The Great Big Guide to Shopping the Round Top Antiques Fair

More than fifty years ago, the original Round Top Antiques Fair started inside what is now lovingly dubbed the Big Red Barn along Texas Highway 237. These days, shops, tents, venues, and vendors of all sizes line more than twenty miles of that same thoroughfare, sprawling out from the little crossroads downtown of Round Top (permanent population: ninety).

The interior designer Catherine Brooks Giuffre of Houston hadn’t been to Round Top in fifteen years when she returned right after the height of Covid. “I was really impressed with all of the new dealers—and it keeps getting better each season,” she says, adding that Round Top is no longer just a destination to visit during winter, spring, and fall shows. “With the development of permanent showrooms, it really makes every trip worth it.”

Be sure to check out the original Big Red venue that started it all, plus these favorite picks from designers, tastemakers, and very friendly locals. 

Antiques & Vintage Round Top

The designer, builder, and furniture maker John Humphreys admires this 70,000-square-foot field of treasures for its “European architectural salvage and outdoor pieces with real weight,” he says. “Doors, ironwork, stone, chandeliers—the kind of elements that truly change a space.” He knows a thing or two about that, as he’s worked on Austin’s Hotel Magdalena, Hotel Saint Cecilia, and Meteor Cafe. In 2021, he was Garden & Gun’s Made in the South Awards Home category winner for his floor lamp made with pecan salvaged from a family mill near his Austin studio. 

Bader Ranch

Humphreys always stops here for “fine European antiques paired with strong midcentury offerings,” he says. “I sourced an incredible desk and 1950s lamp from Italy here.” It’s on the interior designer Emily Seiders’s must-go list too, and she praises the eye of the proprietor, French antiques dealer Cyril Clerc. Whether she’s at work on a personal endeavor (like her gorgeous Hideaway Roundtop lodging) or a client project, she heads here for midcentury French furniture, lighting, and a wide selection of mirrors.

Blue Hills

“Blue Hills is a must and takes a few days to see it all,” says Kate Towill, co-owner of Basic Projects in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2018, three siblings (and sixth-generation Texans) took over this historic venue that encompasses more than a dozen buildings and barns, including one dedicated party barn for comparing finds over cocktails.

When the Johns Island, South Carolina, interior designer Grace Frederick visited Round Top for the first time this year, she made a point to seek out vendors she’s long admired or collaborated with on projects. “Sourced by Janet Wiebe is a true jewel box, and Janet is just as joyful as her beautiful space,” Frederick says. “Her imported Murano lighting and mirrors are unmatched, and she pairs them so beautifully with vintage and antique Italian furniture and accessories. Every piece feels special, collected, and full of soul.” Frederick discovered another shop, Maps and Art, in High Point, North Carolina, years ago and was thrilled to see them at Round Top. “It’s our go-to source for antique maps, botanicals, and original art,” she says. “Their collection is incredibly extensive and thoughtfully organized by subject and place, with price points that make it accessible and fun—you can find something wonderful starting around $25.”

Catherine Brooks Giuffre also always spends time in Blue Hills to shop for her clients. She lists these spots as favorites: Emily Carrere’s Well Sourced; Betsy Austin and her Tres Bien Antiques; Two Maisons, which has a stellar collection of garden treasures from Provence; Tammie and Brian Wilson’s French Bleu; and Antiquaire de France.

Courtney Barton

For new, handmade textiles, jewelry, and an edited collection of antiques, the New York–based interior designer Nicki Clendening says she “always loves checking out my friend Courtney Barton’s beautiful store in the Round Top Village.” Its central location means you’ll likely pass by on a visit to town. The Austin interior designer Audrey Scheck agrees: “Courtney Barton is a favorite for its beautifully curated selection of textiles, furnishings, and everything in between. Walking in truly feels like a breath of fresh air, and I always leave feeling inspired.”

Excess I and II and Box Road

“If you want to do some true picking, Excess is great for that,” says Kate Towill. Both locations, and the adjacent Box Road, all blend into one fantastic hunt. “Across the street from Excess 1 are the guys at Box Road. They are wonderful and really have a vibe. We always find the best stuff there!” 

Adds Audrey Scheck, “Box Road and Excess 1 are some of my favorite spots to visit. They have a beautiful collection of antiques, goods, and wares, and I love visiting when I want a more relaxed, simplified, and curated shopping experience.”

Emily Seiders shouts out the vendor Jersey Junker at Excess. “There are some real gems hidden in his mix of midcentury lighting, garden furniture, upholstered seating, and case goods. We got a fabulous pair of Charlotte Perriand Les Arcs chairs from him a few years back.”

The Horseshoe

Audrey Scheck puts the Horseshoe, a seasonal venue with multiple dealers, at the top of her list. “They have an amazing mix of vendors, the prices are great, and the cocktail bar makes it such a fun place to spend time while hunting for special pieces,” she says. “Be sure to stop by The M and Prize KC.”

