1 Hotel Austin Opens in Texas’ Tallest Tower
The 252-room hotel pairs nature-inspired design with destination dining, a rooftop pool, and an expansive wellness program.
Photos: Mikkel Vang
1 Hotels has opened its first Texas property, welcoming guests to a new urban retreat overlooking Lady Bird Lake. The 252-room 1 Hotel Austin occupies 10 floors of Waterline, a 74-story mixed-use development and the state’s tallest building.
Located at the edge of the Rainey Street District, the hotel sits near the Waterloo Greenway and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Its 252 accommodations, including 60 suites, offer floor-to-ceiling views of Lady Bird Lake, Waller Creek, or downtown Austin. In-room amenities include filtered water taps, yoga mats, Bamford bath products, and reusable glassware made from recycled wine bottles.
The interiors draw heavily on Central Texas, incorporating locally quarried limestone, oak and reclaimed wood. More than 4,000 plants representing over 30 species appear throughout the property, including a living wall in the lobby. The hotel is pursuing LEED Gold certification and has introduced several waste-reduction measures, from recycled-paper hangers and wooden key cards to an in-room clothing-donation program.
Three dining venues give the property appeal beyond its guest rooms. Alteño, the first Austin restaurant from James Beard Award nominee Johnny Curiel, centers on the fire-cooked cuisine of Mexico’s Jalisco Highlands. The menu features grilled meats, seafood, and heritage dishes, complemented by more than 40 mezcals and a selection of tequila, raicilla, sotol, and corn whiskey.
Neighbors Café and Wine Bar serves breakfast, small plates and cocktails at street level, while the 16th-floor watr pairs Japanese-inspired dishes and a raw bar with skyline and lake views. Its rooftop programming includes DJ sets and monthly Full Moon parties.
Wellness facilities include a fitness center, yoga studio, and Bamford Wellness Spa, which has six treatment rooms and a couples suite with a steam shower. Treatments range from massages and personalized facials to infrared sauna sessions, soundwave therapy and red-light treatments. Guests can also join a weekly 3-mile run around Lady Bird Lake, while first-time visitors receive a complimentary three-day pass to nearby private club Monroe.
More than 10,000 square feet of event space rounds out the hotel, including a divisible ballroom, indoor and outdoor terraces, and three boardrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows.
