Get Out of the Heat: Josephine House, in Austin - Remodelista
Housed in a cottage that’s the perfect shade of Oxford blue, Josephine House, in downtown Austin’s Clarksville, is for those looking to spend an easy afternoon beating the Texas heat with a cool cocktail. Photography by Michael A. Muller for Remodelista. Built in the 1930s, the cottage was, among other things, a catering kitchen before McGuire Moorman Hospitality took over Jeffrey’s and reinvented it. In the central dining room, a painted farmhouse table, George Nakashima chairs, and round walnut tables stand out against high-gloss white walls. Table arrangements are a nod to Josephine Bonaparte’s love of roses. The restaurant’s menu is printed daily on heavy white stock “so that each meal feels like a private party,” McGuire says. Tables are set with classic stainless flatware from Saint Andrea and Riedel glassware. When the interior was being renovated, the construction crew discovered shiplap underneath the drywall. A window offers a view into the kitchen from the main dining room–and can be closed off via a sliding hex bar. The restaurant is open for lunch, brunch, happy hour, and dinner. McGuire takes great care in his tableware selections. The open shelves above the dining room’s marble countertop hold, among other things, vintage silver pieces that the restaurant uses for chilling wine and as vases. A stack of menus weighted down by metal card holders; the umbrellas are for the borrowing. A vintage rug at the front door leads into the main dining room. Umbrellas and built-in nooks allow for shady outdoor seating options. The rattan designs are Serena & Lily Riveria Side Chairs. The restaurant’s logo was designed by FÖDA Studio of Austin. The Josephine House exterior is painted a custom shade of blue that has become its signature. Have a look at the best places to shop, eat, and stay in our Austin City Guide.