Barton Creek Square

Since the rennovations and the new options in the food court this is a nice place to spend some time. Try the Great Wraps in the food court. Can compete with pricier places in Austin!

I lost my car at the mall the other day.
A very nice security guard drove up beside me and ask if he could assist me. I got into the car and drive up the aisles
looking for my car. The guard’s shift was up so another guard drove me for a few more minutes. Very helpful and professional security staff. Makes me feel safe at Barton Creek Mall!

It has been ages since I have been to a mall and now I remember why I love shopping in person for clothes and such. I am guilty of having a love affair with on-​line shopping but, there’s something about being able to try things on and search for that great deal through the sale racks that I love.
This mall has most of the store that I enjoy shopping at Nordstroms, Macy’s, Wet Seal, Claire’s and William Sonoma. The stores are a little more pricey than I remember them being but, this is a really nice and well kept mall in a nice area so, I expect to pay more. Of course they also have the dreaded kiosks in the center of the mall such as the people trying to sell you exfoliating cream for $ 200.00. Ugh so annoying!
The parking lot was really packed but, it was two days after Christmas the first time that I was there and the second time was right after New Years so, it may have just been because of that. They have sit down restaurants, a food court and a movie theater as well.
I’ll come here from now on when I need my mall fix.

This place is going the way of the old Highland Mall. It is shop-​worn, tired, and the demography of the clientele is a warning of a perhaps irreversible decline. A sad comedown for what used to be the best mall in the region.

This mall has really stepped up its game! Welcome Cheesecake Factory, and other new things, but I really like the Cheesecake Factory. The mall seems cleaner, more up to date, and more lively since the remodel! I enjoy coming here now!
Last year and prior, the mall felt like it was nearing its last leg. I grew up in Shreveport, LA, where two malls not only closed over the drawn-​out death of 3 years, but also transformed themselves into a compound of churches!
I’m pleased to say that I no longer feel this way about Barton Creek Square! It’s magnificent. I do, however, wish they’d keep up with their bathrooms. The doors are already breaking.
The only problem is that Macy’s and Sears have this awful mold stench. Is anyone else getting that? Has that been fixed?
After re-​reading this, I feel I should knock the stars down to 4, but I really like BCS, so I say 5 stars!

Great mall. Lots of store selections.
If you can avoid the rush of people who pay not attention to where they are going (or what their kids are doing), you should have a great shopping experience.

So as far as a mall goes, it was a good thing to see something less crappy than the Temple mall & much bigger than the Killeen mall. It’s easy on the eyes & a lot of walking. Too bad it isn’t closer. I found myself enjoying the stroll around the mall as I did a little window shopping & actual shopping. I’m a girl. I never go to the mall without walking out with at least one item I found along the way. It’s a cool place to go to if you’re out in Austin. I’d come back here when I’m back in town.

Cool Mall.
Typical stores, some high end, some not.
They have a Coach, Cheesecake Factory, Body Shop and a food court. (stand-​outs, haha!)
I really enjoyed the Yankee candle store and hubby loved the Vans store.
It was clean and surprisingly, not decorated for X-​mas yet on Oct ²³⁄₁₅.
We enjoyed our time here, taking shelter from the rain storm and making the best out of the F1 practice at the track being cancelled. Nothing like a little retail therapy at affordable prices.
I think hubby mentioned there is a movie theater here too.
The one annoying thing is the pushiness of the center kiosk people at the Mall pushing their products. NO! Quit chasing us! :)

Been here 8 minutes and already accosted by 4 kiosk vendors. Will not be returning to this mall… ever.

