East Riverside-Oltorf - Austin, TX

The city geared its attention toward this neighborhood in 2010 and created a plan to promote growth by making enhancements to infrastructure and remodeling the entire lakefront area. These changes have made East Riverside Drive more aesthetically appealing and accessible.

Although lacking museums, the neighborhood takes advantage of the annual music festival SxSW, with live music venues hosting several events.

A range of affordable and authentic food fills this neighborhood, including many Mexican taco shops and Asian restaurants. A handful of eclectic food trailers call this place home as well. Find most of the eateries on Riverside Drive and Oltorf Street.

Locals consider Rosita's Al Pastor their go-to for late-night taco feasts. Known for being one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in town, this taco truck's staffers make flour tortillas from scratch. The Al Pastor pork taco topped with cilantro, onions and pineapple never fails, and be sure to grab some salsa verde to dip your tacos.

Within walking distance of apartment complexes off Riverside Drive, The Buzz Mill fulfills many roles, including a cozy 24-hour coffee shop, bar and live music venue. Partake in The Buzz Mill's decadent bloody Mary bar or mimosas. The interior bespeaks an old fort as wooden logs decorate counters and walls, while sawdust forms the basis for the outdoor patio.

On the other side of the neighborhood on Oltorf Street, Vietnamese eatery Hai Ky serves up steaming dishes of pho and heaping vermicelli noodle bowls. Paintings by local artists adorn the walls, and servers remain friendly, hip, and willing to help you customize any dish on the extensive menu. Warm your soul with some spring rolls and steak pho during rare, chilly winter days in Austin.

Emo's Austin stands as the major music venue in this area, priding itself as one of the most popular live music spots in Austin. Out-of-town bands frequently play here as its open space accommodates a larger audience than some of the venues downtown. Emo's satisfies your hunger for live music, from big musicians to obscure indie bands of all genres.

A car proves handy in this area, although residents often walk during the day since apartment complexes hug both of the commercial streets. Many people use the CapMetro bus system, with several lines running through the neighborhood in all directions. As one of the major corridors to the airport, East Riverside-Oltorf communicates well to the rest of the city using I-35 by car or bus.

On the bigger roads, cabs can occasionally be hailed. Uber serves this area, as does Car2Go, a rideshare system that allows you to rent Smart Cars. Public parking is widely available, but some streets adhere to the city's paid parking policy.

Bike lanes line the main roads, and the proximity to other neighborhoods in Austin makes this one exceptionally bike friendly. The boardwalk over the lake that begins off Lakeshore Drive connects bike riders and walkers to downtown in minutes.

East Riverside-Oltorf residents flock to the Boardwalk Trail at Ladybird Lake, which opened in 2014, for exercise and play. Free to the public, the boardwalk trail along the river connects the neighborhood to the city center's Town Lake hike-and-bike trail and completes a 14-mile loop around Town Lake. While there are no annual events, you can take your families and dogs for a stroll along the boardwalk during sunset any day of the year for incomparable views of the skyline resting over the water.

The cost of living in East Riverside-Oltorf rests slightly lower than Austin's average cost of living. A one-way pass for the CapMetro bus system will cost you $1, and an all-day pass will run you $2. Reside in a one-bedroom apartment for a median rent of $865 per month. Locals typically pay about $4 to 5 for a pint of beer, and gas prices hover at 10 percent less than the national average.

As with restaurants and nightlife, the two lifeline roads of the neighborhood (East Riverside Drive and East Oltorf Street) act as the hubs for shopping and commerce. The shopping scene primarily consists of strip malls featuring convenience stores, small businesses and chains. However, a few locally owned shops and businesses energize the neighborhood with unique Austin flare.

The Bazaar on East Riverside Drive near I-35 specializes in women's clothing, costumes and accessories. Tour their wall of colorful wigs, elaborate jewelry and theater makeup for costume needs of all occasions. Explore the city on an electric bike from Rocket Electrics on East Riverside Drive, or participate in one of the bike tours.

Buy your groceries at H-E-B, the giant Texan chain known for its affordable prices and extensive variety of goods. As the only supermarket to call this neighborhood home, due to its size and range of food products you will find everything on your grocery list here. If you're looking for a farmers market, you'll have to go over the river for the HOPE Farmers Market, which opens every Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Alternatively, head to 4th and Guadaloupe for the SFC Farmers Market every Saturday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.