Big Top is a dream come true for kids of all ages. It's whimsical, inviting, and fun. Who doesn't…read morelove a circus themed candy store? Whenever we're out and about on South Congress (shopping and/or brunching), we like to stop in for a little treat. They even have an old-fashioned soda fountain where you can get egg cream soda. Now, I'm an expert of sorts on real NYC egg creams and I'll say they do a pretty decent job of it. I love the Italian cream soda! You can get scoops of ice cream, sundaes, and banana splits too. The candy selection is crazy big. Bins and bins of penny candy, gum, chocolate, nostalgia candies...too many to name. It absolutely feels like time has stood still in this marvelously sweet shop. Always a tasty experience!

Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress is a throwback. When is the last time you went into a…read morefull-fledged candy store? Well, if you haven't in a long time, you should visit here. Opening back in 2007, this circus-themed shop has become an iconic staple of the SoCo strip, complete with vintage sideshow memorabilia, floor-to-ceiling shelves, and a old-school soda fountain serving up classic milkshakes and floats. They have some pretty unique candies and other trinkets, ranging from nostalgic retro sweets you probably haven't seen since childhood to imported treats from all over the world. Walking through the doors genuinely feels like stepping back in time. Decently priced items fire the most part. If you are strolling down South Congress and looking to satisfy a sweet tooth or just enjoy a fun, nostalgic atmosphere, Big Top Candy Shop is a must-visit destination in Austin.

Lammes candy closed on May 9, 2026...a sad day for Austin and a sad day for our family. For more…read morethan a century, Lammes Candies have been supplying candy to the Austin, TX metroplex. This small candy shop on Airport Blvd (also locations were in Round Rock & Lakeline mall) was filled with many family memories. Their Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines were a tradition for our family especially during the holidays. When we lived in Washington state for about seven years, and every time we came home, we would take back the Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines to folks in Washington state and some for us too. Smile. We liked that the box had Texas written on it, which gave us a great sense of Texas pride. In addition, at Easter we always purchased the pastel-colored thin mints and at Christmas the red and green thin mints that literally melted in your mouth. Importantly, we would occasionally go by Lammes to get an assortment of candies to snack on. It felt like there was an unlimited amount of choices of this delicious candy. Lammes candy was founded in 1878 and family run since 1885. This cute little candy store was an Austin institution! It was Austin's oldest operated family business and a source of pride for Austinites. Its signature Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines introduced in 1892 was one of its most iconic candies along with the chocolate and caramel Longhorns. In April 2026, Lammes announced it would begin winding down operations after 141 years, identifying rising ingredient costs, labor expenses, and long term sustainability challenges as reasons for their closure. The Round Rock location closed on April 24, 2026. The Airport Boulevard flagship store remained open temporarily until Saturday, May 9th (our last visit) to allow for final purchases. This candy store closure was a huge loss for Austin.

RIP...almost. After stuffing ourselves silly at Quality Seafood just across the street, we thought…read morethat it would be a great idea to stand in the hot sun to get some chocolate. Unbelievably, we had never been here despite living so close, and since they're closing we felt obligated to go in and try it. The place has been around since 1-8-8-5!! We probably didn't get the most legitimate experience because of the crowds. We waited outside for 20 minutes and then inside for another 20 minutes just to be able to get some chocolates from the counter. The whole situation seemed a bit discombobulated and parking was a nightmare, but everyone around us was in a good mood and chatty, so the atmosphere was pleasant. Some of their items are lame, like repackaged watermelon sour patch kids for $9 (!). But of the chocolate from the case that we got, all were really good: the truffles and chocolates are not Big City good, but for a sweet lil shop on Airport Road, no complaints. We also stocked up on a couple boxes of their famous Longhorns and pecan pralines. We asked about merchandise and they didn't have any currently in stock, which was kind of a bummer because we're not planning on going back. Three stars, but a wistful three, and we wish them nothing but the best before the final chocolate curtain falls.

DIVINE truffles. i wish i could've tried every single one. $3.50 for each, well priced for the size…read moreand good flavor. the vibes were so cute and the cashier was very friendly, he was polite and quick working. their ice cream looked very yum too, just didn't get to try it

Ice cream on a cone. You can sample as many as you'd like! Ice cream is very good (as an icecream…read moreconnoisseur I approve as a suggestion). They also sell candy inside and the ice cream section is to the left. Staff is friendly. Outside there are a few tables in which you can sit. A great late dinner dessert as you walk through downtown.

I loved visiting this candy store! I spent a good 30 minutes walking down each aisle and sometimes…read moremore than once, just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Got tons of goodies that reminded me of my childhood to share with family!

I stopped in today to see what looked so colorful inside. There are piñatas and party supplies for…read morean array of characters, as well as plenty of candies to stuff them! I was pleasantly surprised to see an abundance of imports, Loteria game supplies, ceramics purses and Christmas ornaments. They even have bulk food items like giant mayo and various chips and cheese puffs. Very cool spot and a great place to check out when bday party planning.

Came here on a recommendation and this was amazing! Talk about a step back in time. They had all…read morekinds of candy found out about an Idaho Spud and found my old time favorite - Goo Goo clusters...yummy. Not only that, they serve Bluebell ice cream and had an oatmeal cream pie cookie flavor. Delightful! Set up was a bit busy just with all the options offered but the store was clean and easy to find things. The staff was friendly and having just one person did make for a small wait upon check out.

