{"id":108699,"date":"2020-10-23T02:47:28","date_gmt":"2020-10-23T09:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=108699"},"modified":"2026-01-23T03:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T11:08:15","slug":"downtown-austin-neighborhood-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/downtown-austin-neighborhood-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Downtown Austin: High-end Living in the Heart of the Action"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re looking for a combination of high-tech industry, exciting dining and entertainment options and a sprinkling of the great outdoors, you can\u2019t do better than living in downtown Austin<\/a>. This vibrant city center has it all \u2014 shopping, live music, great food and plenty of outdoor space. And it all comes with 300 days of sun each year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where is Downtown Austin?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Downtown<\/a><\/p>\n

Located at the heart of a sprawling (and growing!) metropolitan area, downtown Austin has all the amenities of a large city in a tidy little package.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This 1.8 square mile neighborhood is nestled between Lamar Blvd to the west and I-35 to the east \u2014 two major north\/south arteries. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd to the north separates downtown from the UT campus. And Lady Bird Lake creates a natural tree-lined southern border.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

History<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although Austin has been Texas\u2019 capital for over 180 years, it wasn\u2019t always the buzzing city it is today. The first hundred years saw slow growth for the city, despite the booming university and local government.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Downtown<\/a><\/p>\n

Things changed in the 1950s when a group of locals sought to attract high-tech companies, citing the lower cost of living and quality of life in the area. Their campaign worked, luring companies like IBM, Motorola and Dell into the Lone Star State. And with those companies came bright young people and cultural diversity that still influence Austin to this day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Life in Downtown Austin\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The real reason to pay for downtown Austin rents<\/a> is for the downtown Austin lifestyle. The city center is surrounded by entertainment districts, live music venues, restaurants and bars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the west side of downtown, Whole Foods\u2019 flagship store provides residents with all their grocery needs. Brunch goers can visit Irene\u2019s for Instagram-worthy eats and gallons of fros\u00e9. Then take in a film at the Violet Crown, an indie arthouse movie theater.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

A post shared by The Driskill | Austin, TX (@thedriskill)<\/a> on