We love a little bit of quirk in our travels, especially when the style fits the surroundings. Such is certainly the case with Hotel San Jose, the first in a series of collaborations between San Antonio-based Lake Flato Architects and hotelier Liz Lambert, the creative mastermind behind Bunkhouse Management (subsequent projects include the Thunderbird Hotel and the Hotel Saint Cecilia). Located in Austin, Texas, and built in 1936 as an "ultramodern" motor court, Hotel San Jose is a 40-room, urban bungalow style hotel tucked behind stucco walls and set amidst lush gardens. Just a few blocks from downtown Austin in the heart of one of the city's favorite neighborhoods, the hotel isn't just a great place to rest your head. It's also a gathering place and hub of community activity for the locals – meaning it's always buzzing with the coolest of Austin's creative folks.
Featuring a communal outdoor courtyard, lounge, and pool area, and incorporating architectural details such as tile shed roofs, parabolic arches, and porches throughout the complex, the Hotel San Jose is one of the coolest hotels we've seen in a while. Much of the furniture in the space was designed by Jamey Garza of Marfa (if you haven't been to Marfa, an artist's paradise, you're missing out), and suffice it to say, it lends a sense of understated cool to the spot.
Laidback and reminiscent of hip hotels such as the Ace, Hotel San Jose is beautiful, modern, and about as cool as it gets. We're booking our next stay in Austin right here.
