South Congress Avenue is one of Austin's hippest neighborhoods with an eclectic range of shops, boutiques, restaurants, antique stores, music venues, galleries, and food trucks. The neighborhood, bordered by the historic neighborhoods of Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek, stretches between Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge and the Colorado River. The avenue and the neighborhood that grew around it share a colorful history. Designed in 1830 to be one of the city's main thoroughfares, it grew in popularity between 1930 and 1960 with the addition of the iconic Austin Motel, the Hotel San José, and the hamburger stand that eventually became the famous Night Hawk.
Artists and musicians discovered South Congress in the 70's and made it their home. After a period of decline due to the construction of new roads into the city, South Congress experienced a revival in the 1990s, growing into one of the city's most lively and popular neighborhoods. South Congress is one of the best spots to see or photograph the Texas State Capitol, as it offers a spectacular, unobstructed view.