Six towers on Austin’s highest-demand corridor
The Rainey Street Historic District started as a row of 1930s bungalows. Most are now bars, patios and restaurants, and six residential towers rose around them. Together they form the densest cluster of luxury towers per block in Texas, bordered by Waller Creek, Red River Street, Cesar Chavez Street and the north shore of Lady Bird Lake.
Rents run $1,369 to $45,000, the widest range among the Austin high rise apartments we cover, with up to 2.5 months free at the moment. That range is the point: Rainey works for a first-job renter in a studio at The Quincy and for an executive in a top-floor residence at Paseo. What decides whether you love it or regret it is the exposure of your unit.
The six Rainey Street towers
| Tower | Built | Floors | Rent range | Concession | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Travis | 2026 | 50 | $2,735–$18,750 | 2 months free | Private |
| Paseo | 2025 | 48 | $2,824–$45,000 | 2.5 months free | Private |
| 700 River | 2023 | 42 | $1,823–$19,620 | 2 months free | Greystar |
| The Waller | 2022 | 32 | $1,745–$7,425 | 2 months free | Greystar |
| The Quincy | 2020 | 32 | $1,369–$7,279 | 1.5 months free | Kairoi Residential |
| Skyhouse Austin | 2013 | 23 | $1,625–$4,145 | None advertised | Simpson Property Group |
Noise by floor and exposure
This is the question every Rainey renter should ask first. The live music corridor and the bar patios are lively Thursday through Saturday until late, and sound carries straight up the street-facing side of each tower.
- Street-facing, lower floors: You’ll hear weekend crowds. Some renters like the energy. Most light sleepers don’t.
- Street-facing, upper floors: Noticeably quieter, especially in newer towers with acoustic glazing.
- Lake-facing stacks: The quiet side. You face Lady Bird Lake and the trail instead of the bars.
- I-35 frontage and Red River Street: A steady traffic hum rather than late-night crowds.
Same building, different experience
At Paseo, the same floorplan runs about $4,500 on the 10th floor facing Rainey Street and $8,000+ on the 22nd floor facing the lake. One hears the bars. The other sees the water.
Living on Rainey day to day
Walkability: Walk Score 92. Food trucks, coffee and restaurants on the street, 6th Street a few blocks north, Congress Avenue offices 15 to 20 minutes on foot, and the Convention Center District across Red River.
Trail access: The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail runs along the lake at the end of the street, joined at the mouth of Waller Creek. Palm Park is a short walk north.
Driving: Cesar Chavez Street runs along the lake, and I-35 frontage is two blocks east, which makes Rainey quick for drives north or to the airport. East Riverside is just across the river.
Parking: Reserved garage spaces commonly run $175–$250 a month. Guest parking is tight on weekend nights.
Rainey Street or another district?
If you love the energy and the trail, Rainey is hard to beat. If you want walkability with quieter nights, compare it with West Downtown & Seaholm. If you want lake views without choosing a building first, start with lake view apartments. For the district’s lifestyle overview, see living on Rainey Street.
