A $6 million renovation completed this spring updated several aspects of the 405-acre Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, which includes 60,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 230,000 square feet of outdoor function space. Sheller Barrelhouse Bar, a restaurant and live music venue, now has separate zones for dining, dancing, and billiards, and is adjacent to a fire pit. Two new shaded decks provide cover and space for food trucks brought in for events.
The Contemporary Austin's Jones Center downtown offers two spaces for events, including a 3,300-square-foot roof deck offering views of the Austin skyline and the Texas Capitol. It has a built-in bar and kitchenette, bistro tables, seating, and a movie screen. It holds 220 for receptions, 245 theater-style, and 150 for seated dinners. For smaller events, the Community Room features a 15-foot window overlooking Congress Avenue. It has built-in audiovisual equipment and seats 80 theater-style or 25 in a boardroom setup.
With a beer selection that includes 54 Texas-only craft brews on tap, Craft Pride celebrates its home state. The design includes a cutout of the state of Texas suspended from the ceiling with pin holes denoting each brewery in the state and a star for Austin. Opened in March, the concept is available for buyouts and accommodates 150 on an outdoor space and 50 inside. The venue also includes a retail area and a two-story walk-in cooler. Detroit-style pizza food trailer Via 313 opened in the backyard space in August as the resident food truck.
Hotel Ella, which opened this month, is a 48-room luxury hotel built in what was originally the Goodall Wooten Mansion. The grounds feature an interior courtyard with a pool, private cabanas, and a new restaurant and lounge called Goodall's Kitchen & Bar. Meeting facilities include audiovisual equipment and can host events of 300 people.
Benji’s Cantina, a farm-to-table Tex-Mex restaurant, opened in May in downtown's West 6th Street district, with an extensive list of specialty margaritas, mexican beers, tequilas, and mescals. The stylish space includes a 300-seat dining room, a 30-seat private dining room, a lounge area with communal tables, and a rooftop patio with a centerpiece water fountain and stadium-style seating for skyline views.
With a contemporary space featuring work from metal sculptors and glass and woodwork artists, Mettle offers an industrial chic space befitting its hip east Austin location. The bistro menu from chef Andrew Francisco varies from steak to vegan and raw options, and the cocktail list offers a similar eclectic feel. The 4,000-square-foot restaurant seats about 200 guests and is available for private events.
Alamo Drafthouse's sit-down concept, Glass Half Full Taproom, opened in July and offers 32 rotating beers on tap, burgers, pizza, and beer-infused cocktails. The Lakeline theater restaurant seats 40 people indoors and accommodates as many as 80 people on an adjacent patio.
Bufalina, a Neopolitan-style pizza eatery, opened in July. The 1,400-square-foot dining room seats 38 and accommodates groups of eight at several communal-style tables—all overlooking the wood-burning oven centerpiece. The concept features locally sourced ingredients and domestic charcuterie and cheese.
Slated to open this fall, Lone Star Court hotel will offer over 3,500 square feet of "Texas Hill Country"-style meeting space. In addition to 2,000 square feet of of indoor space like the 30-person Sisterdale School House, a 1,600-square-foot outdoor covered Ladybird Pavilion will accommodate 120 reception-style and features an adjacent 18,000-square-foot lawn.
The 17-story Hyatt Place Austin/Downtown opened earlier this year in a prime downtown location, one block from the Austin Convention Center. The 296-room hotel has three meeting rooms, one standalone space that seats 32 in rounds of eight, and the other rooms can be combined into a 1,181-square-foot space that seats 64 guests at rounds.
Established in to 1894, the storied Houston Club has a new home atop One Shell Plaza. As part of a $3.5 million renovation, the social club offers a sleek lounge, Allen's Landing restaurant and bar, and small meeting rooms with videoconferencing and other audiovisual equipment. A second phase of the renovation debuts in October and will add the 16-person Power Board Room, the full-service Magnolia restaurant, and a 2,652-square-foot ballroom that holds 320 for receptions or 190 at rounds.
Previously a Boy Scouts of America building, the three-story Mr. Peeples Seafood & Steaks opened in July following a major renovation. The 40,000-square-foot space is glamorously decorated with purple and red graffiti art, alligator accents, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and a 16,000-bottle wine tower. The second floor is a private event space for as many as 250 people, and a 10,000-square-foot dance floor is planned for the basement.
