If you’ve been to Justine’s Brasserie, the much-loved Eastside French bistro and perennial Best of Austin winner, you already know it’s a place of beauty – beautiful people, beautifully composed plates. Imagining all that transposed to an art museum is no stretch.
On the other hand, the irrefutably sexy Justine’s is all about those nighttime vibes (peep their NSFW website), which should make for an interesting transformation when a “daytime version” of Justine’s opens at the Blanton Museum of Art. They’ve got time to work out the kinks: It’s not expected to open until Spring 2025.
Designed by Joel Mozersky (Uchi, La Condesa), the cafe will be situated next to the Blanton’s check-in lobby and include a shaded outdoor deck for al fresco dining with views of the Capitol and Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin. The cafe – helmed by Justine’s husband-and-wife owners Justine Gilcrease and Pierre Pelegrin – will serve breakfast and lunch during museum hours, with dinner offered on Saturdays, when the Blanton is open late until 8pm. Grab-and-go items will also be available, including picnic boxes.
To track the project as it unfolds – including cafe name, menu, and design reveals – follow @justinesxblanton on Instagram.
This article appears in April 19 • 2024.
