There’s something so appealing about having a true farm-to-table meal, but that’s getting more and more difficult to find. You can go out to a sustainable restaurant that buys their food from local sources, but it's much more challenging to achieve the same type of meal at home at Lamar Union.

That is, of course, unless you focus on shopping at farmers' markets. And there's no better place than the HOPE Farmers' Market. It brings together local farmers and merchants every Sunday so you can have the farm-to-table experience in your own home. The HOPE Farmers' Market is much more than a place where you can buy good food from local purveyors. It's a gathering spot for the East Austin community and it supports a regional food system that other places have replicated. There’s always an eclectic mix of vendors, the occasional live band or musician, and a variety of events and activities.

The HOPE Farmers Market is open every Sunday and is only 10 minutes away from Lamar Union. Be sure to get there early so you don’t miss out on what East Austin has to offer!

HOPE Farmers Market
11 a.m to 3 p.m. every Sunday
412 Comal St.
Austin, TX 78702
www.yelp.com/biz/hope-farmers-market-austin-2

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Alice Henneman

If you can’t imagine starting your day without coffee, you don't have to. Residents of Lamar Union are lucky enough to have the perfect coffee shop waiting for them in their own building — Caffe Medici. It can't get any easier than that to get your morning caffeine fix.

Caffe Medici opened in June, and it’s already doing brisk business. This environmentally conscious cafe takes coffee seriously — it only offers the finest brewed beverages made with time-honored techniques. People have already fallen in love with its laid back artsy atmosphere and superior drinks, so you shouldn’t be surprised if you make Caffe Medici your new go-to coffee shop!

Caffe Medici
1100 South Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
www.yelp.com/biz/caffe-medici-austin-5

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr mollystevens

There’s nothing like having authentic Italian cuisine, but that can be hard to find living so far away from Italy. Mastering all of the distinct tastes and recipes can difficult for even the most skilled cooks, but luckily all of that comes naturally to the chefs at the newly opened Juliet in Austin.

Juliet is only a half-mile away from Lamar Union, so you won't have to travel to Rome for a real Italian meal. Juliet opened in late June, and it's already creating a lot of buzz on the local dining scene. The menu puts a refined fine-dining spin on rustic Italian dishes, which in turn gives eaters a truly memorable meal.

This is the ideal place to go on a warm Austin night. Juliet has a sprawling outdoor dining area surrounded with beautiful greenery. Yelpers suggest making reservations, especially for weekend nights.

Juliet
1500 Barton Springs
Austin TX, 78704
(512) 479-1800
www.yelp.com/biz/juliet-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr jeffreyw