1 Hotels, the luxury lifestyle brand founded by Barry Sternlicht, is now accepting reservations for 1 Hotel Austin, an urban sanctuary in Texas. With an anticipated opening in August 2026, 1 Hotel Austin is set at the meeting point of Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake and anchors the 74-story Waterline, the tallest tower in the state.
Developed by Lincoln Property Company and Kairoi Residential, the mixed-use development reconnects the city to its natural waterways and transforms a previously neglected area into a thriving corridor. Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) designed the building, with HKS Architects serving as architect of record. The hotel's interiors have been crafted by Studio MAI in collaboration with Starwood Hotels design team, while the landscape architecture curated by TBG Partners ties the building to its setting along Waller Creek through native plantings and green spaces.
Drawing inspiration from modern Hill Country ranches and traditional Texas river houses, 1 Hotel Austin interprets these references through a contemporary, biophilic lens. Natural materials, layered textures, and indoor-outdoor transitions shape the design.
"I've long admired Austin for its creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit," said Sternlicht, also the Chairman of Starwood Hotels. "It's a place where innovation thrives alongside a deep respect for the environment and community. Even as the city continues to grow and evolve, it has managed to balance progress with preservation. That idea of building thoughtfully and living consciously is at the core of 1 Hotels, making Austin an extraordinary setting for our next chapter."
A Nature-Led Stay Above the City
The architecture of 1 Hotel Austin is sculpted to echo its setting along Waller Creek, with the tower itself following the curve of the water below. Planted balconies, outdoor terraces, and a collage of façades work together to soften the building's scale.
Guests are welcomed into a light-filled lobby framed by wood ceilings, natural stone surfaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Seating clusters and living greenery encourage guests to linger, work, and gather.
1 Hotel Austin will feature 252 guestrooms, including 60 luxury suites. Finished with natural materials and tactile details, these spaces encourage rest and reset. Large windows bring in daylight, and many of the rooms have views of the Austin skyline, Waller Creek, and Lady Bird Lake.
The hotel's prime location in the heart of Downtown, steps from the Rainey Street District, gives guests easy access to Austin's cultural energy. It also offers direct access to outdoor attractions like the Waterloo Greenway, and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, a 10-mile loop along Lady Bird Lake for walking, jogging, and biking.
"The goal was to create a hotel that feels connected to its surroundings in the center of the city," said Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels. "And we have done that. From the guestrooms and wellness floor to the rooftop and public areas, the spaces are intuitive and restorative. It's designed to support how people actually want to live, travel, and gather in Austin."
Where to Eat and Unwind
1 Hotel Austin features a mix of signature Daylife offerings and nightlife options. From wellness-focused activities like run clubs and sound bath sessions to chef-driven restaurants and rooftop activations, the hotel is conceived as a place to gather, connect, and return to again and again.
The dining experiences at 1 Hotel Austin reflect the region's agricultural richness and creative spirit. The hotel's signature restaurant, Alteño Austin, is led by James Beard Award nominee Chef Johnny Curiel, whose Michelin-starred Denver restaurant Alma Fonda Fina has earned international acclaim. At Alteño, Curiel introduces his signature approach to Mexican cooking, drawing on the flavors of his homeland in Jalisco's Highlands. It's an homage to the culinary traditions passed down by his father, the original Alteño, or "highlander."
"We are thrilled to welcome Chef Johnny Curiel to Austin," said Nicholas Demasi, Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage for Starwood Hotels. "There's a respect for tradition in the way he cooks, but also a willingness to reinterpret it, and that balance is what makes his food so compelling. It really resonates with how we think about building restaurants at 1 Hotels: We're creating places that are grounded in their surroundings but continue to evolve."
Above the city on the 16th floor, watr is the hotel's rooftop restaurant and lounge, an open-air destination with a Japanese-leaning menu. Anchored by views of Lady Bird Lake and the Austin skyline, the space shifts from sunlit brunches to a social scene with DJs, cocktails, and a crowd that lingers beneath the wide Texas sky.
Another highlight: Neighbors, a café and wine bar designed as a local hangout, open from morning to night with entrances from both the lobby and the street. By day, it's a casual spot for coffee, fresh juices, and easy bites; by evening, it settles into a laid-back wine bar with small plates, draft cocktails, and a come-as-you-are atmosphere.
For meetings and events, 1 Hotel Austin offers more than 10,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space, with venues overlooking the city and greenway. Through the brand's Certified Sustainable Gatherings program, events minimize environmental impact by prioritizing reduced waste, thoughtful sourcing, and responsible operations.
Wellness
Wellness at 1 Hotel Austin unfolds across a dedicated floor. A 2,000-square-foot fitness center opens onto an outdoor terrace. A dedicated yoga studio offers space for focused, mindful practice.
The wellness floor also includes an outpost of Bamford Wellness Spa, developed in partnership with Carole Bamford, a pioneer in organic, sustainable, and holistic living. The spa features a range of treatment rooms, including a dedicated couples room, along with a retail offering featuring Bamford's signature products. Treatment rooms emphasize privacy and simplicity, while locker rooms and relaxation spaces draw inspiration from Hill Country bathhouses.
Sustainability
Sustainability is woven throughout the guest experience at 1 Hotel Austin. The property is pursuing LEED Gold certification.
Guests are encouraged to travel lighter through the brand's signature 1 Less Thing program, which invites travelers to leave behind gently used clothing for donation to local community organizations. Thoughtful details like in-room filtered water taps and reusable glassware reduce reliance on single-use plastics and reinforce the brand's commitment to mindful living.
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