The part of Austin known as the North Loop is one of the most unique and endearing neighborhoods in the whole city. Proud of its reputation for helping to “keep Austin weird,” you won’t find any franchise or big box retail stores here. The fun and funky area that encompasses North Loop Boulevard is awash in loud facades of vintage boutiques and thrift stores. Truly memorable for its vibe, the quaint town is situation just northeast of the University of Texas.

Digs and dives in North Loop keep residents in touch with their artistic side. Complete with many trendy bars and restaurants, locals enjoy flocking to favorites like Tyson’s Tacos, which serves up hot meals 24 hours a day. For a truly Texan experience, locals can delight in the honky-tonk goodness of Little Longhorn Saloon. Called the “Best Little Vintage Store in Texas,” the famed Blue Velvet is a thrift shop like no other, with cowboy boots to go-go boots and everything that can come in between.

Mostly made up of modest suburban housing, many students and UT of Austin campus staff live and play in the neighborhood. Bordered by lengthy expanses of strip malls, locals see the area as a breath of fresh air and a return to what makes the city authentically Austin.

North Loop residents are served by the Austin Independent School District, a noteworthy district that includes some of the top-ranking schools in the state.