Photography By Ari Skin
There are places you visit, and then there are places you experience.
Botanic is firmly the latter.
Tucked conveniently near the intersection of Highway 280 and Interstate 85 in Auburn-Opelika, Alabama, Botanic is a destination not easily defined. Part garden, part gathering place, part epicurean playground, it is a wonderland to be discovered.
Follow a winding path of dining tables sprinkled beneath a canopy of trees, perch at a martini bar with views of the scenery, pull up a seat at a private dinner table nestled into a reclaimed grain bin. A market serves coffee and smoothies alongside a curated selection of pantry items, gifts, and other charming finds, many produced by female entrepreneurs and makers. There’s a pond with a floating golf green, a garden shop bursting with blooms and leaves and pots, a cozy wine cellar anchored by a banquet table, and—we kid you not—a disco ball hanging high above a towering garden that shades the setting for lunch or a cocktail served at the custom-made jade bar. An al fresco seating area just beyond the market offers views of a small stage built around a tree, designed to lure dancing children delighted by the sound of live music.
Every single detail (trust us, there are many) has been thoughtfully and lovingly tended to. And at Botanic, there truly is something for everyone.
Built With Love
Husband-and-wife founders Stacy Brown and King Braswell set out to build a place where people could gather and feel cared for. King tends to the plants, and Stacy takes care of the people. Their vision took root in 2019 and has since grown into one of the region’s most distinctive and unique experiences.
Stacy’s imprint is everywhere. As the founder of Chicken Salad Chick, she is a master of not only feeding people, but also making them feel special and cared for. Similarly, King’s green thumbprint is evident from every vantage point. The property itself is a study in layers. Arrive at the Botanic campus, and you’re in another world where every rug, every table, and every dish flickers with an invitation to slow down, connect, and enjoy the simple beauty of good food, good drink, and good company.
Botanic is unapologetically Southern, extravagantly delicious, bursting with plants and blooms, and serving up something special around every corner. Effortlessly, every corner feels like home.
You should visit as soon as possible.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit
Clear your schedule.
Botanic isn’t a quick stop—it’s a slow unfold. Give yourself time to wander, sip, and settle in.
Keep going.
Many guests stop too soon. Venture beyond the main paths and you’ll find tucked-away corners, quiet seating areas, and a few surprises worth discovering.
Watch for the residents.
Rabbits roam the grounds, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch the daily duck parade en route to their snack.
Come back (and then come back again).
Daylight, dusk, and after dark offer entirely different moods. Add live music, a change in season, or a new menu, and no two visits feel the same.
Arrive curious. Leave enchanted.
