Cafe Laguna has now opened at the Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria.  The restaurant itself is in the museum’s recently restored 93 year old historic gatehouse.  Eddie Bernal of 34th St. Cafe helms the menu of gourmet sandwiches, 34th street’s signature salads & sides, Teo gelato, and other desserts.  Laguna Gloria is my favorite museum in Austin in that it combines art and history with nature….and now food!  All in all, I had an enjoyable lunch and a wonderful nature walk this afternoon!  Would I recommend Cafe Laguna?  Yes, if you were already planning on visiting Laguna Gloria, otherwise visit 34th St. Cafe itself where Eddie Bernal cooks the food on site.  But, this limited menu is more inexpensive than 34th and the picturesque setting cannot be beat.  I’m torn!  FYI: Cafe Laguna is open 11am-4pm M-F.  Free Wi-Fi on site.

Laguna Gloria, a 1916 Italianate-style villa that was home to Clara Driscoll

To see pictures of Cafe Laguna:

Parking is free on site but there is a suggested $3 donation to tour the grounds

The menu has about 5 salads, 6 half sandwiches, 3 sides, and desserts

Chinese Hack Salad

1/2 Vegetable Sandwich

Cafe Laguna, across the way from Laguna Gloria

Everything is pre-made and pre-packaged, grab what you want from the fridge and pay at the counter

There are a few tables inside and a table outside.  But feel free to make a picnic anywhere on the grounds.

I won’t lie, seeing the cafe setup I was disappointed.  I know we don’t live in NYC but I was expecting a cute little cafe with menus and servers and real silverware. I can see how that is not necessary since the weekday visitors are infrequent.  But, an excellent cafe would bring the people in.  Still….the food was good, fresh, and better than expected coming pre-made from a fridge.

After lunch, tour the museum on the grounds that was once owned by Stephen F. Austin who described the property as being ‘on the Colorado at the foot of the mountains.’  Before SFA, Native Americans in the region visited the site to partake of the natural spring.  Today, the spring is under water but primitive campsites attest to the Native Americans inhabitance of the area.

Clara Driscoll and her hubby Hal Sevier (owner of The Austin American newspaper), purchased the property in 1914.  They built a house and named it Laguna Gloria after one of her family’s ranches in Duval County, ‘La Gloria.’  The homes proximity to Lake Austin is most likely why they referred it as a lagoon.

10 featured Austin artists are currently on exhibit at Laguna Gloria

But be sure to tour the grounds, there are 12 lush acres to walk around.  Clara Driscoll designed the terraced gardens herself.

Sculptures are everywhere on the grounds, having been added since Clara Driscoll donated the site to be used as a museum in 1945.  6 artists have work on display as well as young Art School students.

This young boy holding a fish fountain has been restored

Another restored fountain

Greenery including live oak, cedar, wild laurel, crepe myrtle, ligustrum, Lombardy poplar, Italian cypress, and iris

Views of Lake Austin, I have been to a wedding at Laguna Gloria and it is an absolutely perfect setting.  The ceremony takes place by the water and the reception takes place next to/ in the museum.

Temple of Love, a replica pagoda of the classical gazebo built for Clara Driscoll

Cafe Laguna 3809 35th St. Austin, TX 78703 www.amoa.org 512-458-8191 ext. 211