Round Top Tips and FAQ
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Round Top, TX is a destination for antique and vintage aficionados, most notably for the Spring and Fall antique shows. Picture rolling fields, mile after mile, covered in tents hosting hundreds of vintage sellers. It’s a must-visit.
However, it can be super intimidating for a first-timer! Our team went to our first Round Top in October 2022, and we learned SO much. I’m sharing everything I wish we knew and some of the best tips I got when we were planning. We can’t wait to go back soon!
Where to stay
Round Top is pretty equidistant between Houston and Austin. There are some vacation rentals and hotels in the town itself, but they book up really quickly. We had more luck finding places in Brenham, TX - about a 30 minute drive to the shows, and ended up renting an Air BnB.
Where to eat
The bigger shows all had either restaurants, food stands, or food trucks on hand for lunch. For dinner, we loved Mandito’s, The Garden Co, and Prost. Everyone told us to try Royer’s, but you absolutely need a reservation and we couldn’t get one. We did, however, get their pie in a takeaway box, and it was just as delicious as we’d heard.
Shows to visit
There are more shows that you could EVER hope to tackle in one trip, but our favorites were Marburger Farm, The Compound, and Market Hill. We also stopped by Bader Ranch, Excess, and Box Road (also a favorite, but is a self-contained seller, and not a multi-vendor show). I recommend doing no more than 2 shows a day, and one full day for Marburger.
How Long to Stay
We flew in on a Tuesday, shopped Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and flew home Saturday. By Friday we were dragging, but we did find some good deals that day.
When to go
While there are some places in Round Top that are open all year, I definitely would only make the trip during Marburger’s week-long show. Everything seems to overlap and be open for that 5 days. If you are looking for the top tier finds that will be highly competitive, start on Tuesday for “the running of the bulls” and be prepared to pay top dollar. On Thursday and Friday, there are more deals to be had, if they aren’t already packing up to go. If I lived in Texas, my answer might be different, but for flying and traveling, I’d go during the spring or fall Marburger show.
FAQ from our DM’s
“Do you have to be a designer to go?”
No! Anyone is welcome to shop. You need to be really interested in design and vintage to make it worth while - there’s a LOT to look through. For those in the trade, I’d definitely take copies of your resale certificate to shop tax-free. Vendors loved getting a hard copy.
“What kind of payment was accepted?”
Everyone we bought from took credit card, but we also saw venmo, cash, and check.
“How do you ship things home?”
Shipping from Round Top ended up being a lot easier than I thought, but we were also buying a large enough quantity to get a small section of a container through Rollen’ Hills Shipping. There are several shipping companies that have stations set up at the bigger shows, then you turn in your paperwork with the items and locations, they collect them, and deliver them all to the address of your choosing (ours took about a month, but it could be up to 3 months). For single items, this might be cost prohibitive.
“What do I wear to Round Top?”
Definitely shoes you can walk in all day. We saw lots of sneakers and cowboy boots. You’ll want layers - it can be chilly in the morning. I’d usually start with a sweater in the morning, be down to a tank midday, and then cover up with a linen button down when I felt like I was getting too much sun. I also brought a hat, which I mostly wore in the sunny afternoons. While comfort is critical, it’s also a bit of a fashion show, so feel free to express yourself!
“Do I need to rent a car?”
100% yes. The shows are often several miles apart down a long highway.
“What else should I bring?”
A water bottle, snacks, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, tape measure, note pad or list of what you’re looking for with measurements, a credit card with lots of available credit, and ability to make a quick decision. Things sell fast, especially the first two days. That perfect chair could sell while you’re waffling back and forth.
“Will vendors negotiate, or are prices firm?”
I found it to be hit or miss. Definitely Tuesday and Wednesday I wouldn’t expect any sellers to budge much unless you were buying a significant amount. Thursday and definitely Friday we were able to get some steeper discounts, but even then some sellers didn’t negotiate. It’s worth politely asking!
Any other questions about Round Top? I’d love to answer them!
Photos by Moch Snyder Photography, and Maggie Stephen Interiors.
