Located in the heart of St. Elmo and steps from Congress Lofts is The Yard, a haven of eateries, manufacturers, artists and all things Austin. This 200,000 square feet (roughly the size of three and a half NFL fields) repurposed warehouse development serves as a cultural hub in South Austin and provides a variety of spaces for people to collaborate and connect.
The Yard boasts a diverse group of tenants from tech companies to sake producers and has continued to expand since it opened in 2016. With a maze of bold, colourful murals and a range of beverages, treats and food to suit any time of the day, it would be easy to spend an entire day exploring The Yard. Here’s one way to do it:
Start the morning off by fueling yourself with a cortado at Spokesman Coffee, then make your way down to the Wham Bam Bagel food truck (South Austin’s only pink bagel truck) for a bagel breakfast sandwich.
After you’ve powered up for the day, take a wander through the complex to see some of the incredible art featured on the walls and perhaps venture a little further (about a 20-minute walk) if you want to gaze upon the Cathedral of Junk, an ever-involving art gallery that began in 1988 comprised of decades worth of discarded items.
Once you’ve returned back to the Yard, you have plenty of options for your next stop if you’d like to go for an afternoon drink, including some local favorites: Austin Winery and St. Elmo Brewing.
Austin Winery was founded in 2014 and their move to The Yard in 2017 was also when they began producing wines exclusively from fruit grown in Texas to highlight all that the region has to offer. With a beautiful tasting room, regular events, and a robust wine list you may be swayed to join their Wine Club.
If you’re looking for something casual, head over to the Beer Garden at St. Elmo Brewing to enjoy a crisp Carl Kolsch (their best seller), out in the sunshine. While you’re here you can enjoy a late lunch from either of these popular food trucks: Spicy Boys Chicken or Patty Palace.
That may be enough for one day or you can keep exploring before heading home to Congress Lofts.
Congress Lofts at St. Elmo is currently selling studio to 2-bedroom loft residences starting from $400,000, with move-in Fall 2024. Visit CongressLofts.com to learn more and schedule a private tour with our Sales Team.