Hyde Park, Austin: A Local's Guide

Hyde Park was the first neighborhood I lived in when I moved to Austin, and it still feels like home. It is one of the city's oldest planned neighborhoods, founded by Monroe Shipe in the 1890s as one of Austin's first suburbs.

The feel

Tree lined streets, deep front porches, and people who wave from them. Much of the neighborhood is protected as a local historic district, so the character you see on the walk is likely to stay.

Housing

Craftsman bungalows, cottages, and historic detached homes, many from the early 1900s, plus some duplexes and small apartment buildings closer to the edges. Homes come up for sale less often than in denser parts of town.

Where I eat

• Avenue B Grocery, Austin's oldest continuously operating grocery store, for a deli sandwich
• Quack's 43rd Street Bakery for coffee and a pastry
• Antonelli's Cheese Shop for picnic supplies
• Hyde Park Bar and Grill, the one with the giant fork out front

Where I spend a Saturday

• Shipe Park, with its neighborhood pool and a log cabin from 1935
• The Elisabet Ney Museum, the sculptor's former studio and home, with a prairie garden
• A slow walk down Avenue F, G, and H at golden hour

Getting around

Hyde Park sits just north of the University of Texas campus on a flat, walkable grid, with Guadalupe, Duval, and Speedway connecting you to the rest of central Austin.

Things to know before you buy

• Historic district guidelines can apply to exterior changes, so check before planning a renovation.
• Older homes mean older systems. Plan for inspections like a sewer scope.
• Inventory is limited, so be ready to move when the right home comes up.

If you are dreaming of a porch in Hyde Park, I'd love to help you find yours.