Austin is known for its outdoor recreation. From paddling on serene Lady Bird Lake to biking through expansive Zilker Park and swimming in beautiful Barton Springs Pool, the city is full of attractions that whisper to Austinites, "Come outside and play!"
It's in that spirit that one of Austin's most popular hotels, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, has undertaken a nature-inspired renovation encompassing its lobby, restaurant and lounge. On track for completion this month, the three-year, multimillion-dollar renovation was designed to mimic the feel of a luxurious lake house, according to the hotel, which said its new spaces feature colors, textures and patterns lifted from the property's "resort-like backyard."
Take the hotel's redesigned lobby, for example, which features a chandelier made of blown-glass oak leaves and acorns, floor-to-ceiling sculptural wood slats that represent trees and two giant art panels by Texas sculptor Brad Oldham, whose design depicts "the ever-changing silhouettes of oak trees," according to the hotel.
The reimagined lobby bar, which has changed its name from the Lobby Lounge to Live Oak, features a similarly organic aesthetic thanks to volcanic basalt flooring, white oak, medium-tone bronze and blackened steel. Design highlights include new lounging alcoves with fireplaces and built-in televisions, a new multi-tiered central bar flanked by illuminated bookcases and a new outdoor deck with seating for up to 47 people.
Finally, there's the hotel's new restaurant, Ciclo. Spanish for "cycle," it was designed to honor the changing seasons and their effect on nature. Design highlights, for example, include herringbone natural oak flooring, wood columns, four wall-to-wall hand-painted murals representing each of the four seasons and brass-banded tables with tops that alternate between rich rosewood and conifer green. There's also a newly expanded outdoor terrace with 112 seats — 22 more seats than the restaurant offers indoors.
"We tried to enforce the hotel's connection to nature in a sophisticated way that's subdued but still recognizable," said Michael Dalton, principal of Chicago-based Whitespace Interiors, which designed the renovation, earlier stages of which encompassed updates to the property's guest rooms, spa and fitness center.
Four More Austin Additions Groups Will Love
Its revitalized restaurant and lounge no doubt will make Four Seasons Hotel Austin more attractive for groups. The property has no shortage of competition for meetings business, however, thanks to a host of new venues opening across Austin. Here are four of them — two that recently opened and two that are coming soon:
• Fairmont Austin: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' largest U.S. property, Fairmont Austin, opened in March next to the Austin Convention Center. The second tallest building in Austin, the 37-story property features 1,048 guest rooms and nearly 140,000 square feet of meeting and event space, not to mention five restaurants and bars, a fitness center, and the largest outdoor pool and full-service spa in downtown Austin.
• The LINE Austin Hotel: The LINE Austin Hotel opened in June in what previously was the Radisson Hotel & Suites Austin Downtown. The reimagined property — which overlooks Lady Bird Lake — has 428 guest rooms; an upgraded outdoor pool and pool deck; a lakeside restaurant by "Top Chef" winner Kristen Kish; a rooftop "hangout" opening this fall with food, drinks and games; and 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms, a private screening room and a private residential-style kitchen for dinners, tastings and cooking demonstrations.
• The Otis Hotel and AC Hotel Austin: In fall 2019, Marriott International will open a new dual-branded hotel adjacent to the University of Texas at Austin's campus. The property will include The Otis Hotel, which will be part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, and AC Hotel Austin. The former will have 191 rooms, including 29 suites. It will be designed to celebrate Austin's artistic and musical communities with features like in-room record players and a curated vinyl library. The latter, meanwhile, will have 156 rooms, including two suites. Like other AC properties, it will have a European design and amenities, including a European-inspired breakfast concept and a lounge serving Spanish-style tapas. The property also will include a 4,000-square-foot rooftop deck with an outdoor pool, a full-service restaurant and bar, and over 7,000 square feet of meeting space — including a 3,480-square-foot ballroom and five smaller meeting rooms.
• Austin Marriott Downtown: Another Marriott property underway in Austin is the Austin Marriott Downtown, which is scheduled to open in downtown Austin in summer 2020. The 30-story hotel will have 613 guest rooms and 65,000 square feet of meeting space, not to mention two bars, a full-service restaurant and a rooftop "pool, bar and entertainment zone."
