As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas, and that now includes the 74-story Waterline high-rise, the tallest skyscraper in the Lone Star State. Notably, the foundation of the new mixed-use development will be the first 1 Hotel Austin in Texas, which is now taking reservations ahead of its August 2026 opening.
The nature-inspired urban retreat is set where Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake meet, effectively reconnecting the city to its natural waterways and transforms a previously neglected area into a thriving corridor. Drawing inspiration from modern Hill Country ranches and traditional Texas river houses, 1 Hotel Austin interprets local references through a 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,” says Barry Sternlicht, Founder of 1 Hotels and 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.”
1 Hotel Austin will feature 252 guest rooms, including 60 luxury suites. Interiors are finished with natural materials, tactile details, and large windows to bring in daylight. Many of the rooms have views of the Austin skyline, Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake.
Guests will be welcomed into a light-filled lobby framed by expansive wood ceilings, natural stone surfaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the surrounding landscape. Seating clusters and living greenery create a space that functions as both a social hub and a quiet retreat.
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 broad acclaim. Wellness at 1 Hotel Austin will be found on a dedicated floor in a 2,000-square-foot fitness center that opens onto an outdoor terrace.
The hotel’s prime location in the heart of Downtown, just steps from the Rainey Street District, gives guests easy access to Austin’s cultural energy, from live music venues to museums. It also offers direct access to outdoor attractions like the Waterloo Greenway, a flourishing public park, and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, a scenic 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,” says Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels. “And we have done that. From the guest rooms 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.”
Stay tuned for JustLuxe’s hotel review following a vetted property visit. In addition to Austin, the contemporary 1 Hotels brand continues to expand with properties in development in Paris, Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), Elounda Hills (Crete), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), San Miguel de Allende (Mexico) and Hudson Valley (New York).
“The goal was to create a hotel that feels connected to its surroundings in the center of the city,” says Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels. “And we have done that. From the guest rooms 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.”
Stay tuned for JustLuxe’s hotel review following a vetted property visit. In addition to Austin, the contemporary 1 Hotels brand continues to expand with properties in development in Paris, Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), Elounda Hills (Crete), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), San Miguel de Allende (Mexico) and Hudson Valley (New York).
