South Congress Austin, Texas
Renovated
2017
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Heritage SocialOutside the door
The house
BunkhouseRetro roadside showpiece
A playful 1930s roadside motor court reimagined with punchy colors, where locals and guests gather beneath the famous neon sign.
“The result is a setting that blends sly retro touches with a millennial bent.”
What it’s good at
Notable
A 1938 roadside motor court preserving its original carports and landmark neon sign.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler, Wallpaper* and AFAR.
That distinctive sign, which has been drawing double-takes along South Congress since 1938, is now backed up by some equally distinctive retro-themed interiors.
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
South Congress Avenue unfolds outside the gates, lined with legendary music venues, food trailers, cowboy boot emporiums, and vintage shops.
The rooms
Rooms pair candy-orange tufted vinyl beds and custom lip wallpaper with red push-button phones, music posters, and crisp Sferra sheets.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Red loungers and striped umbrellas circle the 1,100-square-foot kidney-shaped pool in the central courtyard.
Dogs stay too.
Austin Motel Pool Bar
Set right beside the water, the red-and-white striped bar shakes up cocktails and pours cold beers.
The decor is funky and playful: red, tufted-vinyl platforms, custom Voutsa wallpaper in a pattern of lips, old-school push-button phones.
At the table
Joann's Fine Foods turns out Tex-Mex with daily homemade tortillas, and Rocky's Bar serves cocktails beside outdoor shuffleboard.
How it began
Welcoming travelers on South Congress since 1938, hotelier Liz Lambert restored the motor court in 2017 while preserving its original architecture.
“Hip local hotelier Liz Lambert took a 1930s building in the heart of the hip South Congress neighborhood and added a fresh eclectic vibe…”
Good to know
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.