plan further ahead than usual.
• Allen's Boots has a huge selection but also genuine expertise. Tell them your budget and what you are using them for and they will steer you right.