Clarksville is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Austin, and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.
Although Clarksville proper only comprises nine square blocks, people commonly refer to the area from Lamar to Mopac and Enfield to West 6th Street as the Clarksville neighborhood. The area is brimming with historic homes, mom-and-pop shops, restaurants, cultural landmarks and more. Here's a look at some of the best things to see and do in the Clarksville neighborhood, as well as restaurant and bar recommendations the immediate area.
Photo via Yelp by Foodwanderer A.
WHERE TO SHOP
Open since 1982, Waterloo is an Austin icon that you cannot miss. Pop in to buy some records or catch a free show, and find out how they’ve managed to thrive in the 21st century. (To this day they haven’t changed their “Listen in Store” or “Ten Day Return Policy”).
BookPeople is Austin's resident haven for the written word. It also happens to have some of the best authors in the country come by for book readings and signings. With a selection that evokes the Library of Alexandria, it's the best place in town to find your tome of choice.
Sledd nursery has the finest plants in town, offering a nice little area to enjoy some natural beauty and maybe order a nice fruit tree.
Mary Francis Baylor Park, better known as Clarksville Park, offers a great place to picnic under the trees. There's also a shaded play area with swings, a splash pad, and basketball courts.
The gallery is filled with museum quality art, including approximately 100 original works spanning the history of art from 1600 to the present. Stop by for some visual arts or an artists’ reception.
The gallery offers oil and acrylic paintings in many styles (contemporary, abstract, surrealism) as well as sculptures and figurative art.
Want to learn how to play guitar like B.B. King or Stevie Ray Vaughan? Go ahead and do it with a customized music lesson.
________________________
Photo via Yelp / El Arroyo
WHERE TO DRINK
If you’ve ever driven down West 5th you have likely seen one of their hilarious marquee signs. But if that’s all you know about "The Ditch", you need to step inside. Their queso is to die for, and their margaritas are legendary.
This famed bar is named after a Johnny Cash tune, and has the distinct advantage of serving beer, booze, AND barbecue. A winning combination.
One of Austin's favorite watering holes for more than 40 years, Don's Depot is the kind of place people are referring to when they say "the good old days". Stepping into Don's is like taking a time machine back to the Texas of yesteryear.
As the name so aptly implies, Tiniest Bar is quite small. In fact, their claim to fame is being the tiniest bar in all of Texas! We can't speak to the veracity of that claim, but we'll take their word for it.
Bar Lamar *temporarily closed*
Leave it to Whole Foods to open a bar inside their grocery store. Bar Lamar finally makes it possible to grab a beer (or wine) while shopping for hummus. The future is now.
_____________________________
Photo via Yelp / 24 Diner by Kat D.
WHERE TO EAT BREAKFAST
Want breakfast at 3pm on a Saturday? Stop by the Galaxy Cafe for migas or a build-your-own breakfast taco. The lunch menu is a never-ending list of salads, sandwiches, and burgers that will make your mouth water.
Serving 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 24 Diner will take care of you whether it’s 3am or 3pm. Try the sausage, egg, and cheese hash, or the classic chicken and waffles. You can also sip on a craft beer, cocktail or Bloody Mary.
Eating breakfast at Cafe Medici is equivalent to sitting in a good friend’s living room. There is no shortage of cozy in their atmosphere and they’re all about preserving Clarksville’s historic roots (even though they only opened in 2006).
_______________________
Photo via Yelp / Cipollina by Anca N.
WHERE TO EAT LUNCH
The secret rule of Italian food is that the harder the meal is to pronounce, the more delicious it will be. Cipollina has a ton of hard to pronounce food, meaning you’ll have some of the best lunch meals you’ve ever experienced. Ciao!
Arguably the greatest grocery store in the world, Whole Foods began as the Clarksville Natural Grocery in 1979. With a cafe, salad bar, wine bar, live music, rooftop playground, and dedicated areas for BBQ, tacos, sandwiches, and more, you can find just about anything your taste buds could possibly desire.
If you need a quick, healthy fix, Snap Kitchen is the place to look. Choose from a variety of nutrition-conscious salads, wraps, snacks, beverages and more.
________________________
Photo via Instagram @jeffreysofaustin
WHERE TO EAT DINNER
You can’t walk into Clark’s with out saying “Oh, wow. This is gorgeous.” Their interior decor provides the perfect atmosphere for a night of raw bar oysters and fantastic cocktails.
Settled in their own little cottage, Josephine House is a Clarksville escape. From Braised Texas Quail to Chocolate Bouchon, you’ll be wrapped in food luxury from the moment you sit down.
An intimate wine bar and restaurant, Wink is an adventure of fresh ingredients and amazing meals. They also offer a chef’s tasting menu and a vegetarian tasting menu in order to cater to all walks of Austin life.
If you require dining in the finest of environments, look no further. The entire staff wear fancy uniforms, the menus are wrapped in leather, and there's a roving Martini cart to keep you refreshed while eating an aged steak.
Wanna talk Clarksville?
