Casa de Luz in South Austin is a little piece of heaven.
John Coletti/Getty Images
By the time I made it toAustin, Texas, the secret was already out.
The once-midsized city is nowthe 10th largest cityin the U.S.
But as an Austin first-timer, I was blissfully unaware of the battle between old and new.
I was too busy falling in love with a city that feltboth funky and swanky, green and urban.
Casa de Luz ended up being much more than a lunch spot.
I peer into a few but continue with my quest to find lunch.
At the end of the tunnel, a protected plaza with a playground and outdoor seating sprawls.
I pay for my lunch at the counter, in advance.
The menu says everything is organic, vegan, and free from sugar, gluten, and refined oil.
When diet is correct medicine is of no need.
After a few minutes, my plate is returned, overflowing with colorful fare.
(Apparently sugar-, gluten-, and refined-oil-free vegans do just fine.)
Its the sort of place you eat at once and think about daily.
You could argue that Casa de Luz alone is worthy of a trip to Austin.
Credit:John Coletti/Getty Images
Its glamorous without being stuffy.
And that goes for the service too.
Its a particularly green corner of Austin thats just over a mile from downtown.
Courtesy of The Loren at Lady Bird Lake
The neighborhood is built around a 358-acre park that houses one of the citys crown jewels: Barton Springs.
The spring feedsBarton Springs Pool, a public swimming pool with grassy hillsides that are perfect for sunbathing.
And depending on when you go, admission is free.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
