Hotel San José
Location, location, location, and style, style, style—that's what the Hotel San José has going for it. Famed Austin designer Liz Lambert, who owns the nearby Hotel St. Cecilia, the Hotel Havana in San Antonio, and El Cosmico in Marfa, bought and made over this 1930s motor court in the 1990s. It's been a favorite Austin stay for discriminating travelers ever since. First of all, it sits in a prime part of SoCo, just up the street from popular shops like Lucy in Disguise, Stag, and Uncommon Objects. It's also just a stone's throw from Guero's, a hopping taco and margarita spot. Across the street is the Continental Club, one of Austin's most acclaimed music venues. And then there's the hotel itself, with Lambert's signature whimsical take on mid-century minimalist design. Lambert's hotels are always modern, urban-chic oases. Spaces have clean lines and rooms are pricey but basic. You'll find concrete floors, lots of steel and stone, and subtle colors. Everything is sparse, but ivy-covered garden walls and lots of foliage soften it all. Some travelers think this place is spectacular, but others feel that it's gone a bit too far off the minimalist deep end. The hotel ambiance is geared toward affluent young to early-middle-aged travelers. Furnishings are simple and classic and made from blond Texas pine. Bathrobes are kimonos; bed sheets are fine quality cotton. All the textiles have been custom-made for the hotel. Many of the rooms also feature outdoor sitting areas or terraces. The San José offers some nice extras, like an iPod lending library, Polaroid cameras you can borrow (they sell the film in the lobby), and typewriters you can check out and use to write your letters home. The hotel is constantly upping its game by improving its spaces. In 2013, several bathrooms were updated, and private meeting and gathering spaces are being established. Even if you don't spend the night here, you might enjoy dropping by in the late afternoon or early evening to enjoy the comfortable surroundings of the hotel's wine bar. They've also started offering an occasional Sunday brunch, so ask about that when you register. The San José is known for hosting a lot of free community events, like a big pet parade the Saturday before Easter, a chili cook-off each winter, and "South by San José," which is five days of free music from big-name bands in the hotel parking lot during the South by Southwest music festival. I enjoy sitting in the courtyard, feeling far from the traffic noise of South Congress. Several good restaurants are within easy walking distance, and some of Austin's best-loved food trucks can be found just two miles away on South Lamar. Before you leave, be sure to check out the work of local artists and craftsmen in the retail area around reception.
Location, location, location, and style, style, style—that's what the Hotel San José has going for it. Famed Austin designer Liz Lambert, who owns the nearby Hotel St. Cecilia, the Hotel Havana in San Antonio, and El Cosmico in Marfa, bought and made over this 1930s motor court in the 1990s. It's been a favorite Austin stay for discriminating travelers ever since. First of all, it sits in a prime part of SoCo, just up the street from popular shops like Lucy in Disguise, Stag, and Uncommon Objects. It's also just a stone's throw from Guero's, a hopping taco and margarita spot. Across the street is the Continental Club, one of Austin's most acclaimed music venues. And then there's the hotel itself, with Lambert's signature whimsical take on mid-century minimalist design. Lambert's hotels are always modern, urban-chic oases. Spaces have clean lines and rooms are pricey but basic. You'll find concrete floors, lots of steel and stone, and subtle colors. Everything is sparse, but ivy-covered garden walls and lots of foliage soften it all. Some travelers think this place is spectacular, but others feel that it's gone a bit too far off the minimalist deep end. The hotel ambiance is geared toward affluent young to early-middle-aged travelers. Furnishings are simple and classic and made from blond Texas pine. Bathrobes are kimonos; bed sheets are fine quality cotton. All the textiles have been custom-made for the hotel. Many of the rooms also feature outdoor sitting areas or terraces. The San José offers some nice extras, like an iPod lending library, Polaroid cameras you can borrow (they sell the film in the lobby), and typewriters you can check out and use to write your letters home. The hotel is constantly upping its game by improving its spaces. In 2013, several bathrooms were updated, and private meeting and gathering spaces are being established. Even if you don't spend the night here, you might enjoy dropping by in the late afternoon or early evening to enjoy the comfortable surroundings of the hotel's wine bar. They've also started offering an occasional Sunday brunch, so ask about that when you register. The San José is known for hosting a lot of free community events, like a big pet parade the Saturday before Easter, a chili cook-off each winter, and "South by San José," which is five days of free music from big-name bands in the hotel parking lot during the South by Southwest music festival. I enjoy sitting in the courtyard, feeling far from the traffic noise of South Congress. Several good restaurants are within easy walking distance, and some of Austin's best-loved food trucks can be found just two miles away on South Lamar. Before you leave, be sure to check out the work of local artists and craftsmen in the retail area around reception.
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