Hyde Park is a quaint neighborhood just north of downtown Austin. Tucked between 40th and 45th Street, in between Mopac and I-35, it’s a charming residential area with beautiful tree-lined streets. Houses in the area feature turn of the 20th-Century style homes, with Victorian architecture, including tons of neighborhood-feeling coffeehouses and cafes. Hyde Park is a great area to live if you have kids, renting or buying, as it is a tranquil area, yet still easily accessible to city transportation and major highways.
This neighborhood profile is brought to us by Smart City, which is a totally free, hyper-personalized apartment locating service. You tell them what you want in an apartment, and they’ll give you a custom list of places that tick your boxes. Once you land on that perfect spot, they’ll help you navigate the leasing process and connect you with utility, internet, renter’s insurance, and other services once you move in. Scroll down to find out how Smart City can help you find a new place to live.
Holiday update: Looking for Christmas lights in this neighborhood? Try the best and weirdest display around, 37th Street Lights! Click here for more information.
Now here’s everything you need to know about life in the Hyde Park neighborhood:
Eat and Drink:
A newer restaurant to the Hyde Park scene is Uncle Nicky’s, an all-day cafe type of eatery with a great patio. This Italian joint serves sandwiches, coffee, cocktails, pastries, and more. We highly recommend the meatballs and a spot on their inviting patio.
For all things vegetarian and vegan, check out Mother’s Cafe off Duval Street. This hippie, chill cafe specializes in plant-based dishes like their Spinach-Mushroom Enchiladas, Vegan Lasagna, and Spinach Artichoke Dip.
For brunch and breakfast, try The Omelettry. This hidden Austin gem serves breakfast and brunch till 5 p.m. every day of the week. The omelettes are huge, so arrive hungry! For a lighter breakfast, check out the Austin-staple, Juiceland‘s Hyde Park location.
For pizza and more beer, check out The Parlor, which has been serving Hyde Parks locals for about 20 years. They have pool and pinball, as well as a jukebox that plays punk rock tunes.
Sweet Treats and Coffee:
Another Hyde Park favorite is Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery that specializes in pastries, tasty treats, coffee, and lots of vegan options.
Photo from Quak’s 43rd Street Bakery
Sip on coffee amid some super cool, local art at Flightpath Coffeehouse. This hip, easy-going coffee shop serves locally sourced snacks, pre-packaged sandwiches, and pizza slices as well as delicious coffee.
Shopping:
Hancock Center is a great shopping area in Hyde Park to get all of your errands done including the grocery store, shopping, and grabbing a bite to eat! While not technically in Hyde Park, both 2nd Street District and The Crescent are shopping areas close to Hyde Park that have tons of great stores.
Hyde Park Market is a fancy convenience store with all kinds of unusual products. You can mix and match 6-packs, peruse cigars, desserts, snacks, and more.
Keep It Local:
Austin’s award-winning and critically acclaimed theater, Hyde Park Theater, is located right in the heart of the neighborhood. This diverse performance space strives to promote local actors, producers, writers, and more by showcasing performances that are open to the public.
Family-Friendly:
Did you know Hyde Park is home to a late 19th-century sculptor’s museum? The Elisabet Ney Museum is the historic home and studio of Elisabet Ney, a German sculptor who moved to Austin in 1882. The museum celebrates her art, history, and her legacy with gorgeous exhibitions and events that are great for the entire family.
Parks and Green Spaces:
Shipe Neighborhood Park is our favorite park in the Hyde Park area. This beautiful, two-acre park provides two tennis courts, a basketball court, a small wading pool, a playscape, and plenty of green space for a picnic.
Mayfield Park and Preserve opened up in 1971 for all Austinites to enjoy a two-acre area that includes a historic cottage, gardens, peacocks, and water lilies. The preserve area is 21 acres of natural habitat for all wildlife.
Living
If you’re looking to rent an apartment in Hyde Park, you will be working with a limited number of options. This area is so historic that there are very few modern-style apartment buildings in the immediate area. However, if you’re looking for a small community with charm, Hyde Park is the perfect place to rent.
Most of the apartment complexes in Hyde Park have under 100 units and were built in the 70s-80s. These tend to not have community amenities like pools, gyms, and clubhouses; but a handful do. If you’re looking for something budget-friendly, older apartment complexes in this area with little to no renovations will start their studios and 1 bedrooms right around $1000/mo. These tend to be small (most under 600sqft), and will likely not have W/D or connections, but a shared laundry facility for residents. Expect a closed-concept layout with white appliances, popcorn ceilings, A/C window units, and carpeted living areas.
Want something a little more updated? Many of these older complexes have undergone renovations in the past 2-5 years. They tend to rip out the carpet, add stainless steel or black appliances, and give units modern-looking, aesthetic tiling and paint schemes. A small handful of properties have even added W/D in-unit (although it is uncommon even in renovated Hyde Park apartments). These will begin at around $1300 for a studio or 1 bedroom.
Due to its proximity to UT-Austin, Hyde Park has several communities that offer rent-by-room. It also has more 2 bedroom/1 bathroom units than other areas of town, for those who don’t mind sharing a bathroom with a roommate. Renting a 2/1 will save $200-300/mo relative to 2/2’s in the area.
If you’re looking to rent an apartment in Hyde Park, Smart City Locating can help. You tell them what you’re looking for in an apartment, and they’ll put together a custom list of options that check your boxes. Connect with Smart City to get started on your search today!
