Austin’s ‘New’ Farm House Restaurant is a Hidden Escape from the Hustle and Bustle

I’m sitting on the wrap-around porch of a pretty farm house sipping on a glass of spiked milk punch and eating honey-tinged biscuits. The sun is shining through a canopy of live oaks, jazz and small talk drift through the air, and peacocks are wandering the lawn.

It’s delightfully easy to forget where I am, and, for that fact, when I am.

That’s just the effect that Mattie’s at Green Pastures has. The idyllic restaurant has been plucked from another world — one with Southern belles and hand-painted china – and hidden away in the greenery of Austin.

Mattie’s opened in March at the historic Green Pastures property after undergoing a major facelift. While it’s relatively new to Austin’s booming restaurant scene, it’s already an icon.

The gorgeous home was built in 1893, and the Green Pastures restaurant opened on site in 1946. Now, after an extensive, 13-month-long renovation, it’s back to its former glory.

“Mattie’s reintroduces an experience that will take you to a distant place, only a mile from downtown Austin,” says Greg Porter, the restaurant’s owner and developer. “It wakes up your senses and welcomes you to the essence of Texas hospitality.”

Porter developed the project with Jeff Trigger, founder and president of La Corsha Hospitality (responsible for restoring The Driskill and The Stoneleigh).

Restoring iconic buildings, especially one as beloved as this, can be risky business. But Mattie’s turned out so lovely. It’s charming without being stuffy; a smart blend of old and new.

The home’s beauty is updated thanks to a bold color palette and modern details. Interior design was spearheaded by Joel Mozersky, who’s behind the trendiest of trendy places in Austin (Uchi, Uchiko, Palazzo Lavaca, Native Hostel, Juliet).

Honestly, it’s worth the visit just for the impeccable atmosphere. However, the food and drink won’t disappoint. The menu pays homage to the restaurant’s history with updated takes on old-timey dishes like pimento cheese and fried chicken. As a plus, the kitchen uses all-natural meat and poultry, sustainably sourced seafood and local produce. There are also a wide variety of fun craft cocktails, wines and beers.

If you’re heading to the capital for Austin City Limits in the next couple weeks, I urge you to take some time for a leisurely meal at Mattie’s — or at least a glass of punch. It’s open for brunch, happy hour, and dinner, and will be equally charming at any time of day.