First Look: 1 Hotel Austin to Anchor the Tallest High-rise in Texas

The Archive Folio

• May 10, 2026
• ByVicki Arkoff

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, which rises from the Austin skyline with a boldness that seems to mirror the city's own boundless ambition. At the foundation of this towering new mixed-use development sits the first 1 Hotel Austin in Texas, a property that is now taking reservations ahead of its highly anticipated August 2026 opening. The arrival of the 1 Hotels brand in the Texas capital is a moment of convergence: a brand built on the philosophy of nature-inspired luxury finding its home in a city that has long balanced explosive growth with a deep, almost reverential connection to its natural landscape.

For the brand, Austin represents something more than a new pin on the map — it is a statement of intent, a declaration that the future of luxury hospitality lies not in opposition to the natural world but in seamless partnership with it. The 74-story tower itself becomes a kind of monument to this vision, a vertical city that rises from the banks of Waller Creek with the confidence of a structure that knows exactly what it stands for.

The nature-inspired urban retreat is set where Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake meet, a location of considerable significance that goes far beyond its scenic appeal. The site effectively reconnects the city to its natural waterways, transforming a previously neglected corridor into a thriving, vibrant passage between urban energy and natural serenity. Drawing inspiration from modern Hill Country ranches and traditional Texas river houses, 1 Hotel Austin interprets local references through a biophilic lens that feels both authentic and revelatory. Natural materials, layered textures, and indoor-outdoor transitions shape the design, creating spaces that breathe with the same easy rhythm that defines the best of Austin itself.

The architecture pays homage to the rugged beauty of the Texas Hill Country while embracing the sophistication that a world-class hotel demands. Reclaimed woods, native stone, and living green walls create an environment that feels less constructed than cultivated — as though the building has grown from the landscape rather than been imposed upon it. It is a design philosophy that rewards attention: the more you look, the more you discover in the careful interplay of material and light, texture and space.

Courtesy of 1 Hotel Austin

"I've long admired Austin for its creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit," says Barry Sternlicht, Founder of 1 Hotels and Chairman of Starwood Hotels, his words carrying the weight of someone who has spent decades reading the cultural tides of the world's great cities. "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."

For Sternlicht, Austin represents a kindred spirit — a city that has built its identity on the principle that creativity and consciousness need not be opposing forces. The 1 Hotels brand, with its unwavering commitment to sustainability without sacrifice, has found in Austin a partner whose values align with its own. The result is a property that promises to be more than a hotel; it is a manifesto for a new kind of luxury, one that acknowledges the responsibility that comes with creating extraordinary places in an era of environmental awareness.

1 Hotel Austin will feature 252 guest rooms, including 60 luxury suites, each one conceived as a private retreat that draws the outside world in through design rather than shutting it out. Interiors are finished with natural materials that reward the touch — reclaimed woods, hand-troweled plaster, and stone surfaces that bear the subtle imperfections of things made by nature rather than machine. Tactile details abound: woven textiles, artisanal ceramics, and organic forms that create a sense of warmth and authenticity often missing from the sterility of conventional luxury. Large windows frame the ever-changing Texas sky, bringing in daylight that shifts from the soft gold of morning to the fiery amber of sunset, and many rooms offer views of the Austin skyline, the winding path of Waller Creek, and the expansive waters of Lady Bird Lake.

The suites elevate the experience further, with separate living areas, soaking tubs positioned to capture the best views, and private terraces that blur the boundary between interior comfort and the vast beauty of the Texas landscape. Whether you are visiting for a single night or settling in for an extended stay, the rooms are designed to feel like a home that happens to exist in the tallest building in Texas.

Courtesy of 1 Hotel Austin

Guests will be welcomed into a light-filled lobby that sets the tone for the entire property — a space that feels simultaneously grand and intimate, open and sheltering. Expansive wood ceilings soar overhead, their natural grain and warm tones creating a canopy that evokes the shelter of ancient trees. Natural stone surfaces ground the space with the gravitas of the earth itself, while floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, framing the surrounding landscape as though it were a living work of art. Seating clusters arranged with the casual precision of a well-curated living room invite conversation and repose, while living greenery — trailing vines, sculptural succulents, and towering potted trees — infuses the space with vitality and a sense of the organic that permeates every corner of the property.

The lobby functions as both a social hub and a quiet retreat, a duality that captures the essence of Austin itself: a city that celebrates community and solitude in equal measure. Whether you are meeting colleagues for a morning coffee or seeking a quiet corner to read as the afternoon light fades, the space adapts to your needs with the effortless grace of a well-designed home.

