Vacation rentals in the Zilker neighborhood of south Austin are available in all sizes, from smaller condos with one or two bedrooms to larger single-family homes with four or more bedrooms. In addition to condos and private homes, there are concept homes, multiplexes (mostly duplexes), townhouses and lofts. The Zilker neighborhood is desirable because it is positioned on the south side of Lady Bird Lake (aka the Colorado River) and Barton Creek, it is near several community parks, and it is only minutes from Austin’s downtown core.
The Zilker neighborhood makes for an ideal home base when you are on vacation in Austin. You’ll only be a few minutes from downtown, the University of Texas campus, and most of the city’s best restaurants. The real attraction is, of course, Aspen’s weird side. In the Zilker area, you’ll find plenty of Austin’s distinctive boutique shops with a plethora of goodies and other one-of-a-kind treasures to discover – both new and vintage.
Getting Around the Zilker Neighborhood
The Zilker neighborhood is rectangle-shaped, with Lady Bird Lake serving as the northern boundary. The eastern boundary is South Lamar Boulevard. The street curves to the southwest near West Oltorf Street. The southern border, Barton Skyway, is narrow – only about three city blocks. The eastern boundary streets are Rae Dell Avenue on the south end, Rabb Road toward the middle, and Azie Morton Road further north.
Lady Bird Lake on the north side of the neighborhood connects with Barton Creek. Zilker Botanical Garden, Zilker Park Disc Golf Course and Barton Springs Municipal Pool are to the northwest of the neighborhood, off Barton Springs Road. Butler Shores at Town Lake is a riverside park with a few baseball fields and some hiking and biking trails.
The Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge is a walking and cycling bridge that crosses Lady Bird Lake. Across the bridge, on the north side of the lake, is Deep Eddy Municipal Pool, the Texas Rowing Center, Sand Beach Park, Lamar Beach Metro Park, and additional ballfields. Austin High School is in this area, too.
Butler Pitch and Putt is a historic 9-hole, par-3 golf course on Lee Barton Drive. The course is filled with intriguing play, including a 107-yard hole with a small pond in front of the green and is one hole that you don’t want to leave short!
Further east is more wonderful park space, with a center for the arts, a dog park, children’s garden, events center, performing arts venue, gazebo, a Bicentennial time capsule, and public restrooms. This area is technically part of the Bouldin Creek neighborhood that is just east of the Zilker neighborhood. The Shadow Lawn Historic District is just west of Zilker, and Barton Hills is to the southwest. South Lamar is directly south of the Zilker neighborhood, and the Galindo area is to the southeast.
Attractions in the Zilker Neighborhood
Most of the restaurants in the Zilker area are on Barton Springs Road, an east-west street, or South Lamar Boulevard, a north-south street. Highly rated eats on Barton Springs Road include Holla Mode, Chuy’s, The Picnic Food Truck, Baby Acapulco, Ski Shores Café, SquareRut Kava Bar, Austin Eastciders, Juliet Italian Kitchen. Sno-Beach is also nearby, on Sterzing Street.
Near the intersection of Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard are a few more places to grab a bite to eat or a refreshing beverage: Barton Springs Saloon, P. Terry’s Burger Stand, House Wine, Biscuits + Groovy, McDonald’s and Starbucks. A little further east on Barton Springs Road at El Alma and Terry Black’s Barbecue.
To the south, on or just off South Lamar Boulevard, are: ATX Food Co., Eberly, Uchi, Soto, Merit Coffee, Off Duck, Shake Shack, Maudie’s Too, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Starbucks, Chi’Lantro, Snooze – an A.M. Eatery, NadaMoo! Scoop Shop, Corner Bar, Super Thai Cuisine, El Meson Tequileria, Bouldin Acres, Opa, Black Sheep Lodge, Loro, Patika, Confituras Little Kitchen, Chipotle, Taco Xpress, Matt’s El Rancho, Sonic, Gourdough’s Public House, El Naranjo, Soup Peddler Real Food & Juice Bar, Papalote Taco House, Phil’s Icehouse and Kerbey Lane Café.
Types of Vacation Rentals in the Zilker Neighborhood
Most of the vacation rentals in the Zilker neighborhood of South Austin are going to be either single-family homes or condominiums. There may be a few townhomes as well, but they are basically the same as a condominium. (A townhouse is usually laid out over two or more levels, while a condominium is typically a single level.)
Vacation rental homes in the Zilker neighborhood are, for the most part, deluxe or luxury rated. This means that the residences will have nice décor, quality flooring, upscale furnishings, enhanced appliances and other high-end finishes. Most contemporary residences will have hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances (washer, dryer, stove, dishwasher and microwave) and improved bathrooms. Some bathrooms may have a Jacuzzi tub, oversized soaking tub or a steam shower, and double vanities, oftentimes in the master bathroom suite.
Another perk of vacation rental homes in the Zilker neighborhood are the outdoor spaces. Many residences will have a deck, patio or lanai with varying views, ranging from intimate views of the city to panoramic vistas of the night sky.
The other type of vacation rental option that is common in the Zilker neighborhood are condominiums (or townhomes). Most of the condos are two or three bedrooms and range in size from 900 square feet to more than 1,800 square feet. Some condos are freestanding structures or part of a complex, while others occupy the upper floors of buildings that have retail storefronts on the ground floor and living spaces on the floors above them.
While condos don’t provide as much space as a single-family home, most of them in this part of town are exceptionally nice. Most have been built or extensively renovated in the past few years to include all of today’s modern conveniences and charms. From hardwood floors and granite countertops to luxury furnishings, plush linens and premium kitchen appliances, most condos come fully loaded. The vacation rental market in Austin can be competitive, so property owners must keep their residences looking spectacular to keep rentals coming in.
Finding the Best Zilker Vacation Rentals
When you’re planning your Austin getaway, sifting through all the lodging options can be overwhelming. We know the city well and can help you secure the right rental at the proper price. Don’t be underwhelmed and don’t overpay! We know the Austin market well and have access to exclusive properties all over the city. The best thing is we have a good selection of vacation rentals in every price range, so we should be able to assist you no matter your budget.
We hear from vacationers all the time who can’t believe they spent years traveling overnight and staying in hotels when they could have been enjoying a spacious, relaxing and private vacation rental for basically the same price! Sure, you may have to pay a little more for a vacation rental, but there is a ton of added savings. Like the full kitchen, where you can prepare a few meals to lower your vacation dining budget, or a garage that can keep your vehicle safe and help you avoid obnoxious parking fees. And why share a pool or hot tub when you can have your own private dip?
Before you settle for a hotel, give us the opportunity to show you what you’ve been missing! Call us or contact us today and we’ll send you some options right away.