The retail-and-tourist strip south of the river. Magnolia Cafe, Joann's, Hopdoddy and Jo's anchor the food corner; the hotel patios at Austin Motel and Hotel San José run the brunch trade.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Austin is the South Congress flagship since 2010, a counter-order burger room that grinds chuck daily and built a national chain.
Signature: Llano Poblano burger, Truffle fries, Hand-spun shake
Order: The Llano Poblano with house-ground chuck and truffle fries on the side.
Tip: The line moves; queue at 5pm or 10pm. The Sack of Sliders is a four-burger flight worth ordering once.
Joann's Fine Foods in Austin is the Bunkhouse Group's Tex-Mex diner at the Austin Motel on South Congress, a palapa-bar patio of fajitas, queso and frozen.
Signature: Wood-grilled fajitas, Joann's queso, Frozen margarita
Order: Wood-grilled fajitas and a frozen margarita; the tortillas are pressed in-house each morning.
Tip: The Austin Motel pool is members-only but the diner patio runs walk-in; arrive 5pm Saturday for shade.
Magnolia Cafe in Austin is the South Congress 24-hour diner, a counter institution running queso, migas and pancakes through the night, weekends round.
Signature: Mag mud (queso), Love migas, Gingerbread pancake
Order: Mag mud queso and the Love migas; both run 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Tip: Open 24 hours Thursday through Saturday; otherwise closes at midnight. SXSW makes Friday 1am a scrum.
Perla's in Austin is the McGuire Moorman South Congress seafood patio, a Gulf-leaning oyster bar with dozens of half-shell varieties and a wraparound porch.
Signature: Gulf oysters on the half-shell, Whole grilled snapper, Lobster roll
Order: Half-dozen Gulf oysters and the whole grilled snapper; the patio at sunset is the room's signature shot.
Tip: Weekend brunch from 10:30am; reservations a week ahead for the patio or walk in at 11am Monday for the quiet oyster hour.
Sagebrush on South Congress in Austin is the south-side honky-tonk from White Horse owner Denis O'Donnell, with live country, dance lessons and pool tables.
Tip: Doors open 15:00 daily; dance lessons on Wednesday nights, live bands from 21:00. Food trucks park on the lot; no cover most nights.
The Continental Club on South Congress in Austin opened in 1955 as a supper club, the city's historic landmark for roots, rockabilly, country.
Tip: Two sets nightly with a cover that varies by act. Toni Price's Hippie Hour at 18:30 Tuesdays is the long-running residency to know.
Equipment Room beneath Hotel Magdalena on Music Lane in Austin is the kissa-style vinyl listening bar with 1,200 records, acoustic-foam ceilings.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations via Resy; the room is small and seating limited, no song requests by tradition.