Austin, TX
Inside a Historic Austin Property’s Modern New Hotel
For those of a certain age, the name Green Pastures will conjure memories of exquisite Sunday brunch buffets, or fancy wedding receptions, or big birthday celebrations. It began its life as a restaurant in 1946, set among a sprawling grove of ancient live oaks in South Austin and housed in an elegant Southern manor, gleaming white with a large wraparound porch and, starting in the sixties, resident peafowl. For decades, Green Pastures was a true icon of the Austin dining scene. “When it comes to putting seafood and cream sauce inside puff pastry, the kitchen has the act down pat,” said a Texas Monthly review from 1983.
The brand-new Inn at Green Pastures, which opened its doors to guests this past December, is indeed just the latest chapter for a property with a long and rich history in the capital. The original home, constructed in the late nineteenth century, served as a farmhouse in what was then rural South Austin. In 1916, it was purchased by attorney Henry Faulk and his wife, Martha “Mattie” Faulk. Among the Faulks’ five children was John Henry Faulk, who was raised on the property before becoming a well-known radio host, humorist, First Amendment warrior, and one of Texas’s great raconteurs. Eventually, one of John Henry’s sisters, Mary Faulk Koock, along with her husband, Chester Koock, made the residence her home. And it was Mary, a talented chef (with the guidance of one James Beard, she authored the noteworthy Texas Cookbook), who first launched Green Pastures into its restaurantdom.
Through the years, Green Pastures has changed hands a few times, most recently in 2015, when it was acquired by the local La Corsha Hospitality Group, which breathed new life into the restaurant with necessary and extensive renovations to the tune of $10 million. Green Pastures became Mattie’s, named for Martha “Mattie” Faulk. Opened in 2017, the restaurant gained due acclaim for its Southern fare. A Texas Monthly review from its opening year described it as “a delightful update of that old-Austin icon” that was “carefully recrafted in a sleek yet stately way.”
Since then, in a wise move that included not attempting to fix what wasn’t broke, the La Corsha folks, who are behind such projects as the Hotel Settles, in Big Spring; the East Austin Hotel, in Austin; and the upcoming Baker Hotel, in Mineral Wells, among others, have simply enhanced the property with the construction of the hotel. Mattie’s remains fully intact, fully functional, and the central focus of Green Pastures’ sprawling six acres. But this new draw is a standout addition.
The inn’s 63 rooms and suites (rates start at $325 a night) are strategically tucked into the southeastern rear of the lot (Mattie’s is located in the center), and the three-story structure is barely visible from the street. The surrounding portion of the Bouldin Creek neighborhood is a quiet, mostly residential enclave in the midst of otherwise-bustling South Austin. The hotel’s bucolic setting appealingly belies the fact that the inn sits adjacent to busy-ish South First Street and within walking distance of pulsing South Congress Avenue.
I had the pleasure of experiencing an overnight stay in early January. Upon entering Green Pastures from West Live Oak Street, I meandered beneath a leafy canopy along a twisty drive to a valet stand (valet parking is mandatory). From there, a slightly elevated wooden walkway took me to the hotel’s front doors and small lobby. La Corsha teamed up with Austin design firm Clayton Korte (the Commodore Perry Estate, in Austin; Albert Hotel, in Fredericksburg; Pullman Market, at Pearl in San Antonio), and the result is a stylishly polished yet somewhat understated space, both inside and out. Natural woods, mostly blond oaks, and mid-century-modern-ish furniture and decor are warmly welcoming, as is the wood-burning fireplace found in Henry’s Nite & Day, a hip space that functions as the hotel’s bar and casual restaurant, serving coffee, breakfast, lunch, and dinner late into the night.
Henry’s is an accessible supplement to Mattie’s (which was closed for a short winter break while I was there), and I can personally vouch for the excellent service, caviar-and-dill-enhanced deviled eggs, delicious smashburger, out-of-this-world cornmeal pancakes and slab bacon, and generally relaxed vibes. Bartenders double as deejays, tending to the vinyl collection and accompanying turntable.
Though the early-January temperatures did not allow me to indulge, the hotel has a perfectly modest swimming pool, which will surely be a draw in the warmer months. Food and drinks are serviced by Henry’s Poolside, Henry’s Nite & Day’s alfresco alter ego. On the wellness front, a better-than-average hotel fitness studio featured Technogym equipment, and the next enhancement for Green Pastures, a luxury spa, is set to open in 2028.
