Every year, out-of-towners from all over the nation and the world descend upon Austin, ready to partake in one of the most famous tech, film, and music festivals in existence: South By Southwest (SXSW). The SXSW fest, which runs March 8-17, transforms the business district of Downtown Austin into a maelstrom of activity.

If you’re an Austin resident, the increase in car and pedestrian traffic may be enough to keep you housebound until the festival subsides. But if you refuse to let SXSW prevent you from enjoying your hometown, take this opportunity to spend some time in Austin neighborhoods that are a bit farther from the city center.

These three neighborhoods feature plenty of dining, entertainment, and shopping options without the SXSW chaos and traffic.

South Lamar

While SXSW-affiliated events occur throughout Austin during the festival run, the vast majority happen in Downtown Austin and its adjacent neighborhoods. Therefore, staying south of Lady Bird Lake gives you a solid chance of avoiding the bulk of the festival crowds.

If you’re seeking a South Austin area with a white-hot restaurant landscape, check out South Lamar. This popular, hipster-approved neighborhood connects to Downtown Austin via numerous CapMetro bus lines. Residents and visitors alike treasure its close proximity to major greenspaces like the Barton Creek Greenbelt and Zilker Metropolitan Park.

As for the foodie scene, South Lamar is quickly becoming one of Austin’s most notable locations for new restaurants. High-profile eateries in the area include Loro, an Asian-influenced smokehouse helmed by Aaron Franklin of the famous Franklin Barbecue and Tyson Cole of the hit restaurant Uchi; Matt’s El Rancho, a Tex-Mex staple serving up its cult-fave queso since 1952; and Gourdough’s Public House, a lively bar with a menu designed around artisanal doughnuts. 

Govalle

East Austin sits directly beside downtown, so its bars and restaurants inevitably absorb plenty of SXSW-attendee overflow. But if you head a bit farther east, you’ll arrive at Govalle, a once-industrial area rapidly transitioning into a stomping ground for Austin trend-hunters. 

Because Govalle is located significantly east of I-35, the neighborhood manages to retain some semblance of serenity during SXSW, and locals take full advantage of the many appealing businesses in the area. Particular favorites include Flitch Coffee, a charming coffee trailer with patio seating; Justine’s, a date-perfect French bistro with a well-designed cocktail list and a popular late-night menu; and Pitchfork Pretty, an ambitious but still approachable tasting menu focusing on local ingredients.

Also, if you’d like to learn the history behind your libations head to the Austin Eastciders Collaboratory or the Friends & Allies Brewing Company, two artisanal breweries and tasting rooms located in the same Govalle building complex.

North Burnet

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As Austin’s population continues to grow and festivals like SXSW elevate the profile (and the pricing) of central neighborhoods like Downtown Austin, previously residential North Austin neighborhoods witness an increase in new denizens and, as a result, in new businesses to serve them. One such area can be found in North Burnet, a formerly “suburban” Austin community undergoing a major revitalization as its relatively reasonable real estate prices attract more families, commuting professionals, and University of Texas students and faculty.

North Burnet hosts breweries aplenty, from the larger and diversely stocked Austin Beerworks to the tiny craft shop known as Adelbert’s Brewery, all offering tap room tastings. Film aficionados in the area flock to iPic Theaters, a high-end cinema featuring dine-in theaters screening the latest films.

As far as restaurants go, Urban at the Westin Hotel serves a New American menu in refined but casual environs, Culinary Dropout’s inventive gastropub fare provides a unique dining experience with a distinct English accent, and on the south end of the neighborhood, Vazquez specializes in homestyle Mexican cuisine without airs or pretension.

If you need to do some serious shopping during SXSW, The Domain—one of Austin’s largest shopping malls—is just above North Burnet, accessible by a quick car ride.