I rate coffee shops with their affogatos. This one was so worth the dairy splurge I wasn't suppose…read moreto have. The espresso tasted so pure and with the vanilla ice cream just made it perfect! It hit the spot for me! We walked inside the shop while waiting and they have amazing array of candies! It's like down memory lane they have different soda bottles available! The staff was very pleasant and it was a sweet surprise that they're open on Christmas Day! Clean, has benches outside you can watch people go by while you enjoy your ice cream, coffee or any indulgence you decide to pick from 3 star candy shop! Let's support local!!!

Nice clean store! Amazing selections of candy for those that have a sweet tooth!…read moreI found my favorite coke candy gummy that I haven't seen in a long time. They also sell ice cream. Nice friendly staff.

The store has just overpriced candy. But I stopped here because me and my husband were getting each…read moreother a gift and gift had to be just $10. It was the perfect place to stop and buy a small gift. And the reason why I'm reading it. Four stars is because when you walk in all the employees notice you. Not one employee is going to say hi not one is gonna ask if you need help with anything. So there's no customer service skills.

I'll make this short and sweet. Ambience reminds me of old fashion candy stores. Customer service…read morelacked severely- I had to repeat the same thing over and over... and over again. Something might have been distracting the woman who helped us. Made the visit unpleasant as she seemed to perk up excitedly when my fiance spoke to her. Suddenly, she could hear clearly. Additionally, the chocolates themselves were underwhelming. Back home, I used to spend $200/month on chocolate because I believe it's tasty medicine. But this tasted a bit overly processed. Still, I appreciate all chocolateries. So, thank you for existing.

This was a super fun edition to my trip to Austin. I love locally made treats and that's their…read morespecialty. The staff was so friendly. The pralines are different than what I'm used to, but also good! Worth a visit if you're in the area.

I'm a big fan of See's and always have been. When I'm in the area, I like to pop in to check out…read morewhat they've currently got on display and let's face it, to buy myself something. See's is a great place to pick up a little something sweet for others as well. I find whenever gifting something from them it's always a big hit. The store is delicious. You can smell that fragrant chocolate as soon as you open the door. It's cute and has a modern twist on the old-fashioned chocolate shop layout and design. They've got a stellar selection and the employees are happy to help if you're indecisive (as I often am).

Whenever I get my nails done, I pop into to See's Candies to get myself a treat. Today, I was on…read morethe look out for candy for my niece. She recently had a major surgery and will be recovering at home for a few weeks. Candy always cheers me up, so hopefully, it will cheer her up as well. See's Candies had the Easter theme going with an assortment of candies.

We were having a slow Sunday, so my husband took us on a little outing to Berdoll Pecan Candy &…read moreGift Company. I'd been wanting to go for a long time, so I was glad to go, even if I'm in the middle of an 18 day fast. I knew I could get some fudge, freeze it, and enjoy it later. Of course, our first stop was to get a picture with Pearl the Squirrel! It was a little windy but eventually we got a cute one. Then we quickly admired the pecan pie vending machine, then went inside. I expected it to be charming, but I didn't expect it to be so extensive! We looked at the gifts and snacks they had throughout the shop, then finished at the fudge counter. The employee explained we could get a box with four pieces of our choice, or get a deal on a box of 6 corner pieces, pre-packaged. The deal was tempting, but none had the flavors I wanted, so I picked out four of my own. I forget all I picked, but I'm most looking forward to pumpkin spice and chocolate raspberry. It took a lot of willpower to enjoy a candy shop without eating anything, but it was definitely worth the experience! I'll bug my husband to go back again next time we're restless to get out a bit!

Be warned: you're going to leave with lighter wallets and heavier bags…read more Let me start by saying pulling off Highway 71 for anything is flirting with death. Cars zoom past like they're running away for their lives, but I risked my life for the giant squirrel statue sitting on the side of the road. What is this thing and what is the store attached to it? I had to see. Birthday weekend energy. Inside, the first thing that hits you is that massive pecan scented candle filling the whole store. They did this on purpose. It feels like a cozy Hallmark movie. The place smells delightful and that scent makes you want to buy something. Makes you ready to sample everything in sight. You deserve this. The store has everything: pecan pies, pecan candy, shelled/unshelled pecans, jams, jellies, hot sauces, toys, Texas branded/themed everything...you name it. It's all specialty, all cute, and all priced like it. I grabbed my niece two grenade-shaped hot sauces from "The General" brand because they were trendy and hilarious. But YIKES...Fifteen dollars each. Why, why, WHYYYYYYYY???? I gently reminded myself that Christmas is coming and delusion is part of the season. The staff was unbelievably friendly. They nudged you to sample this, try that, taste this. But beware because that southern hospitality will have you spending money you know you shouldn't or know you don't have. Once the total in my head started climbing, I called it and marched to the register before I got reckless. All in all, it's a fun little stop to stretch your legs, snack on some samples, and pick up something quirky. Pace yourself!

Great selection of Simpsons stuff, particularly the Tree House of Horrors. We picked up a Kidrobot…read morefigure of Blinky and it's awesome! 10/10 would recommend

I went to Monkey See Monkey Do for fun with my family. We parked in the parking lot and went in…read more The store had a lot of stuff that was reminiscent of my childhood. They had some fun squishy items, dolls, action figures, and other collectibles. I felt like a kid in that store. I told my husband that I had to get out of there or I would buy everything. It was a cool store to visit and I will return to buy more fun nostalgic items.