1 Hotel Austin, the first Texas property from 1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, is now open. Set within the 74-story Waterline. The tallest tower in the state and the 252-room hotel introduces an exciting new experience shaped by Austin’s landscapes, creative community, and celebrated food scene.
Where Is 1 Hotel Austin Located?
1 Hotel Austin sits inside the Waterline development, at the meeting point of Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake, on the edge of the Rainey Street District. Developed by Lincoln and Kairoi Residential, the mixed-use Waterline project has transformed this stretch of Austin into a gateway between downtown and the city’s parklands. The hotel is located steps from the Waterloo Greenway and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, with restaurants, music venues, cultural attractions, parks, and the 10-mile trail around Lady Bird Lake all within easy reach.
Who Designed 1 Hotel Austin?
- Architecture: Kohn Pedersen Fox, with HKS Architects serving as architect of record
- Interiors: Studio MAI, in collaboration with the Starwood Hotels design team
- Landscape design: TBG Partners
“Opening in Austin is a milestone for 1 Hotels,” says Barry Sternlicht, Founder of 1 Hotels and Chairman of Starwood Hotels. “Austin is a remarkable city, as it maintains its great traditions while embracing change and acting as a poster child for the brightest future. Few cities have been able to grow with the confidence Austin has while holding onto the qualities that make it special: its creativity, independent spirit, welcoming character, and extraordinary natural beauty. 1 Hotels’ DNA is about celebrating nature and healthy and sustainable living; this location is perfect for us—set in the heart of the city, alongside Waller Creek, overlooking the Waterloo Greenway, and steps from the trail around Lady Bird Lake. The connection between nature and urban life is our perfect site.”
What Are the Rooms Like?
The hotel offers 252 accommodations, including 60 suites, finished with woven textiles, oat-colored fabrics, handcrafted textures, and lush greenery. Bathrooms feature a spa-like palette with stone vanities and natural finishes, and floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of Lady Bird Lake, Waller Creek, or the downtown skyline.
In-room amenities include:
- Filtered water taps
- Reusable glassware crafted from recycled wine bottles
- Cotton robes and slippers
- Yoga mats
- Bamford bath amenities made with organic ingredients
- Minibar selections from local makers, including chocolates from Desnudo, snacks from Austin Pretzel Company, Wildflower Caramels, and Tamalitoz treats
Throughout the property, natural materials — locally quarried limestone, oak, and reclaimed wood salvaged from historic American structures — set the tone. More than 4,000 plants representing over 30 species, plus a living plant wall, bring Central Texas landscapes indoors, and the lobby is designed to feel residential rather than formal, with seating clusters arranged like a living room.
“At 1 Hotel Austin, we’re bringing a new energy to the city, one rooted in community, wellness, sustainability, and unforgettable experiences,” says Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels. “We envision more than a hotel. We’re creating a welcoming gathering place where travelers and locals come together to connect, enjoy exceptional food and beverage experiences, and celebrate the vibrant spirit and natural beauty that make Austin so special.”
What Restaurants and Bars Are at 1 Hotel Austin?
The hotel has three distinct food and beverage venues:
Alteño — Austin’s first restaurant from James Beard Award nominee Chef Johnny Curiel, whose Denver restaurants, Alma Fonda Fina and Mezcaleria Alma, both hold Michelin stars. The campestre-style restaurant is rooted in the fire-driven flavors of the Jalisco Highlands and honors the culinary traditions of Curiel’s father. The bar carries 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.
“Opening a restaurant in Austin has been a dream for a long time,” says Curiel. “The meals I remember most from growing up were spent around the fire with family and friends, sharing food and staying at the table long after we had finished eating. At Alteño, I want guests to feel like they have been welcomed into our home, where plates are passed, drinks are poured, and everyone has a place at the table.”
Neighbors Café and Wine Bar — the first Neighbors wine bar in the 1 Hotels collection, opening directly onto the lobby and the neighborhood. The beverage menu centers on Mediterranean wines, including biodynamic and minimal-intervention producers, alongside spritzes, mini martinis, and cocktails like the Nitro Espresso Martini. A calendar of recurring events includes game nights and Matcha Mondays with Mori Matcha.
watr — the second location of the rooftop concept that debuted at 1 Hotel South Beach, perched 16 stories above the city with views of the skyline and Lady Bird Lake. The menu features Japanese-inspired cuisine, tasting flights of signature hand rolls, a raw bar, and an interactive Binchotan experience with chutoro prepared tableside, plus DJ sets and monthly Full Moon parties.
What Wellness Amenities Does the Hotel Offer?
A dedicated wellness floor includes a fitness center with an outdoor terrace overlooking the Austin skyline and Lady Bird Lake, plus a yoga studio open to hotel guests and the local community. Personal training is offered in partnership with Monroe, an Austin private members club with two fitness floors, sauna, and cold plunge; first-time hotel guests receive a complimentary three-day pass.
Bamford Wellness Spa, founded by Carole Bamford, includes six private treatment rooms and a couples suite with a steam shower. Treatments combine Bamford’s signature rituals with massages, personalized facials, infrared sauna, soundwave therapy, and red light treatments. The hotel also hosts a three-mile Sunday run club around Lady Bird Lake.
Is 1 Hotel Austin Sustainable?
Sustainability runs through the property’s design and operations. The hotel is pursuing LEED Gold certification and uses responsibly sourced wood, natural stone, and reusable glassware. Details include FSC-certified wooden key cards, natural stone “Not Now” door signs, recycled-paper hangers, seed-paper amenity cards, and in-room chalkboards in place of disposable notepads. Fully electric Audi Q6 e-tron house cars are available for guest excursions.
An on-site apiary, built with Keeper’s Harvest, supplies honey served at Neighbors. Through the 1 Less Thing program, guests can donate gently used clothing to Thrift-ish, a local organization supporting shelters and encampments for the unhoused. The hotel also partners with Foodprint Group on food and beverage waste reduction and with Texas Disposal Systems on recycling, composting, and waste diversion.
Does 1 Hotel Austin Have Event Space?
Yes. The hotel offers more than 10,000 square feet of event space for privatization and buyouts on the 14th floor, including a 4,500-square-foot divisible ballroom, 6,000 square feet of pre-function space with indoor and outdoor terraces overlooking downtown and Lady Bird Lake, and three boardrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows. Events are supported by the brand’s Certified Sustainable Gatherings program.