This is the mall to visit in Austin. There’s a larger amount of stores than Lakeline Mall and you also don’t get that weird «ummm is this mall going to stay open much longer» feeling. I also like that it’s more condense than the domain. They do start Christmas music on November 1^st and play it until the end of the year. That’s pretty annoying. The security is friendly and they’re always around. There’s always something going on here. When you don’t feel like ordering something on Amazon, hit up this bad boy. Just avoid it on the major shopping days like the day after thanksgiving and any weekend in December.

bleh.
I’m going to be one of those «remember when Austin was great?» people here, sorry. This mall used to be terrible in the early nineties. It was dark, uninviting, and just not a lot of interest (although it did have some good restaurants). Then it underwent HUGE renovations, becoming the best mall in the city. High-​end stores moved in, it was bright and clean… then it started going downhill again to the state it’s in now. Not many high-​end stores remain, just Nordstrom and a few others, the majority of stores are dirty, loud, and chaotic, the food court area and restrooms are a complete mess (with no good food options), screaming kids everywhere, constant accidents in the parking lots. Makes you miss the good old days.

Mis genes regiomontanos me llevaron al mall sin necesidad de comprar nada en particular. No es el lugar más actual para ir de compras, pero me gusta que tiene suficientes opciones. Hay Macy’s, Dillard’s, JC Penney y Nordstrom. Tiene un cine, un foodcourt cumplidor y un par de restaurantes. Mi local favorito es Visible Changes, un salón de belleza con interiorismo de los 80s.

Good mall clean and good stores…
4 stars is cause too many stores in middle of mall.

Comparing Barton Creek to The Domain is like comparing Apples to Oranges. They are not the same and never will be. Barton Creek caters to the middle class suburban family. While the Domain caters more to your middle upper class families. Both have their advantages and disadvantages in terms of stores and parking.
There are days when I want/​need to get something from Sears or JCPenny’s. Unfortunately, the Domain doesn’t have those stores. Also, Nordstrom is located here which is surprising considering the clientele. I shop Nordstrom often. So guess what? On those day, the majority of my shopping is done at Barton Creek.
Now what’s odd to me is how Dillard’s and Macy’s have anchors stores for both men and women. So if you’re shopping with your boyfriend or girlfriend. You can’t shop within the same store. I don’t understand this concept and it can be an inconvenience.
The Cheesecake Factory is coming soon. So this is an added plus for those who shop here. The mall also has an AMC theater, California Pizza Kitchen, Pink Berry and a decent food court.
I think people like to trash Barton Creek for no reason. This is one of the better malls in Austin and is still thriving despite The Domain being right up the road.

Still one of the the premier malls in Austin. It’s a toss-​up between here and The Domain. Here’s my take: Both are super-​crowded and parking is terrible. Come to Barton Creek if the weather is terrible (too hot or raining!) or go to The Domain if it’s really nice outside. Barton doesn’t have garage or covered parking though (while the Domain does). It’s actually kind of weird if you think about it?
TIP: What makes this mall great is the charging stations they have scattered throughout the mall. Barton even provides the cables. It’s 2015 — these should be everywhere by now.

The nicest mall in Austin (except possibly the Domain, although that’s not really a mall but more of an outdoor shopping center). Love that it’s close to my house and they have most of the stores I frequent (Nordstrom, Macy’s, Banana Republic, Gap, kid clothing stores, Ann Taylor, Loft, etc.). There is a food court and a few other dining options like CPK, Nordstrom’s Café, and an Abuela’s in the parking lot. Sometimes this place gets crowded, but even then, you can find a parking spot if you are willing to walk. Good place to walk laps on a rainy or cold day, although sadly this working mama doesn’t have time for that sort of thing very often. If I have to go to a mall, this is my favorite one to go to in Austin.

