I had an hour before I had to head to the airport.
Whenever I’m in Austin I try to spend as much time as possible on South Congress. My favorite hotel EVER is the Hotel San Jose at 1316 South Congress Avenue. You gotta experience it. It’s a collection of buildings with two or three rooms each with vines and mis-matched windows galore. Great modern rooms that aren’t self-consciously modern or boutique-y. http://www.sanjosehotel.com/
So that ‘s where I started with a cup from Jo’s Coffee, http://www.joscoffee.com/congress/jossouthcongress.htm their food-shack out building that serves the best breakfast burritos and coffee and sweets.
I headed south to see what I could find with my bonus time and stumbled upon a sweet shop like I had never seen before. The Big Top Candy Shop http://www.myspace.com/bigtopcandyshop looks like an explosion of a Victorian circus and nougat. The place is dripping with every candy and some very good ice cream. The best detail was their sound system. Just behind the cash register on the back wall was a large panel covered with horns and speakers that belted out period music from the 1920’s and 1930’s. I love an independent store that pulls together all the elements.