The rooms are similarly mid-century-modern-ish. My standard king pool-view room had a combination of oak hardwood flooring and rich green carpeting, Sferra linens, a fluffy bathrobe and slippers, a spacious walk-in shower, bath products by Lather, a flat-screen television, a Tivoli Bluetooth speaker, and a minibar with mostly locally sourced beverages and snacks. True boutique-hotel bona fides were displayed by way of a kind and welcoming handwritten note left for me on my coffee table, along with two complimentary bottles of water and a “small indulgence,” which consisted of a pair of gluten-free vanilla bean shortbread cookies with caramelized white chocolate.
Though I live in Austin, I took the opportunity to get out after my dinner at Henry’s and sample a little of what South Austin has to offer. The hotel provides complimentary bicycles, but it was nice out, so I chose to walk the short distance to South Congress. As I made my way there (twenty or so minutes), with an eye toward catching some local music at the venerable Continental Club, I passed plentiful good dining options along South First. Right near Green Pastures are the casual, vegetarian Bouldin Creek Café; the upscale, farm-to-table Lenoir; and the always-great Vietnamese boulangerie Elizabeth Street Café. Visitors wanting to experience South Congress will find plenty more there: excellent restaurants (Perla’s, Home Slice Pizza, Aba, Maie Day, and Joann’s Fine Foods, to highlight just a few), live-music venues (the Continental Club, C-Boy’s Heart and Soul), and high-end shopping (Hermès).
As it was Wednesday night, I took in a set from Austin stalwart Jon Dee Graham, who maintains a residency at the Continental. As I made my way back to Green Pastures on foot, I felt invigorated by the evening and my whole in-town excursion. I would be a little sad at checkout time.
When you buy a book using a link on this page, a portion of your purchase goes to independent bookstores and Texas Monthly receives a commission. Thank you for supporting our journalism.
TEXAS — According to Redfin, a national real estate brokerage firm, the top three most affordable cities for renters in the country are in Texas. The firm released its study in 2025, which also lists the median incomes needed to afford the average rent.
Renters living in the Sawyer Heights neighborhood near downtown Houston say apartments in that area come with a hefty price tag.
“It’s not cheap to live in this city, especially with income the way it is,” said Evan Camp, a renter.
Jacinto Cepeda shares his sentiment, adding you get what you pay for.
“It’s just increasing in price if you want to live somewhere nicer or a little bit safer, I would say, it’s definitely on the pricier side,” Cepeda said.
However, Redfin’s report ranking the top 10 most affordable metros for renters across the country shows renters in the Houston metro area may be better off compared to other Texans. Austin, Houston and Dallas took the top three spots, respectively.
The study analyzes Census Bureau data on median incomes and average rent costs, based on the affordability criteria of renters spending no more than 30% of their income on rent.
“In the most recent American Community Survey, we found that, for the first time, the majority of renters in Harris County in Houston are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent,” said Dr. Stephen Sherman, an associate director of research at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University.
Sherman says while some may consider Houston rent as more reasonable than New York City and Los Angeles, Harris County incomes have not kept up with inflation.
“When you start to look at how that compares to people’s incomes, how high eviction rates are, the quality of multifamily building here, you start to see that that cheery story has some cracks and fissures,” he said.
The Redfin study shows the typical U.S. renter earns nearly $9,000 less than the income needed to afford the median apartment. It shows a median rent in the Houston metro of $1,239, meaning the affordability required for annual income needed is closer to $50,000. As of December 2024, Houston’s median renter income was roughly $58,000, which was nearly $9,000 more than needed to cover the rent. Sherman says that means nearly half of renters don’t make enough.
“Apartment rents and home prices, as well, have stabilized, but when you look at incomes, especially after adjusting for inflation, they’ve actually gone down,” said Sherman, adding this is while expenses like groceries and gas have gone up. “Everything is a trade-off. You can find affordable places to live in Houston, but it might be in an older building in dire need of repairs.”
Cepeda said walkability is one thing he appreciates about the Heights area.
“It’s just a matter of where you’re willing to live where you’re willing to live, and how you’re willing to live is the most important thing,” he said.
An outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness that can cause explosive diarrhea, has been confirmed in Texas, prompting health officials to urge extra precautions when handling fresh produce.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed 48 cases of cyclosporiasis across 10 Texas counties. State health officials say there have been no deaths linked to the outbreak so far.
There are no reported cases in Southeast Texas at this time, and Port Arthur officials say they have not received any reported cases from area hospitals or health care providers. Still, health officials say now is the time to take extra precautions.
Judith Smith, Port Arthur’s director of health services, said cyclosporiasis is caused by “a microscopic parasite that is usually found in contaminated food and contaminated water.”
Smith said contamination typically stems from floodwater or sewage water when produce is harvested, allowing parasites to transfer to produce long before it reaches consumers.
“I have not heard of an outbreak like this. It’s been a while. It might have been 2023, 2024, and so, you know, and of course, Texas is not immune,” Smith said.
Smith said foods that are eaten raw can pose a higher risk. “Those foods that are not cooked are the ones that really make you more at risk,” she said.
Health officials recommend washing raw produce, including lettuce, cilantro, raspberries and basil. They also recommend cleaning cutting boards, refrigerating fresh goods and throwing away any remaining produce after experiencing symptoms.
Symptoms can include watery diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite and a low-grade fever. “Those individuals that may have that watery diarrhea or really just more than two to three days should seek medical attention,” Smith said.
Testing can confirm the parasite, and early treatment can help prevent more serious complications, especially for children and elderly relatives. Health care experts recommend contacting a health care provider as soon as possible if persistent stomach cramps and other symptoms develop after eating fresh produce.
The Texas Longhorns are less than two months away from starting their regular season slate of the 2026 schedule.
Just like last season, the Longhorns have been given unrealistic expectations by some, but will look to avoid the slow start that had everyone counting them out in September. On paper, the Longhorns should be a lot better than they were last season.
A national championship run should be on the table for head coach Steve Sarkisian and his team. One of the reasons that is a possibility is due to the Longhorns have something in common with previous national championship winners.
Legacy Year
Last season, the college football world was enamored by the Indiana Hoosiers. A program that no one saw ever winning the national championship, was hoisting the trophy at the end of the season.
Now, the Hoosiers had a talented roster from top to bottom. But the play of starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the leading factor in this team reaching the mountaintop.
Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning has the chance to make that same impression this season. After his first full season as the starting quarterback in Austin last year, there is a growing confidence that Manning is going to be on another level in 2026.
Last season, Manning threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdown passes. If you were to compare those numbers to Mendoza’s last season, the Hoosiers quarterback threw for 3,535 yards and an impressive 41 touchdown passes.
Those numbers make it clear that Manning will have to elevate his performance this season. With a revamped offensive line, the Longhorns quarterback may have the time to rival the numbers of Mendoza from this past season.
But another key piece to the Longhorns’ 2026 roster is a massive wide receiver addition.
It’s going to take the whole village, and Coach Sarkisian went out and got one of the most talented wide receivers in the transfer portal with Cam Coleman.
Coleman had two solid years with the Auburn Tigers and now will look to be the deep field threat for Manning and the Longhorns. The junior receiver’s addition to the roster could take this offensive unit to being one of the top units in the country.
All championship teams have a quarterback who could lead them to victory. Manning could very well be the next elite quarterback to hold a national championship trophy.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
Rhode Island3 minutes agoRISP Warwick Arrests July 10: Threatening Officials, DUI – WarwickPost.com
-
South-Carolina10 minutes agoEditorial: There’s an easy solution to SC budget impasse, but legislators won’t like it
-
South Dakota13 minutes ago10 North Dakota Small Towns With Unmatched Friendliness
-
Tennessee18 minutes agoFormer Tennessee Football Position Coach Beats Out Vols For Commitment of Elite Recruit | Rocky Top Insider
-
Texas25 minutes agoThis Week in Texas: $1500 for every Texas Household, ICE accountability, politics in sports
-
Utah28 minutes agoUtah woman’s viral video helps raise more than $174K for Navy veteran she spotted at airport
-
Vermont33 minutes ago802 Homes to release free home design catalog aimed at lowering construction costs
-
Virginia40 minutes agoSouthwest, Central Virginia Weather | 6 p.m. – July 11, 2026
