Site Inspection at Austin Proper Hotel

Austin Proper Hotel opened in 2019 and was the first location of a Proper hotel outside of California. It certainly lived up to the brand in every way… but with a unique Texas twist. From the moment of being greeted to getting refreshing margaritas at the lobby bar, I could feel the warm welcome and Southern hospitality instantly. Like all Proper hotels, the renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler was the creative mastermind of it all. However, there was a distinct difference that I noticed between the Austin Proper versus the Proper hotels in Santa Monica and DTLA. The mosaic tiles in The Peacock, the pottery works in the lobby (made by local artisan Rick Van Dyke), the melted disco ball, and bespoke Edelweiss piano in The Quill Room, and the neon-lit chandelier in the reception area — all of these details were curated to thoroughly depict just how funky, artsy, and vibrant this city is.

The 24 hour reception desk with the most hospitable, friendly staff.; I loved every single art work and decor that was curated for this hotel. Truly a masterpiece by Kelly Wearstler and various Austin artists.

Rooms & suites:

Austin Proper is a 32-story building designed by Handel Architects. There are 238 hotel rooms and signature suites located on the first 11 floors and 99 exclusive residences occupying the rest. The guest rooms start at 32-35 sq ft for their Standard and Premier King or Double Queen rooms, 40-54 sq ft for their Grand Rooms, and 47-103 sq ft for their luxurious suites from the Deluxe Suite to the Penthouse Suite! All rooms boast plenty of natural light with stunning views of Austin. Kelly Wearstler’s room designs are inspired by Austin’s historic Craftsman architecture to create a sophisticated yet homey interior throughout. Each room features decor made by local artists, earthy wood, and stone furniture, and luxurious comforts such as Proper’s signature Simmons Providence mattresses with Bellino fine linens. They are also equipped with amenities like smart TVs, a Nespresso machine, a curated minibar, motorized blackout shades, Aesop bath products, Parachute robes, and more. Connecting rooms and ADA-compliant rooms are also available, and all Austin Proper rooms are dog-friendly.

The king sized bed in the Premier Room with premium Italian linen and custom throws by Kelly Wearstler. A luxurious sleep, the Proper way!; A spacious walk in shower with Blue Emperador marble and Aesop bath products.

Location:

Primely located at 600 West 2nd Street, Austin Proper Hotel is situated in one of the most ideal neighborhoods of Downtown Austin, the 2nd Street District. Live performances at ACL Moody Theater, a relaxing kayak ride at Lady Bird Lake, and some of the city’s best local eateries and bars are just blocks away from the hotel. Austin's best places to visit, like South Congress Ave, Historic 6th Street District, Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Park, the Texas Capitol, East Austin, and the Texas Capitol, are easy to get to from here and only 15-25 minutes from the airport. This makes it a great place to stay for an Austin trip.

Dining:

There are four dining & bar experiences at Austin Proper Hotel, all conceptualized by MML Hospitality. The team that created some of the most iconic and successful restaurants in Austin. On the ground floor resides The Peacock, which serves all-day Eastern Mediterranean fare and was featured on Condé Nast Traveler for “Austin’s Best Mediterranean 2024”. Goldie’s is a posh, intimate cocktail bar tucked away past the check-in desk. It features a marble sunken bar serving sophisticated cocktails in the evenings and afternoon tea on the weekends. La Piscina is located next to the 5th floor pool, offering all-day elevated Tex-Mex cuisine (such as sizzling fajitas, fresh seafood, house-made tortillas). They also have small-batch tequila cocktails — and Austin is quite serious about Tex-Mex! Lastly, The Quill Room is an elegant lounge with a refined Southern vibe that offers signature libations, small bites, and even live DJs from 9pm-1am on weekends.

The Lobby Bar where we were greeted with the most delicious margarita; A view of the hotel lobby leading up to The Peacock. Here you can admire artwork, gather with friends for a drink, or get work done from your laptop.

Wellness:

Proper hotels prioritize health and wellness as part of their brand, and their Austin location is no different. Austin is known for being one of the fittest cities in the US. So naturally Austin Proper Hotel boasts a state-of-the art 24/7 fitness center with over 2000 sq ft of all the cutting-edge workout equipment you could ever need. They also offer weekly yoga or HIIT group classes, private personal training sessions, guided runs on the Roy Butler Hike-and Trail at Lady Bird Lake, and complimentary bike rentals.

Every workout equipment and machine you could ever need so you can stick to your fitness goals while traveling.; You can also enjoy Tex-Mex and refreshing tequila cocktails as you take in the views of Downtown Austin.

Treat yourself to a holistic getaway at Austin Proper Hotel’s Verbena Spa, where you can be pampered in one of 5 treatment rooms. Choose from a menu of signature facials and massages, or simply enjoy the dry sauna and cold plunge pool. There’s even a massage that starts with a shot of Lalo tequila!

Beat the Texas heat by taking a dip in Austin Proper Hotel’s chic rooftop pool located on the 5th floor. Order poolside dining from La Piscina to enjoy a frozen margarita and refreshing bowl of ceviche. Cabanas for up to 8 guests are also available for a 3-hour reservation and come with amenities such as full F&B services, Aesop sunscreen, and more. Though most of the time this pool is tranquil and laidback, on Friday and Saturday nights, there is live music and specialty cocktails by the pool as part of their “Sunset Sessions”.

Events:

Austin Proper Hotel can hold events for businesses, private birthdays, or weddings with 300+ guests. It has 14,000 square feet of different spaces, both inside and outside. Guests will receive the utmost care from the Proper team and MML Hospitality, who will curate a menu and style for any type of special event!

Austin Proper Hotel also hosts a variety of events, such as holiday brunches, Sunset Sessions at the pool deck. Wine Dinner series at The Peacock. Live DJ performances at The Quill Room; pilates/yoga sessions, and more! Just check the events calendar to see all the exciting happenings at this property.

As someone who has lived in this city for over ten years, I was happy to finally see a hotel that shows the soul and warmth of this city. Austin Proper Hotel is quintessentially and authentically Austin, and there’s truly no other place like it. That being said, I cannot recommend a better property for my clients to stay in when visiting Austin, Texas. Whether it be for a local event like Austin City Limits Music Festival or Formula 1, a couple’s getaway, a girls’ trip - this hotel will be the perfect place to welcome you home during your stay here.

Also, this hotel and all of the other Proper hotels have recently joined Fora Reserve, which is a VIP perks program exclusive to Fora! If you have other questions about Austin Proper Hotel or if you want a local's recommendation for your next trip to Austin, please don't hesitate to contact me.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Austin. In need of further inspiration? Check out Kassandra Manalo's guide, A Foodie's Getaway Guide to Austin.