Let my start by saying not all of the photos for Thurman's mansion are truly this event space…read more This is the building with the large front lawn and large columns. It has a semi large ballroom that would easily house 125. The floors are a nice terra-cotta tile and this space has large windows. On the right hand side there are a few windows with stained glass. Check the photo I posted they are very lovely. At the very end of the room is a distinctive wooden bar. The wood is stained dark and it has an aged look to it. There are double doors that lead to the 1st floor patio. This area is a very nice space for cocktails, I would date say you could get 50 to 75 people out there. Beyond the patio are red brick stairs that lead to the large lawn. The large lawn is where you can play lawn games and or hold a ceremony. I will be honest you can hear some of the traffic on the main road. I am sure that would be less noticeable if soft music was playing.the next thing I noticed about this place is that the upstairs are dedicated to the wedding party. There is a suite for the bride and the groom both with their own bathroom. There is also an elevator and a sitting area outside of the suites where a quick meal might be had. All and all I think this is a cute venue. It's an attractive property and all the chartering is handled by Salt Lick.

Hand me a parasol, lace up my corset and find me a Mr. Darcy--this place was from another time!!…read more *contented sigh, I was fortunate enough to be invited to a wedding held out at Thurman's Mansion this past weekend. What a beautiful venue!! I had never even heard of it until I got the invitation. Thurman's Mansion is part of the Salt Lick Family--located just East of the Salt Lick on 1826. Gorgeous iron gates pique the curiousity of drivers and beckon guests in. The venue is a large mansion overlooking well manicured grounds and vineyards. The view of the mansion from the back is just breathtaking. A huge porch covers the back of the building--dramatic pillars hold up a second story balcony. Wide steps lead up from the grounds to the back doors of the reception hallf/main room. I saw the mansion on two different days in two very different ways--Friday afternoon for the rehearsal, I saw it set up for an outdoor wedding. The sun shining down, bride practicing her walk from the sweeping steps of the mansion down to the corner of the lawn where the trellace waited, people lining the stone walls around the perimeter of the lawn watching the practice. I felt like I stepped into a Jane Austen movie--my friend had planned a glorious outdoor wedding on the grounds. Much to her dismay, God and the torrential downpours decided that it would be better to have the ceremony indoors. Rather than ceremony outside and reception inside, both ceremony and reception were inside. The staff had set up about 40 chairs where the dance floor would have been. Double doors were open at the back of the small seating area allowing the pitter-pattering of the rain outside as the background music while they exchanged vows. The reception was a seated dinner for about 150 guests. Salt lick does catering--very fun to have the family style dinner Texas Style w/ cobbler as dessert. A nice alternative to the traditional wedding scene. The porch was a great place for conversation and mingling--they had the bar and some hors d'eouvres set up out there while the guests waited for pictures to be taken. The rain let up for exactly an hour--enough time for outdoor pictures! I honestly think that my friend got the best of both worlds...a unique, beautiful, romantic and intimate indoor wedding ceremony complete with rain and tears. Then outdoor pictures overlooking the vineyards with the mist hovering over the land. I swear I could hear Mr. Darcy beckoning to me while I watched from the porch... My hat goes off to you, Thurman's Mansion. You successfully transported me to another time. Bravo.

It is a beautiful space for small weddings. We were very impressed with the owner, and the venue is…read moreso beautiful, you only need table decor. 10/10 recommend!!!

I had a wonderful experience working with the team at Chapel Dulcinea. I rented to Veranda Room…read morebecause I just wanted a small group of people to join us for dinner after the ceremony in the chapel and it was perfect. We had enough room for first dances, cake cuts, and all the important things. I wouldn't change a single thing! Alyssa was our venue manager and she was very quick to respond to my 29374 questions, and she was honest and dependable throughout the whole process. 10/10 would recommend this venue for intimate weddings!

