Southwest Central Austin

Westlake • Capital of Texas Highway

Though the Austin metro area abounds with scenic panoramas in most every direction, the hilly wooded areas stretching out from downtown toward the southwest are legendary. As such, luxury housing abounds along the south shores of Lake Austin toward Texas Highway 71 to the south.

Multi-million dollar homes dominate the waterfront cliffs overlooking Lake Austin but there are more modest homes and townhomes scattered throughout the area. The Barton Creek Greenbelt— spanning more than seven miles of stunning landscapes punctuated by refreshing pools of water — is a natural amenity rarely encountered in any major city.

Another huge benefit of living in the area: It’s served by Eanes Independent School District where academic achievement scores are among the tops in Texas. Westlake High School is also known for its strong athletic programs. Among its famous alumni are NFL quarterbacks Drew Brees and Nick Foles and former MLB pitcher Huston Street.

Barton Creek Square, a regional shopping mall that includes Dillard’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom, is an added bonus.

Other notable neighborhoods include Rob Roy, Lost Creek, Davenport Ranch and Stratford Hills, to name a few.

It’s a slow, winding drive down Cuernavaca to where it turns into River Hills Road, but wow, is it worth it. This stately Colonial Revival home sits near the serene waters of Lake Austin. The mystique is unmistakable.

One of the most prominent areas of Austin are the hills to the west of downtown. The area is easy to spot by the multiple broadcast towers beaming their blinking red lights. The stunning views and wide boulevards up and down steep slopes have appealed to affluent buyers for years. Here’s a brand new contemporary home with some see-through features.

Some of Austin’s largest homes sit proudly on broadcast hill near the intersection of Westlake Drive and Capital of Texas Highway. Just look for Bold Ruler Way and Far Gallant Drive for some coveted addresses.

If there is a point of division between Northwest and Southwest Austin, it would be the iconic Pennybacker Bridge that crossed Lake Austin on Capital of Texas Highway. The stunning expansion is now 35 years old, but the views never disappoint. By the way, from this road, boaters can access a public ramp. Need we say, it’s a popular place to be?

A favorite restaurant near Westlake Drive and Capital of Texas Highway is Jack Allen’s Kitchen. Though there are several locations from Austin celebrity chef Jack Gilmore, this is one has a particularly jovial vibe.

The southwest central sector of Austin is one of the city’s more affluent areas with a multitude of amenities and styles. There’s the 1-million-square-foot Barton Creek Square regional shopping center and there are many trendy boutiques. There are mansions and more quirky homes dating back to Austin’s well-documented hippie days. There’s even a hidden campus of professional offices transformed from a collection of Victorian homes. Rollingwood, West Lake Hills and the overall Westlake neighborhood are eclectic — a perfect reflection of Austin’s weird vibe.