First look: LEONA Botanical Cafe & Bar celebrates opening in Southwest Austin

“As a food truck you get pushed around because you don't own the land so you're always renting and you always have a landlord,” Justin Trubiana said. “We always wanted to do something where we're in control of our own destiny.”

What they offer

Community members can enjoy LEONA’s cafe options during the day and its bar menu at night. To pair with their drinks, diners can order food from one of the two counter-service eateries on site: country-style Thai cuisine restaurant DEE DEE and Mexican eatery Veracruz All Natural.

“Now that it's open and we see people coming in and enjoying the space, it's very gratifying for us,” Reyna Vasquez said.

To continue highlighting local finds, LEONA will offer a rotating pastry program which will bring a taste of bakeries, showcasing a new bakery every three months.

The history

The businesses’ property holds historical significance in the Austin area as it once belonged to philanthropist and World War II veteran Betty Grubs. Grubs has become a known name in the city through her advocacy for women’s causes as well as her scholarship endowment contributions to The University of Texas Women’s Athletics Department.

To pay homage to Grubs and the impact she’s had on the local community, the LEONA team will host an annual fundraising event for UT’s Betty Grubbs Endowed Scholarship Program.

The 5-acre site crafts an outdoor oasis with over 90 trees preserved from the land and an additional 80 trees planted across the property. Accompanying the land’s natural foliage is a water stream flowing throughout the middle of the outdoor area.

“It's so refreshing to come to a space where you can be here in the moment and just be with humans, for me, sharing what we love to do with people like sharing our food and our culture,” Reyna Vasquez said.

“We have herbs that you can go out, pick and harvest and eat and I always felt like I want to be somewhere that I can have my own garden or some plants,” Lakana Trubiana said. “This is aligned with everything and I'm so happy.”

• 6405 Brodie Lane, Sunset Valley
• www.leonacafebar.com