The entrance to the Rosemont Social Club is through the back door, a speakeasy touch to this two-level lounge that opened in July in Montrose. While the first-floor space is a jewel box of a bar—just six seats, a couch, and slipper chairs—the upper level has its own bar and is attached to a large furnished patio that can accommodate 150 for events. The landscaped roof includes individual cabanas for 10 people; two can be combined for standing receptions for 30. The entire club can be rented for events of as many as 250 people. Rosemont's menu features seasonal craft cocktails as well as small plates to share.
Slated for an October reveal, a $25 million dollar renovation to the Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston includes updates to its 50,000 square feet of meeting space and a new pre-function lobby area. The 23 meeting rooms will serve events of as many as 1,080 guests. A new color scheme features earthy tones like chocolate, taupe, and cream, with sapphire accents. New lighting is intended to create a starry sky-like atmosphere.
The historic Hotel Galvez & Spa, a Wyndham Grand property 50 miles south of Houston, wrapped up a renovation to its lobby, restaurant, and bar in May. The $11 million revamp—timed with the hotel's centennial anniversary—features a new terra cotta color scheme, chandeliers with Thomas Edison vintage lightbulbs, and an expansion to the the Galvez Bar & Grill that nearly doubled its size. The restaurant offers a menu of seafood, steaks, and Prohibition-style cocktails and seats 106 in the dining room and 71 at the bar.
The Brazilian steakhouse Texas de Brazil opened in August at CityCentre with room for 225 guests. Its grilled meats are carved tableside by gauchos, or Brazilian cowboys, and a salad bar has more than 50 offerings. The 8,500-square-foot restaurant has patio dining, a chef's table, and two private dining rooms: The Brazil room seats 50 guests, and the Infinity Room—with mirror-covered walls—seats 13. Both rooms have audiovisual equipment suited for business meetings and presentations.
The Galleria location of the Palm reopened in July following an expansion and renovation in time for its 35th anniversary in the city. The now-8,800-square-foot restaurant boasts a 150-seat dining room, a 23-seat bar, and a lounge; it also features a 1,400- square-foot private function room that accommodates standing cocktails for 125 and has 60-inch flat-screen TVs and an audiovisual system for presentations. The restaurant has its signature cartoons on the walls as well as a mural designed by Zachary Bird that features iconic Houston landmarks and notable guests.
Eleven XI Restaurant and Bar—its name derived from the "wishing hour" of 11:11—opened in Montrose in May. The two-floor restaurant is located in a vintage house with a second floor dedicated to private events. On the first floor, the dining room seats 42, and a 12-person chef's table is available for five-, seven-, or nine-course meals. The second-level space can host 75 for receptions and has a built-in slate-topped bar, a glass-walled wine room, and a humidor. The menu focuses on Southern coastal cuisine and includes a raw bar. A covered patio will offer alfresco dining.
Ruth's Chris Steak House has moved locations, opening a 400-seat restaurant in Space City. The sprawling 9,100-square-foot steak house offers five private dining rooms, including the eight-person Gallery Room and the Bayou and Cypress rooms, which can be combined to seat 80. The private rooms can also be configured for business presentations.
Located in the hear of the oil and gas industry, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Houston the Woodlands South opened in July and offers 2,000 square feet of meeting space spread across four rooms. The rooms can be combined to create a 1,535-square-foot room for as many as 180 people. Options for smaller gatherings include a 16-person boardroom and an event space that accommodates 50 for seated events and 70 for receptions.
From the owners of El Gran Malo is El Big Bad, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant serving 50 infused tequilas, Texas & Mexican beers, and cantina fare such as tacos, tortas, and ceviche. The multilevel space has several options for events including a 100-person private room, a wrap-around balcony for 60 people, the mezzanine, which accommodates 20, and Club Social, which holds 90. It opened earlier this month.
Westin Houston, Memorial City recently opened 024 Grille, a combination bistro and steak house. Four private dining rooms host gatherings for as many as 50 people each; the rooms also feature large screen TV monitors and Wi-Fi connectivity.
A Houston version of Austin's video dance club Barbarella opened in midtown this fall. The 300-person club is owned by two DJs and has a strict music code: only indie music, no Top 40 or techno tunes. The space has multiple bars as well as a raised patio balcony that offers downtown views. It offers buyouts on nights the club is not open to the public.
The seafood-centric Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette opened in October from F.E.E.D. TX restaurant group. Anchoring the dining room is a circular bar that dedicates half to cocktail service and the other half to oyster and seafood dishes. The 200-seat restaurant has a 46-seat glass-encased private dining room.
