ONE OF AMERICA’S FASTEST-GROWING and most popular large cities, Austin is not only expanding outward to meet demand but also reinventing parts of its downtown as the far end of Sixth Street undergoes transformation. Long a downtown mainstay, Sixth stretches west from the business district and upscale venues through the honky-tonk party scene. Once a rundown, low-rent district across the freeway, East Sixth has reemerged as a destination with new high-rise apartments rising above trendy clubs and bars.
Cross Route 35 to see the restored Legation, a reminder of the era when six nations flew flags over Texas. Nearby, the park-like Texas State Cemetery and the George Washington Carver Museum honor the area’s history and the contributions of the local Black community.
East Sixth itself is a lively corridor where people come to dine, shop and relax. Within a few blocks you can find Birds Barbershop offering cuts and shaves into the evening. Waterman Supply stocks skateboards, backpacks and Lone Star caps, and Powder Vintage sells denim and home goods. Practice Yoga offers donation-based evening classes for those looking to unwind after a day in the city.
The neighborhood’s dining options span global cuisines. At Fukumoto, sushi highlights include Murasaki rolls and otoro tuna. Spartan Pizza invites customers to build their own pies with options like cilantro pesto, soppressata and kalamata olives. Inside the brightly painted Buenos Aires Café, try pastel de papas, an Argentine-style shepherd’s pie filled with beef, raisins, olives and onions. Ah Sing Den serves a varied menu from dim sum to chicken and waffles, complemented by inventive cocktails such as kimchi Bloody Marys.
In a courtyard lined with picnic tables, hammocks and food trucks, Carabao Express offers Filipino barbecue and Colombian fare. Boteco presents Brazilian street food while Pueblo Viejo specializes in tacos. Popola’s draws long lines for beef fajitas, specialty hot dogs and other South American–influenced fast foods. Korean fusion can be found at Chi’Lantro, and for dessert Gelateria Gemelli tempts with plum sorbetto, salted caramel ice cream and cups of Vietnamese coffee.
When it’s time for drinks, East Sixth provides numerous bars and pubs to suit different moods. Shangri-La pours cocktails beside a billiard table; the Hen House cultivates a welcoming, women-focused atmosphere; and Attabar lights up a flaming “Welcome to the Jungle” banana-rum cocktail you can enjoy while playing Scrabble at outdoor tables. The revitalization of East Sixth demonstrates how the neighborhood has preserved character while embracing new energy — a place where the old and the new come together.