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Today Monday, September 21, 2026
Original operations The Hospitality Newsletter Team · ·For: Owner, GM, Investor, Ops

1 Hotel Austin Opens Inside Texas' Tallest Tower

1 Hotels expands into Texas with a 252-room property inside Austin's 74-story Waterline development.

The short answer

1 Hotels has debuted its first Texas property with the opening of 1 Hotel Austin inside the 74-story Waterline mixed-use development. The hotel features 252 guestrooms, three dining concepts, a Bamford Wellness Spa, and 10,000 square feet of event facilities.

252
guest accommodations including 60 suites
1 Hotel Austin
74
stories in the Waterline tower
development height
10,000
square feet of event space
14th floor
4,000
live plants across 30 species
interior design
1 Hotel Austin Opens Inside Texas' Tallest Tower
Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh / Pexels

The short version

  • 1 Hotel Austin marks the brand's inaugural property in the Texas lodging market.
  • Waterline, a 74-story skyscraper developed by Lincoln and Kairoi Residential, houses the 252-key hotel.
  • Chef Johnny Curiel has debuted Alteño on-site, serving Jalisco Highlands cuisine and over 40 mezcals.

1 Hotels has officially entered the Texas market with the opening of 1 Hotel Austin, a 252-room property situated inside the 74-story Waterline mixed-use tower [1]. Developed by Lincoln and Kairoi Residential, the hotel features interiors designed by Studio MAI and Starwood Hotels, three distinct food and beverage concepts, a Bamford Wellness Spa, and over 10,000 square feet of dedicated event space overlooking Lady Bird Lake and Waller Creek [1].

Where is 1 Hotel Austin located within the city?

1 Hotel Austin is located inside Waterline, a 74-story mixed-use tower positioned along Waller Creek in downtown Austin [1]. According to Lodging Magazine, the property sits directly adjacent to the Waterloo Greenway and steps away from the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail encircling Lady Bird Lake [1]. This position places travelers within walking distance of downtown cultural attractions, live music venues, public parks, and neighborhood dining [1]. Kohn Pedersen Fox led the building's architecture, with HKS Architects serving as architect of record and TBG Partners managing landscape design [1].

modern skyscraper glass exterior
Photo: Wolfgang Weiser / Pexels

What architectural and interior design elements define the guestrooms?

The hotel comprises 252 guestrooms, including 60 suites, outfitted with locally quarried limestone, oak, and reclaimed wood salvaged from historic American structures [1]. As reported by Lodging Magazine, the interior layout incorporates more than 4,000 live plants across 30 species, including an integrated living plant wall [1]. Corridors feature wood paneling and indirect lighting leading into guest quarters finished with woven textiles and oat-colored fabrics [1]. Bathrooms offer stone vanities and spa-inspired finishes, while floor-to-ceiling windows present vistas of the downtown skyline, Waller Creek, or Lady Bird Lake [1]. In-room guest amenities include filtered water taps, drinking glassware repurposed from recycled wine bottles, organic Bamford bath products, yoga mats, and minibars featuring regional snacks from Desnudo chocolates, Wildflower Caramels, Austin Pretzel Company, and Tamalitoz [1].

Space or AmenityKey Specification or DetailNotable Features
Guest Accommodations252 total rooms (including 60 suites)Filtered water taps, reclaimed glassware, floor-to-ceiling windows
Tower ProfileSet within the 74-story Waterline towerMixed-use development by Lincoln and Kairoi Residential
Alteño RestaurantJalisco Highlands cuisine by Chef Johnny CurielOpen kitchen, 40+ mezcals, additive-free tequilas, Mexican spirits
watr Rooftop16 stories above ground levelJapanese-inspired menu, tableside Binchotan chutoro, low-waste bar
Neighbors Café and Wine BarGround-level street accessBiodynamic wines, botanical cocktails, Nitro Espresso Martinis
Bamford Wellness Spa6 private treatment roomsCouples suite, steam shower, infrared sauna, red light therapy
Meeting & Event Facilities10,000+ square feet total space4,500 sq. ft. divisible ballroom, 6,000 sq. ft. pre-function area
rooftop restaurant outdoor seating skyline
Photo: Joel Zar / Pexels

Which dining concepts operate at the property?

1 Hotel Austin features three culinary venues guided by seasonal sourcing and low-waste operational standards [1]. Alteño, the first Austin restaurant led by chef Johnny Curiel, highlights fire-cooked meats and seafood anchored in the culinary styles of the Jalisco Highlands [1]. Alteño houses an open kitchen alongside an extensive Mexican spirits program that stocks more than 40 mezcals, additive-free tequilas, sotol, raicilla, and ancient corn whiskey [1].

spa relaxation lounge stone wood
Photo: HUUM │sauna heaters / Pexels

On the 16th floor, rooftop concept watr opens its second brand location following its debut at 1 Hotel South Beach, as noted by Lodging Magazine [1]. The venue serves Japanese-inspired fare, raw bar selections, tasting flights of hand rolls, and a tableside Binchotan chutoro presentation accompanied by low-waste cocktails [1]. At street level, Neighbors Café and Wine Bar provides transition service from morning coffee to evening small plates, highlighting biodynamic and minimal-intervention Mediterranean wines alongside botanical spritzes and draft cocktails [1].

What facilities are included on the wellness floor?

The hotel's wellness level features a comprehensive fitness center, a private yoga studio, and the Bamford Wellness Spa [1]. As detailed by Lodging Magazine, the fitness center connects to an outdoor workout terrace overlooking Lady Bird Lake, with personal training services provided in partnership with Austin private club Monroe [1]. The Bamford Wellness Spa, established by Carole Bamford, includes six private treatment rooms, a dedicated couples suite equipped with a steam shower, and relaxation lounges styled after Texas Hill Country bathhouses [1]. Clinical and holistic offerings encompass red light therapy, infrared sauna treatments, soundwave sessions, customized facials, and retail botanical skincare products [1].

How much meeting and event space is available?

1 Hotel Austin provides over 10,000 square feet of bookable gathering space situated on the 14th floor [1]. The layout includes a 4,500-square-foot ballroom that can be divided into smaller sections, three private boardrooms fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows, and 6,000 square feet of pre-function space spanning indoor foyers and open-air terraces facing downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake [1].

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This article was written from the following reporting. Follow the links for the original coverage.

Frequently asked

+How many guestrooms does 1 Hotel Austin have?

1 Hotel Austin features 252 guest accommodations, which includes 60 suites. Rooms provide views of Lady Bird Lake, Waller Creek, or the downtown skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows.

+Who developed and designed 1 Hotel Austin?

The property was developed by Lincoln and Kairoi Residential within the 74-story Waterline tower. Architecture was handled by Kohn Pedersen Fox and HKS Architects, interiors by Studio MAI and Starwood Hotels, and landscaping by TBG Partners.

+What restaurants and bars operate inside 1 Hotel Austin?

The property houses Alteño by Chef Johnny Curiel, rooftop restaurant watr on the 16th floor, and the ground-level Neighbors Café and Wine Bar.

+What amenities are offered at the Bamford Wellness Spa in Austin?

The spa contains six private treatment rooms, a couples suite with a steam shower, infrared sauna sessions, soundwave therapy, red light treatments, and retail products crafted with organic botanicals.

+How much meeting space is available at 1 Hotel Austin?

The hotel offers more than 10,000 square feet of event space on its 14th floor, including a 4,500-square-foot divisible ballroom, three boardrooms, and 6,000 square feet of pre-function space.

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