Mattie's At Green Pastures

If you’re looking for a historic mansion where you can pull off a sun hat or some seersucker, try Mattie’s in Bouldin Creek. For the last 70+ years, people from across Austin have come here for Easter brunches, wedding receptions, and close encounters with the peacocks who roam the grounds. The rooms within the mansion vary from a pastel-colored bar ideal for drinking milk punch, to a cozy lounge with a fireplace and a big leather sofa perfect for sipping bourbon, to the giant wraparound porch that you might design for your dream house.

At night, the place takes on a more romantic feel, and it’s a great place to take your parents, to celebrate an anniversary, or for a group brunch where everyone wears their best seersucker. The food has an upgraded old-school feel with a menu that skews southern but with the occasional Texas accent, so expect a bone-in pork chop with creamy grits, a wood-grilled steak with bordelaise, and a superb fried chicken served with mashed potatoes that get a serious upgrade of brown butter, bacon, and gouda.

photo credit: Julie Wilhite