Emily Seiders always stops by Toll Gate Revival here. “They have a unique collection of Americana and vintage clothing, Federal mirrors, American flags, leather furniture, and Navajo rugs,” she says. “It reminds me of a classic Ralph Lauren mix.”

Jardin de France

Catherine Brooks Giuffre gushes about this compound from Patrice and Gloria Watine. “Several large buildings are curated with outstanding French, Italian, and English antiques, all housed in chic structures painted in true French tones with antique doors and floors. One of the buildings can also be rented for events. I make sure to stop by every trip—not only to source pieces for my clients, but to walk through the manicured gardens filled with fountains and lavender,” she says. “They brought in a French architect to design a standalone building wrapped in green trellis, serving cocktails alongside to-die-for pimento cheese dip and chocolate croissants—the perfect place to pause during the Round Top shows or end the day recapping treasures to the sound of fountains and distant French music.”

Junk Gypsy

“Opening a store in Round Top takes guts—and a whole lot of grit,” says Tara Royer Steele, founder of Round Top’s beloved café Royer’s Pie Haven. “Round Top is a destination, but you’ve got to put in the hard work to build your little piece of heaven.” She admires the elbow grease behind Junk Gypsy, the long-running Round Top shop built by sisters (and HGTV stars) Amie and Jolie Sikes. “I love Junk Gypsy for its mix of eclectic clothing and collected ‘junk’ that takes me straight back to the good ol’ days, with heavy concrete floors and chippy, peely-paint treasures everywhere you look.”

Marburger Farm

Many designers cited this high-end mecca as their favorite destination—it’s known for its strict guidelines for vendors, assuring the authenticity of antiques. Currently undergoing a major construction project, Marburger plans to re-open for the 2026 spring show with a restoration of all ten of its historic buildings and the addition of a lakeside food and entertainment venue. A new layout will evoke an old-school Texas town square.

Emily Seiders calls Marburger the crown jewel of Round Top. She always stops into the Patternmill vendor for high-quality, collectible midcentury pieces. “We sourced our pair of vintage leather armchairs in Hideaway’s primary bedroom from them,” she says.

“I’m a big collector of vintage charms, and Marburger Farm is a treasure trove for them,” the Texas writer Sallie Lewis says. “Be sure to stop by Recreo Reinspired, Circa 1700, and Three Graces for their rare, one-of-a-kind gold pieces.”

Nicki Clendening puts it simply: “I would plan my entire trip by Marburger’s opening dates because the dealers showing there have the best antique and vintage pieces from around the world.”

Market Hill

“Market Hill is a lot more curated, and great as either your first or last stop,” Kate Towill says. “I also love that Market Hill now has three huge warehouse compounds that house exceptional permanent dealers,” adds Catherine Brooks Giuffre, who makes sure to stop by Susan Horne, M. Naeve, and Antica Collection.

Emily Seiders stops into Amelia Tarbet at Market Hill for its mix of midcentury seating, art, lamps, and coffee tables. She also loves M. Naeve. “She is a dear friend,” Seiders says, “and has the best eye for mixing French and Italian antiques with contemporary lighting and art.”

The Porch

“The Porch has a beautiful mix of antique pieces, from statement finds to smaller pieces,” Audrey Scheck says. “I love sourcing vintage vessels here,” including planters, pots, and vases made from wood, stone, and clay.

Preservation Company

This is one of John Humphreys’s top spots for “reclaimed doors, ironwork, and salvage-forward inventory,” he says. “It is extremely usable for exterior work.” The company’s website is also easy to explore, whether pre-planning a trip or just ogling (and perhaps ordering) the hand-carved wooden doors, antique brass knobs, and vintage Turkish rugs from afar.

Round Top Antiques and Design Center

“The Round Top Design Center used to be an event space, but now it’s packed with stellar finds—everything you could dream of to outfit a home,” says Tara Royer Steele. The center is also centrally located, just steps away from her pie shop and the charming Hotel Lulu, with its historic rooms, buzzy restaurant, and see-and-be-seen bar.

Round Top Ranch Antiques

Friendly Labrador retrievers just might greet you and then wander alongside while you browse this incredible collection of European antiques. Henrik Follin grew up in the Danish countryside and founded this trove with his wife, the Arizona-reared Mary Follin. John Humphreys is a big fan, citing the “large European antiques inventory with architectural accents mixed in.”

Sapana

This hip clothing store in the heart of Henkel Square opened its flagship location in Round Top in 2022. “Those stunning, handcrafted kantha jackets lined with sequins or fur—it’s impossible to choose just one!” says Tara Royer-Steele.

Thunderbird Hats

Rob Schanen, the development director of the Round Top Film Festival, always steers newcomers looking to fit into the scene directly to this epic hat shop full of Stetsons and authentic Western wear. The shop smells of leather, a friendly pup will most likely greet you, and the owners will be sure to tell a story while you don just the right custom or vintage topper.