Garden Grove was the most beautiful and perfect venue for our dream wedding! The owners Shon and…read moreJani are so polite and professional. They make you feel as if you're family from the minute they meet you. Booking the venue was an easy process and very straightforward. Anything we needed Jani was just a simple text or email away. She was also very quick to respond! Both of them are so nice, genuine, and loving people. You can really tell that they care about their guests. In regards to the venue itself, it is extremely well kept. In fact every time we made a visit we would see Shon work on it. Chairs and tables were provided and the chairs were so nice that we used it for both the ceremony and reception. The bridal suite is huge and it allowed my bridesmaids, both moms, hair stylists and makeup artists to work and get ready comfortably. We had our ceremony and reception outside and absolutely loved the fact that we were able to separate each event on the upper and lower lawn. There is so much space that it really allows you to plan a wedding where events can just flow from one space to the next vs having guests be in the same area that your coordinators are breaking down or setting up things that you would want behind the scenes. We definitely recommend Garden Grove as your venue of choice. You will not be disappointed!

Garden Grove is a spacious, elegant, and flexible wedding venue. It's a great venue for large…read moreweddings, with plenty of space to accommodate big families and large numbers of guests. (The space would also work well for a small or average size wedding.) The grounds are painstakingly maintained, and the landscaping is beautiful. As wedding photographers, we are always looking for great spots to take bridal and couples' photos, and Garden Grove has a lot of them. In addition, the bridal suite is quite spacious to allow for a dozen or so bridesmaids. (Believe me -- one of the most stressful pre-wedding activities can be getting ready with tons of bridesmaids in a tight space -- but the bridal suite at Garden Grove allows plenty of room so you don't get cramped. Also, so many mirrors! It is a pleasure to photograph weddings at Garden Grove, and we hope to be back soon.

I fell in love with this venue online, and our first time at the venue I fell in love even more!!…read moreThis venue is so unique and stunning. It's not your typical looking venue at all and that's what caught my eye and that's what I loved the most. This venue is beautiful in every single way, we had our ceremony outdoor and the reception inside. Everyone was blown away!! The venue needs minimal decorations because of the interior design throughout the whole venue. The reception area is stunning with the most beautiful chandeliers and the most amazing natural light shining through. We were obsessed with the big tables and how they really didn't need any table cloths. We absolutely loved our big day and got so many compliments for the beautiful venue we chose. We will forever recommend this venue!!

My daughter's wedding was there this summer and the staff was very professional and accommodating…read moreand they truly led us through the day with no hitches. In the months leading up to the wedding, they were very responsive to questions and knowledgeable about the area and had great suggestions for caterers and other services. It's a beautiful venue, and the dining room/dance floor is the central highlight of the venue - spacious and easy to maneuver and still able to accommodate a wedding party of 150+ people. Great venue, but what truly makes it special was the kind and professional staff who helped everyone have one of the most memorable days of our lives.

Today (5/24/26) is only the second time I've been here and more likely than not the last time as…read morethey're closing this tasting room on 6/13/26. Fear not, the factory (distillery) in Buda isn't going anywhere. The folks here told me the property and buildings are being taken over and another business will be coming in. It just makes me sad because we love it here. We love everything about it and took for granted that it will always be here. The tasting room and distillery are huge and so tastefully put together. See what I did there? Lol. The grounds are the epitome of Hill Country. Amazing views of wildflowers, brush, and sky all about. Lots and lots of outdoor patio seating, food truck area, large indoor seating, tasting bar, large ordering bars, gift shop, games, and lots more. I'm reviewing as they're leaving because this is another one of those draft reviews that I've been waiting to be finished for a long time. I gotta get better at that lol. Anyway, that matters not because this place still deserves an incredible review. Absolutely amazing drinks and people. It (was) a great way to wind down after a day of outdoor activity in Hill Country. A+++++

We had so much fun here! I enjoy Deep Eddy so it was cool to see this ATX og. We came on a Sunday…read moreand it was superrrr chill. Not busy and a great time to soak in the weekend. They have a menu with premade cocktails to order from, or you can create your own with their large varieties of flavors. We didn't do the full tastings, but did get some espresso martinis and the pickle one! The seating is set up as communal tables with benches, and they have lots of games you can play. Outside they have nice patio seating and yard games to play. I'd definitely return!

