1 Hotel Austin, the first Texas property from 1 Hotels, is now open. Set within the 74-storey Waterline—the tallest tower in the state—the 252-room offers experiences shaped by Austin’s landscapes, creative community and food scene. Developed by Lincoln and Kairoi Residential, 1 Hotel Austin is part of the mixed-use Waterline development, which has transformed the edge of the Rainey Street District into a gateway between downtown and Austin’s parklands.
A stay inspired by Austin
Located steps from the Waterloo Greenway and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, the hotel places guests between the energy of downtown and the natural spaces in Austin. Restaurants, music venues, cultural attractions, parks, Waller Creek and the 10-mile trail around Lady Bird Lake are all within easy reach.
Inside the 252 accommodations—including 60 suites—woven textiles, oat-coloured fabrics, handcrafted textures and lush greenery give the rooms a relaxed, residential quality. Bathrooms have a spa-like palette with stone vanities and natural finishes. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of Lady Bird Lake, Waller Creek or the downtown skyline.
In-room amenities include the likes of filtered water taps, reusable glassware crafted from recycled wine bottles, cotton robes and slippers, yoga mats and Bamford bath amenities made with organic ingredients.
Where Austin eats, drinks and connects
Seasonality, local sourcing and low-waste practices guide the food and beverage offerings, with ingredients sourced from Texas farms and producers.
Alteño is Austin’s first restaurant from James Beard Award nominee Chef Johnny Curiel, whose Denver restaurants Alma Fonda Fina and Mezcaleria Alma hold Michelin stars. The restaurant is rooted in the fire-driven flavours of the Jalisco Highlands, where Chef Curiel grew up. The bar here has one of the city’s largest selections of distilled Mexican spirits, including more than 40 mezcals, alongside additive-free tequilas, raicilla, sotol and ancient corn whiskey.
Neighbors Café and Wine Bar—the first Neighbors wine bar in the 1 Hotels collection—opens directly to both the lobby and the neighbourhood. The beverage menu centres on Mediterranean wines, including biodynamic, minimal-intervention and sustainably farmed producers, alongside spritzes, mini martinis, botanical-forward gin and tonics, and cocktails. A calendar of recurring events connects guests with the local community—from game nights to Matcha Mondays with Mori Matcha.
Following its debut at 1 Hotel South Beach, watr arrives in Austin as the second location of this rooftop concept. Set on the 16th floor, watr offers inventive cocktails, Japanese-inspired cuisine and a social calendar that stretches from laid-back afternoons by the pool to DJ sets and monthly Full Moon parties.
Texas-sized wellness
A spacious fitness centre features cardio and strength-training equipment and opens onto an outdoor terrace. A dedicated yoga studio hosts classes for hotel guests and locals, with sessions on the terrace when weather permits. Personal training is offered in partnership with Monroe, an Austin private members club.
The spa houses six treatment rooms, a couple’s suite with a steam shower, and relaxation areas. The treatment menu combines Bamford’s signature rituals with massages, personalised facials, infrared sauna sessions, soundwave therapy, red light treatments and recovery experiences. Additional facilities include a sauna and cold plunge.
The hotel’s wellness offerings extend beyond the dedicated floor through a Sunday run club and other experiences that make use of the hotel’s proximity to the trail, lake and parkland. First-time guests also receive a complimentary three-day pass to Monroe, with access to its facilities.
An art collection inspired by place
Art is woven into nearly every corner of the hotel, with a collection that connects Austin’s natural environment and architectural history with the work of artists and makers from Texas and beyond.
Artist Nate Page transformed the imprint of a historic Rainey Street bungalow into a monumental installation that unfolds across the corridors on all 10 guest floors. At Neighbors Café and Wine Bar, Christian Kasperkovitz created a mural using pigments made with clay collected from Waller Creek. Additional commissions include biophilic installations by Alejandro Bataille, woven pieces by Peruvian textile artist Jimena Bedoya, hand-carved wood sculptures by Vince Skelly and works by Los Angeles artist Sarah Lesher.
Designed with purpose
Responsible design has informed every aspect of 1 Hotel Austin—from the materials used throughout the building to the experiences offered to guests. The property is pursuing LEED Gold certification and incorporates responsibly sourced wood, natural stone, reusable glassware and other durable materials as part of the brand’s commitment to reducing waste.
Thousands of native and climate-appropriate species fill the indoor and outdoor spaces, supporting biodiversity and local pollinators. An on-site apiary, built and cared for in partnership with Keeper’s Harvest, supplies honey featured at Neighbors.
Sustainability is also built into the details of a stay, such as FSC-certified wooden key cards, natural stone “Not Now” door signs, recycled-paper hangers, seed-paper amenity cards and in-room chalkboards that replace disposable notepads. Fully electric Audi Q6 e-tron house cars are also available for guests’ excursions around Austin. In addition, through 1 Less Thing, guests can leave behind gently used clothing for donation to Thrift-ish, a local community organisation that provides clothes to shelters and encampments for the unhoused.
Behind the scenes, the hotel works with Foodprint Group on waste reduction across its food and beverage operations and with Texas Disposal Systems to manage recycling, composting and waste diversion across the property.
Lead image: 1 Hotel Austin Terrace Suite | Credit: Mikkel Vang courtesy of 1 Hotels
