Clarksville is one of Austin’s oldest neighborhoods, having been established on the city’s west side in the 1870s. Known today as an affluent neighborhood with historic homes and great restaurants, it was once home to a freedom colony where many formerly enslaved people settled after emancipation. Though the city’s 1928 Master Plan called for Black Austinites to move east, many remained in Clarksville, where they lived despite a lack of city services.
Here’s how to enjoy a nice meal and honor the people who made the neighborhood great:
🍔 Enjoy Happy Hour at Clark’s.
It’s true. I’m a Clark’s Oyster Bar stan. But it’s not for the seafood. It’s for the restaurant’s excellent happy hour. Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., burgers and martinis are half off, oyster shooters are $5, and the oysters are $0.50 off. Go for the burger. I could write odes to this burger if I had the available word count.
🏠 Visit the Hezikiah Haskell House.
You absolutely need to make time for Haskell House. It was built by Peter Tucker, a formerly enslaved person, who bought land in the area in 1875, years after he worked on a neighborhood plantation owned by former Texas Governor Elisha Pease. The house was built between 1879 and 1887 and is now open to visit on the second and fourth Sundays of every month between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. It’s free!
🚶 Go for a Walk.
Hear me out. What if you just went for a walk in Clarksville? The neighborhood is full of beautiful, old buildings. Head over on a cool morning (fingers crossed one comes soon), pick up a coffee from Little Swedish or Medici Roasting, and go for a stroll. Keep your eyes peeled for historic markers.
🍷 Feel Like You’re Not in Texas at Rosie’s Wine Bar.
With a great patio, Rosie’s Wine Bar really does feel like you’re in a European city. Grab a bottle of wine for half off during happy hour, Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