In Latin America, malls mean good eating.
In high crime societies, the middle class feel more comfortable wandering around in a building where security guards will keep slum residents, beggars and petty criminals off of the premises.
South American malls are a bourgeois soap bubble of security — and as a result they have some fine restaurants.
We all know that the US is not like that.
Barton Creek Square Mall, however, is a painful reminder of how much worse American malls are — and how bad Austin malls are relative to American malls.
The Simon Property Group who runs the joint is putting no money into maintenance — making the place sink to the low level of the old Highland Mall.
Most of the escalators don’t work.
The ventiliation system is weak — giving the mall a stale movie popcorn smell when you enter.
The closed circuit TV featuring ads to buy buy buy from stores on Simon properties– has neither sound nor subtitles. You see a talking head mouthing silent words with no subtitles — which is certainly not giving me the urge to shop.
The internet does not work (but then Simon wants you shopping rather than surfing so I guess this is probably okay.)
The food mall is pretty sad. A low number of food places relative to the non-​food stores on the property — meaning long lines. The best establishment is Panda Express — which say what you will puts out reliable fast food that is pleasant enough due to the high sugar content. The other places are far worse. A McDonalds would be a quantum leap forward given the places they actually have offering food.
I was here during the Xmas rush and the place was packed.
So I doubt Simon will be changing anything soon.
But then I doubt I would be back to see any changes if Simon were to decide to upgrade the place.

Barton Creek is where dreams go to die but sometimes you have to go to Nordstrom.
Bonus: if you want to feel really old go during winter break!

Clean, good selection of stores, and a nice AMC attached. Does feel a bit dated, though – it’s a traditional indoor mall, complete with the annoying kiosk employees trying to grab your attention. (Is there no aisle where you can escape them!!!) Basic food court and only a CPK as a restaurant, so not great food options… but you do have a Rudy’s BBQ right around the corner from the mall. :)
As far as indoor Austin malls go, it’s the best of the bunch – it’s a step way above both Highland and Lakeline. I personally prefer the Domain or the Arboretum, but sometimes you gotta get outta the Texas heat, right?

It’s like the cool grandma of the family… this grandma has aged well. Extremely well maintained after all these years… no old-​building smells, clean tiles, well-​rounded stores. AND it’s indoors with A/​C.
They host a farmer’s market on the weekends in the parking lot.
They have the only Forever 21 down south & the only Frullati & the only legit Nordstrom’s in the city.
Also, a great spot to view downtown on a clear day :)

Shut the f*ck up! What serious Unilocaler in their right mind would give a thirty-​year-​old mall five stars? This guy. Seriously, whatcha gonna do, call the Unilocal popo? Get over it.
Here’s the thing: I couldn’t care less about the stores or food court here, and if you want an even older mall with double the charm and cachet, think Dallas NorthPark. But I come to Barton Creek Mall all the time, because it’s the best indoor walking track in Austin. Simple as that. And that’s as good as it gets.
If the concourse at Lakeline Mall is like a narrow drag strip raceway for mall walkers, Barton Creek is the Indy 500, a giant half-​mile circle with nooks and crannies that’s wide enough to maneuver around any pesky people shopping here. All mall walkers do laps in counterclockwise circuits, and I always warm up with two on the second-​level carpeting, and then move down to the first floor tile, which is five-​degrees cooler, faster for me, and with less people — because most of them are still upstairs eating food court goo. Saturdays are always crowded here — like, duh — but any other day is no big deal.
If you need just a little more to help rationalize Barton Creek Mall as a five-​star experience, how about this: You get a cool blue tote bag with every four check-​ins on Foursquare, and Nordstrom’s Café Bistro is really a hidden gem. No seriously, cool people know this, and keep it to yourself. Okay, here’s one more — those odd kiosk cult people will never bother you once you’re tagged as a walker. That’s worth a star right there.
And finally, if you haven’t read my «Hipster’s Guide to Mall Walking» yet, let me quickly reiterate two points: Don’t overtake and pass some walker ahead of you — all regulars have their own pace, and you don’t want to be known as «that newbie dick.» Just cut across to the other side, you’ll be ahead of them, and pick it up from there — it’ll be seen and appreciated. And for the love of God, never wear shorts, ear buds, or anything plaid — the trick to being a cool mall walker is not drawing attention to yourself. Besides, if you had the legs to pull off shorts in the first place, you’d be paying for a fancy gym membership, and not be doing your cardio here for free. You cheap bastard. See you at the mall.