Step Inside Flourish Plant Shop & Wine Bar: Austin’s New Botanical Wine Retreat
Now open on Airport Boulevard, the neighborhood spot blends curated houseplants, approachable global wines, and thoughtfully paired small plates
Flourish Plant Shop & Wine Bar has officially taken root on Airport Boulevard. The light-filled boutique blends a lush plant shop on one side of the building with an adjacent bar space that features thoughtfully chosen wines. Flourish is designed as a place to slow down. It’s an inviting neighborhood space that feels equal parts garden, gathering spot and gentle escape.
Meet the founders
The concept is the vision of longtime friends Rachel Roberts and Dale Ellington. For Roberts, a lifelong Austinite, Flourish represents the natural evolution of her work. After years in local restaurants and later building a successful plant curation business, she has created a space that merges her love of greenery and hospitality. Ellington, bringing over a decade of wine expertise, anchors the bar program, encouraging guests to explore without pressure or pretense.
Ellington poured a glass and shared a bit about the founders’ history, “My business partner, Rachel, and I have known each other for 30 years. Rachel opened the very first iteration of this space. It was simply called Flourish, a plant shop located next to Epoch Coffee on North Loop. She had it for seven years. At that time, I was living in Houston, but whenever I came back to Austin, I would go straight to the shop and hang out with her behind the desk. I loved watching people walk in, get about three feet inside and visibly relax. You could see their whole body soften.”
A relaxed wine experience
Flourish’s sun-drenched corners overflow with vibrant houseplants, all handpicked by Roberts. Guests are free to wander, sip, shop and linger. By-the-glass or bottle options rotate frequently, highlighting a broad spectrum of styles. Here, there is a strong emphasis on discovery. Ellington was sure to point out that they chose to feature many female winemakers. “You’ll see a Venus symbol next to bottles made by women who own their wineries,” he says.
Ellington shares, “Plants make the wine taste better, and wine makes the plants look better. Rachel does an incredible job merchandising everything. It’s a feast for the eyes – a cornucopia of things that hit all of your senses.”
Leaning into whimsy
Food at Flourish is intentionally simple. Cheese and charcuterie boards, preserved seafood, playful bites such as prosciutto “nachos,” and refined snacks are curated to complement the wines.
Regarding the menu, Ellington notes that it’s a bit unexpected, “We really lean into whimsy. You’ll see it on the food menu, especially with desserts. We have Oreo cookies paired with cream sherry – you dip them in, and it will change your life. We also serve a Snickers bar on a plate with a fork and knife, as a nod to “Seinfeld,” paired with Rare Wine Co. Bual Madeira. It’s a surprisingly stunning pairing.”
Cultivating Community
Beyond the bar and shop, Flourish positions itself as a place to foster connection among neighbors, plant enthusiasts, and wine lovers alike. Sometimes the best way to reconnect is to sit among plants and raise a glass.
Ellington adds, “We’re more interested in cultivating a vibe than a scene. Whether you want meaningful conversation over a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic option, we’ve got you covered. We’re not a restaurant, but we offer thoughtfully curated food that satisfies. The goal is to engage all the senses, to create something that feels good, smells good and looks beautiful.”
For more information visit flourish-austin.com and follow on social media @flourish.atx.