This was the BEST venue I could have picked. It is beautiful inside and out, inexpensive, has…read morelodging available if you want it, the staff is beyond amazing, and it has indoor and outdoor options for the ceremony available and a reception hall! I could not recommend this place any more. They truly made our day perfect beyond what we thought possible. Wish I could give it more stars!! Thank y'all so much for the wedding of our dreams, again!!

Two months ago I was given the task of finding an offsite location for my companies upcoming…read moreoffsite and thought Ruby Ranch would be a wonderful fit for our needs. How wrong I was! Upon arriving, I started to notice that the upkeep of the property was very poor. This is just a small list of issues we encountered: AC units were not working, the kitchen refrigerator was not cooling which cost us over $100 in spoiled items, the kitchen sink had no water coming out, our staff had no hot water in the mornings for showers and one of our teammates got stung by a scorpion while using the towel from her bedroom restroom. With all of these problems arising, I decided it was time to call the owner/property manager Madelyn. As I spoke to her mentioning what we were experiencing, her only reaction was that no AC unit works in Texas when it's 100 degrees, which I know is not valid. She then proceeded to ask me what time we wanted to leave the next morning. This completely caught me off guard as I thought that being the owner you would try and resolve issues your paying guests are encountering. This was far from the response I was looking for! After planning this offsite and having several team members as well as speakers staying at the location, we could not just leave to find another space. We all had to deal with the situations at hand and try and get through the next 3 days the best as we could. Following check out, I decided to email Madelyn regarding all of the problems and inconveniences we all had to handle. Still no professionalism fro her regarding her venue to paying customers who keep her in business. I would think being a family owned business, you would treat your customers with respect and reply on the word of mouth business. We as a company, nor I personally will ever use Ruby Ranch again or refer it to anyone who is searching for a venue. Hopefully this helps someone else from going through the same experience!

Chapel Dulcinea has the quirkiest, most welcoming magic to it. It honestly feels a little like…read morestepping onto the grounds at Hogwarts--everywhere you turn, there's some little nook or cranny, some unexpected detail, some magical thing to find. There are walkways paved with marriage bricks from donors, hidden corners to explore, and even a wizarding academy that both of my girls immediately wanted to join. I had to remind them, "That is not what we are doing today. What we are doing today is making sure your sister has an idea of how we're going to decorate for her wedding day." But honestly? My girls did not want to leave. One of them had pickleball at 4:30 in Austin and completely missed it, and my very pregnant daughter had already skipped her nap and still hadn't had lunch. I kept saying, "Don't you need to go play pickleball? Don't you need to go take a nap and eat?" Nope. They still didn't want to leave. Yeah. It's that kind of spot. There was something to find around every corner. There was beer being served at 1 p.m., and the whole place felt so relaxed and joyful that my very pregnant daughter almost considered taking a drink. Even the door had a door sign. Which honestly? Perfect. It's a sign. On a door. About doors that are signs. I saw the signs, y'all. You should definitely book here. It's free, beautiful, and you're never gonna wanna go home. I also had the chance to watch a bride and her family trickle in, and it was truly magical. The chapel itself is beautiful, but the whole experience felt bigger than the building. It felt warm, human, peaceful, and full of story. That day, I also met both Ana, a photographer connected with Chapel Dulcinea, and officiant David James Nutter, and both left an impression. Even though I didn't watch Ana actually photograph the wedding, I did get to watch her set up and talk about the chapel with so much care and warmth. Later, I looked at her wedding photography online, and her work is breathtaking. Truly. It has the kind of beauty and tenderness you would expect from someone who is not just talented, but deeply caring. She also offers her services at a very decent price, which honestly says a lot about her heart. Her work looks like luxury, but her spirit feels generous. I also met officiant David James Nutter, and hearing his story was incredibly moving. We spoke about how he grew up in the Orthodox church and how that journey shaped him into someone deeply committed to serving people from all walks of life. His warmth, kindness, and openness stood out immediately. He listened thoughtfully as I shared parts of my own story and even followed up afterward with supportive messages. That kind of care is rare. If you're looking for a wedding venue that offers more than beautiful scenery--one that creates space for meaningful moments, welcomes officiants like David and Ana with quirky discoveries and authentic connection--I highly recommend Chapel Dulcinea. And if you're specifically interested in David as an officiant, or Ana as a photographer, feel free to message me through Yelp. I'd be happy to share his contact information. Oh! I almost forgot! Dogs are welcome if they are well behaved and on a leash! Pics for attention

