A look inside Austin's newest luxury hotel
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1 Hotel Austin's Lake Terrace suite. Photo: Courtesy of Mikkel Vang
A luxury hotel with an apiary, rooftop pool, multiple restaurants and a spa opened this week in Texas' tallest building.
Why it matters: 1 Hotel Austin adds another major luxury hotel to Austin's downtown hospitality scene, expanding the city's appeal for high-end leisure and business travelers.
What they're saying: "Every detail of this property is intentional," David Duran, general manager of 1 Hotel Austin, told reporters Thursday.
Driving the news: It's the first Texas property from 1 Hotels, the luxury hospitality brand founded by the billionaire investor Barry Sternlicht.
- The hotel has 252 rooms, including 60 suites, each outfitted with cotton robes, slippers and yoga mats.
The big picture: 1 Hotel occupies the first 16 floors of Waterline, the 74-story tower in the Rainey Street district that has transformed Austin's skyline.
Zoom in: The property includes a Japanese-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar, Watr, on the same floor as the pool, and a lobby-level restaurant, Alteño Austin.
- Alteño Austin marks Denver-based chef Johnny Curiel's first out-of-state expansion of his concept inspired by Mexico's Jaliscan Highlands.
- Neighbors Café and Wine Bar serves breakfast and lunch on the lobby level, then turns into a wine bar in the evening.
- The wellness spa includes private treatment rooms, a couples suite, relaxation areas and a boutique.
Nicole's thought bubble: Alteño, a warm, modern space filled with wood and greenery, is worth braving downtown traffic.
- I'm still thinking about the avocado margarita ($18), which was surprisingly light rather than overly creamy, with plenty of lime and a complex, balanced flavor.
- The oysters (market price) were a standout on the shareable menu, topped with tuna tartare, sesame ponzu and habanero oil.
- Jalapeño cornbread ($21) came with a huitlacoche butter. And the ribeye ($12) arrived taco-style — a thin, flattened steak on a corn tortilla topped with whipped avocado and serrano oil.
Yes, but: Don't skip a trip to the top of the hotel for dinner or a nightcap at Watr. The restaurant will host late-night DJ sets, which are already on the calendar.
If you go: Reservations at the hotel and its restaurants are now open.
- Room rates start at more than $500.
