The Brooklyn
of Austin is
East Austin.

See the 24 venues →Where to stay
The case for East Austin

East Austin is where the taco trucks share parking lots with natural wine bars and nobody thinks twice about it. E 6th Street east of I-35 is a different planet from the Dirty Sixth tourist chaos. Saturday mornings smell like corn tortillas and fresh espresso. The creative energy here isn't performative, it's just how people live.

East 6th Street packs more than 20 independent bars and restaurants into roughly a half-mile stretch east of I-35.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Austin.

North Loop

North Loop is the record store and vintage furniture strip. Feels like Austin before the tech money showed up. Good ramen, better people-watching.

Bouldin Creek

Bouldin Creek lives for breakfast tacos, yoga mats, and South Austin loyalty. Quieter than East Austin but just as opinionated about coffee.

Clarksville

Clarksville is old Austin in the best sense. A freedmen's community west of downtown where bungalows share blocks with the kind of restaurants and bars that don't need a sign. West Lynn is the main street. Small, walkable, and still mostly locals.

Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in East Austin.

01
Stay

East Austin is the right base.
02
Eat & Drink

E 6th Street east of I-35 is one of the densest eating-and-drinking corridors in the city.
03
Do & Shop

East Austin lives for live music and creative energy that doesn't announce itself.
All 24 spots mapped out

East Austin, corner to corner.

Open in Maps →
Our 24 top picks

The East Austin guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyUSD
LanguageEnglish
Cost level $$$Moderate to expensive
Best monthsOctober to November, and March to April
Local time UTC-5
Plug type US plug · 120V/60Hz
Emergency911
Local tip
Walk the stretch of E 6th between Chicon and Comal around 7pm on a Thursday. That's when everything clicks.
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Head to head

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Austin vs Nashville

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Austin vs New Orleans

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Austin vs Portland

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Austin vs Tucson

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Common questions

Things to know about East Austin.

What is the Brooklyn of Austin?
The Brooklyn of Austin is East Austin. East Austin is where the taco trucks share parking lots with natural wine bars and nobody thinks twice about it. East 6th Street packs more than 20 independent bars and restaurants into roughly a half-mile stretch east of I-35.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Austin?
East Austin is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Austin. East Austin is where the taco trucks share parking lots with natural wine bars and nobody thinks twice about it. E 6th Street east of I-35 is a different planet from the Dirty Sixth tourist chaos. Saturday mornings smell like corn tortillas and fresh espresso. The creative energy here isn't performative, it's just how people live.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Austin?
East Austin is the hippest neighborhood in Austin. Taco trucks sharing parking lots with natural wine bars sets the tone, and the live-music spillover east of I-35 makes Dirty Sixth feel like a theme park by comparison.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Austin?
East Austin is Austin's trendiest neighborhood right now. Saturday mornings smell like corn tortillas and fresh espresso.
Where do creatives live in Austin?
East Austin, the stretch east of I-35. Artists work out of Springdale studios with rotating shows and weekend events, and the creative energy here doesn't announce itself - it's just how people live. E 6th between Chicon and Comal is where the working part shows.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in Austin?
East Austin reads as the most bohemian part of the city. Taco trucks share parking lots with natural wine bars and nobody blinks. Saturday mornings smell like corn tortillas and fresh espresso. Honky-tonk and live acts run any night of the week. Multicultural, emerging, unforced.
Where should I stay in East Austin, Austin?
The best boutique hotels in East Austin include East Austin Hotel, Heywood Hotel, and ARRIVE Austin. A social hotel right in the thick of E 6th with an industrial-modern look, a pool courtyard, and a bar that keeps late hours.
Is East Austin in Austin safe at night?
East Austin is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Austin expensive?
Austin rates $$$ on a global travel scale. Moderate to expensive, but East Austin's independent spots offer better value than tourist areas.
When is the best time to visit Austin?
October and November are the sweet spot in Austin: highs in the 70s and 80s, low humidity, and patios at their finest. March and April work too, though you'll hit cedar fever and festival crowds. Skip July and August unless you can handle 100-degree afternoons - locals only head outside after sunset. December and January swing wildly between 75 and freezing.

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