My daughter had a Friday evening wedding here in late October, and it was absolutely magical. The…read morestaff were tremendously helpful and answered our seemingly zillion questions effortlessly in the months and weeks leading up to their special day. We arranged for a non-traditional chair set up (they have really much white chairs that don't really need anything) and for the gas lanterns to be lit for the ceremony, and the set up was completely flawless when we arrived. The views are stunning pretty much any time of year, just perfect for amazing Hill Country photos, and you don't need a whole lot of extra decor...nature has it covered. We brought in only 2 black metal lanterns donned with candles and florals and perched them on the wood stumps on either side of the bell tower door at the front the for the ceremony, and it was perfect in every way. We highly recommend this location for a small wedding-you won't be disappointed!

Stunning experience…read more This place has to be some of the best food my wife and I have EVER had. We came here to celebrate our anniversary recently after a close friend recommended it. Normally when I hear Italian I think of American Italian - heavy, one note, and leaves you feeling terrible after. Trattoria Lisina was none of those things. First, the location is beautiful. The entire restaurant is surrounded by Texas hill country beauty. The restaurant balances class and cozy in a way hard to explain. The wait staff is excellent and knowledgeable on the menu. Even the small details like their uniforms were excellent. The food is hard to describe. My wife spent an hour post dinner discussing how incredible it was. Every dish we tried was perfection. The fried elements were crisp. The raw elements melted in your mouth like butter. The entrees were executed in a way I've never had pasta! We will absolutely make this our "special place" for life occasions moving forward.

Located in Driftwood, which is a pretty drive on its own , worth it just for the scenery. Heads up:…read moremake reservations if you're going on a weekend, we went at 6pm on a Saturday and the place was already packed. The menu has a ton of great options. We started with salads, crab cake, and some focaccia bread that honestly disappeared in about two minutes, soft, warm, exactly what you want before a big meal. For mains we ordered several dishes: the mezzanine ravioli (hands down the winner, don't skip this one), spaghetti and meatballs, and the spaghetti bolognese. All solid, but that ravioli stuck with me. Do yourself a favor and save room for dessert. The gelato is fantastic, and the classic chocolate cake with salted caramel is the kind of thing you end up fighting over the last bite of. Overall, great spot, and the service is excellent!!!

Vista is one of my favorite local-ish breweries. Day tripping to Dripping Springs for good…read morebreweries and wineries is such a fun thing to do. So, if there's a place I like, I'm gonna go again and again. Vista is one of those places. I like their approach to beer making. They are vigilantly local when it comes to ingredients and offerings. The brewery/restaurant sits on over 20 acres in hill country. Large, clean, and modern interior with large outdoor seating areas and patio setups. Picnic tables, fire pits, etc. The food is good, gang. Love the grilled sausage board and the cheese board (all local cheese). Soft pretzel & cheese also super good. Lots of other items in the menu that look incredible. Sunday brunch too. Farm to table. The pours...oh, the pours. Excellent beers! I love the black pilsner (Dark Skies), the chocolate notes come through in such an aromatic and roasty manner. The pale ale (Driftwood Pale Ale) is the perfect summer pour. It's light, crisp, and refreshing. In addition to the regular pours, they've got a lot of seasonal offerings too. They also serve wine/wine cocktails and n/an options. Spending a day in hill country? Vista makes for a nice stop!

Many good beers to choose from! Cool ambiance walk up and order food and drinks! Outside is cool to…read morewalk around!

I love this place! Quiet with a nice koi pond and fountain. Always green and there's a heart…read moreshaped pathway.