The Austin Proper Hotel, Which Felt Like a Museum
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you are.
We are currently staying in Austin and enjoying the weather as much as possible. I'll take this crisp, cold air any day over Austin's hot summer.
Walking, working, and doing anything outside becomes so much more enjoyable.
I've lately been the one responsible for organizing our "outdoor days." So this weekend we drove straight into downtown Austin to enjoy the river, the stunning buildings, and (as the cherry on top, though for me it was the main course) to finally visit a hotel that's been on my wishlist for some time.
Let me take you on a little tour.
On the corner, right next to the bridge, stands the Proper. To the right of the entrance is a small, carefully tended garden.
To the left is a cozy outdoor space tucked into greenery, with seating areas shaded by ornamental patterns cast by the leaves.
"Look at this! We really should work more on our own outdoor space," I said to Rod, pointing at this charming little sanctuary under the foliage.
Beauty inspires and multiplies.
Rod nodded, and we walked up to the hostess.
A lovely woman greeted us. She was warm, welcoming, and completely easy-going when I asked if I could take some photos inside. We already felt at home before we even stepped through the door.
The moment we crossed that invisible threshold between the outside world and the hotel, I got confused.
It didn't feel like a typical hotel.
It felt more like an art gallery.
To the left were vases, sculptures, and a staircase that looked like part of an art installation.
Dim, soft, yellow light was everywhere.
We both started yawning almost instantly. The light and atmosphere put us in a dreamlike state in seconds.
Laughter and smiles from people enjoying themselves surrounded us.
We wandered through the halls, greedily taking in every detail of the lobby, restaurant, and bar area.
"Such a unique design," Rod noted.
And it really was.
Mediterranean ornaments sat beside Japanese-inspired ikebana elements and playful Western accents. Metal, wood, glass, fur, tile (seemingly unrelated elements) coexisted in perfect harmony.
Usually I bombard Rod with 101 questions about how things were built, but this time I was so mesmerized I forgot to ask.
I needed more, so Rod stayed in the lobby while I went exploring.
I am a hunter for beauty.
As I climbed the "art stairs," the lobby laughter faded and I entered a large, darker area with soft light and art pieces scattered across the room.
The furniture, the bookshelves, every decor element looked like art. I don't know how long I was there, but I walked around with my mouth open in some kind of trance.
On the left was another area, a restaurant with even less light than the previous space.
"I just wanted to take a quick look at the design," I said, starting to step back when I realized it was the restaurant. The lovely bartender was warm and sweet and told me to go ahead.
The place was empty, so I had the chance to float next to each decor element for a while.
Every single light fixture, the red lighting, the transparent piano, the unique chairs. Everything created an intimate and almost sacred space.
Still under the influence of the designer's imagination, I continued down long halls filled with weird shapes, candles, and ceramic pieces.
You don't want to rush around those pieces. Everything in the hotel makes you slow down.
During my exploration I couldn't help but notice the almost sterile cleanliness of the place, and even more impressive was how perfectly maintained it was. The hotel soft-opened in late 2019, yet it felt like it had been unveiled yesterday.
I stepped into the elevator with its hairy walls and, on the way up, passed the entrance to La Piscina, the hotel’s fifth-floor ceviche and Texas-inspired Mexican restaurant.
Then I reached the fitness area. Downtown views, shiny equipment, and two light-wood Pilates studios were the jewels of the gym.
As I navigated the halls I met more staff members, from housekeepers to other service personnel, and every single person made me feel at home.
Incredible hospitality.
Suddenly I realized too much time had passed and I should get back to Rod.
We settled into the cozy and intimate Goldie's, with Latin songs playing in the background. I couldn't wait to share my excitement.
"This museum," I misspoke, "this hotel is like a museum."
"You should see the tile work. It's the best tile work I have ever seen. And the woodwork..."
"They must have the best quality-control department of all time."
"I have never seen a better-maintained hotel than this one."
"I want to visit the next one in Los Angeles."
As I rambled on with excitement, a charismatic barman with a velvet-voiced grin sat right on the pouf next to me and we started chatting about life, his origins and the carefully crafted cocktail menu (with ingredients I didn't even know could be used in cocktails).
The evening slipped away, and so did the memories.
If I had to compare this experience to something, it would be reading Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" for the first time.
Here's to the wonder woman behind the design, Kelly Wearstler.
And to more minds, more designs, and more hotels like this.
If you're ever near one of them, I highly recommend experiencing it.
That's all for today.
Till next week dear readers.
p.s. Here are more photos from that day.