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 for its bold, soulful approach to Mexican cuisine. Curiel brings to Austin a culinary philosophy rooted in respect for tradition and a fearless embrace of innovation, a combination that promises to make Alteño one of the city's most compelling dining destinations from the moment it opens its doors. Wellness at 1 Hotel Austin is found on a dedicated floor anchored by a 2,000-square-foot fitness center that opens onto an outdoor terrace, allowing guests to exercise beneath the vast Texas sky with the city skyline as their backdrop.

The wellness floor is designed as a holistic retreat, offering not just equipment for physical training but a comprehensive approach to wellbeing that includes yoga studios, meditation spaces, and recovery areas. The outdoor terrace, with its views of Lady Bird Lake and the Hill Country beyond, transforms a simple workout into an experience that engages the senses and the spirit alike — a reminder that true wellness is not achieved in isolation but in harmony with the world around you.

The hotel's prime location in the heart of Downtown Austin, just steps from the legendary Rainey Street District, gives guests immediate and effortless access to the city's cultural energy in all its forms — from the world-renowned live music venues that have earned Austin its reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World to the museums, galleries, and performance spaces that define the city's creative identity. The location also offers direct access to outdoor attractions that make Austin one of the most livable cities in America: the Waterloo Greenway, a flourishing public park that threads through the urban fabric like a ribbon of green, and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, a scenic 10-mile loop along Lady Bird Lake that has become one of the city's most beloved communal spaces for walking, jogging, and biking.

For the traveler who wants to experience Austin at its most authentic — where the boundary between city life and natural beauty dissolves entirely — this location is unrivaled. You can step from the hotel's lobby into the pulse of the city's nightlife, or head in the opposite direction and find yourself on a secluded trail with nothing but the sound of water and birdsong. It is a rare kind of urban access that makes 1 Hotel Austin not just a place to stay but a gateway to the very best that Austin has to offer.

"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, his words distilling the essence of the project into a single, elegant statement of purpose. "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." Leal's vision reflects a deep understanding of what modern travelers seek: not just a room with a view, but a place that resonates with the rhythm and character of its location, a space that feels like it belongs where it is rather than having been transplanted from somewhere else.

The emphasis on intuitiveness and restoration speaks to a philosophy of hospitality that prioritizes the guest's experience over the brand's ego. Every space, from the most public to the most private, has been designed to anticipate needs before they are expressed, to offer comfort without asking for effort, and to create a sense of belonging that transforms a stay from a transaction into a relationship.

Stay tuned for JustLuxe's hotel review following a vetted property visit, where we will provide a comprehensive assessment of the guest experience, design details, and service standards that define this highly anticipated addition to the Austin luxury landscape. In addition to Austin, the contemporary 1 Hotels brand continues to expand its global footprint 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) — each one promising to bring the brand's signature blend of nature-inspired luxury and conscious hospitality to some of the world's most desirable destinations.

The expansion reflects a growing recognition among the world's most discerning travelers that luxury and sustainability are not opposing forces but complementary values, and that the most extraordinary travel experiences are those that leave the world a little better than they found it. With 1 Hotel Austin, the brand takes a significant step forward in its mission to prove that the future of luxury hospitality is not just beautiful but meaningful.

Courtesy of 1 Hotel Austin

"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, articulating a vision that has guided every decision from the foundation to the rooftop. "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." This philosophy of purposeful design — spaces that serve the human spirit rather than merely impressing the eye — runs through every floor of the property, creating a cohesive experience that feels as natural as the Texas landscape that inspired it.

Leal's confidence is well-placed: the property succeeds in its ambition to create a hotel that does not merely occupy space in Austin but actively participates in the life of the city, offering guests an experience that is both deeply rooted and effortlessly elevated.

Stay tuned for JustLuxe's comprehensive hotel review following a vetted property visit, where our editors will evaluate every aspect of the 1 Hotel Austin experience — from the warmth of the welcome to the quality of the linens, from the creativity of the cuisine to the effectiveness of the wellness programming. In addition to Austin, the contemporary 1 Hotels brand continues to expand its global presence 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). Each new property represents an opportunity to demonstrate that luxury hospitality can be both extraordinary and responsible, that the most memorable travel experiences are those that honor both the guest and the destination in equal measure.

As the brand extends its reach across continents and cultures, the core philosophy remains unchanged: that the best hotels are not simply places to stay but places that connect you to the world in a deeper, more meaningful way. With 1 Hotel Austin, that promise finds its most ambitious expression yet.