Fielding's Wood Grill in the Woodlands mixes casual and full-service dining, giving customers the option of order at an iPad counter. The 3,500-square-foot restaurant, which opened in September, offers craft beers and burgers, as well as rotisserie chicken and a full breakfast menu. Fielding's offers full buyouts and accommodates 70 guests for dinner or 120 for receptions.
A brick-and-mortar home to popular food truck Fusion Taco opened downtown in July. The small yet stylish eatery features mid-century modern chairs, bright floral-patterned banquettes, and chandeliers made from chord lights. Its Asian-inspired menu offers tacos such as Tempura rock shrimp with wasabi aioli and sandwiches such as Kim Cheese (kimchi grilled cheese). The 2,500-square-foot space seats 65, and the 16-seat patio has views of Market Square Park.
The historic Lancaster Hotel Houston finished an extensive renovation this summer that included a redesign of the lobby and meeting spaces as well as its 93 guest rooms and suites. The result is a more modern take on luxury, with a large, dramatic lobby and reception area filled with natural light and warm tones.
As part of its transformative Campus Gateway project, the Menil Collection will open a new café in one of the bungalows that surround the museum. Stern and Bucek Architects are renovating the building, which is slated to open next year. Chef Greg Martin will operate the café, which will be named through a public contest.
Opened the first week of November, Union Kitchen—Kingwood is the third Union Kitchen from Paul Miller. Kingwood seats 250 and has three private rooms: the Board Room, which seats 18 at a long table; the Fireplace Lounge, which seats 30; and the largest space, which seats 60. The dinner menu features steaks, seafood, thin-crust pizzas, and a full bar.
Upscale steak house chain the Capital Grille opened this week in CityCentre. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner with menu items such as porcini-rubbed Delmonico steak with an aged balsamic glaze, lobster mac 'n' cheese, and a wine list of more than 350 selections. The restaurant holds 274 guests spread over the main dining room and three private dining rooms. A spacious lounge area opens onto a covered patio. It will be similar in look to existing locations (pictured).
Container Bar, set to open early next year, is a new concept from local hospitality innovator Bridget Dunlap. Made from colorful shipping containers, the Rainey Street bar will have indoor and outdoor spaces on two levels, all available for private events of around 400 people. The bar's food truck, Thaitanium, will serve Thai food.
Barlata, a new Spanish tapas restaurant, opened on South Lamar. The colorful 3,100-square-foot space offers buyouts and seats 125 at booths, tables, and a bar. The restaurant, from Austin architect Michael Hsu, features long communal tables, an open kitchen, and cartoon-like murals in black and white.
After an ownership change, the Inn Above Onion Creek underwent a renovation that refashioned its 14 guest suites and four private cottages in a chic, modern Texas style. The nearly 90-acre Hill Country property offers ample space for tenting and accommodates receptions for 150 people. The inn also can host executive retreats, board meetings, or conferences for 25 guests. The renovation included adding a 3,000-square-foot pool deck, and the inn is developing an on-site landing spot for helicopters.
Goodall's Kitchen and Bar, the restaurant in the newly relaunched Hotel Ella boutique hotel, opened in October. The upscale comfort food spot seats 52 inside and 25 on a veranda, while private dining for 30 guests is available on the mansion's second-floor veranda. Goodall's serves three meals daily as well as brunch and has an extensive cocktail and wine list.
Following a renovation and expansion, Mean Eyed Cat Bar reopened in October, adding an outdoor bar, liquor cocktails, and a menu from Stubbs Bar-B-Q. The decor is a curated collection of clutter with an emphasis on all things Texas and Johnny Cash. The bar's signature "Mean Juice" drink is silver tequila infused with fresh ghost pepper chilies that comes with a warning from bartenders about its potency. The bar is available for private events and holds 160 guests.
The Bonneville opened earlier this year downtown, offering views of Town Lake and Auditorium Shores. The menu reflects the Boston heritage of its husband-and-wife chef team, Jennifer Costello and Chris Hurley, serving Prince Edward Island mussels in a red curry, but produce and proteins are locally sourced. The restaurant seats 103 and has a lounge and bar in addition to the dining room. For receptions, it accommodates 150 people.
Located in a two-story house on Rainey Street, NO VA Kitchen & Bar opened in August with a curated menu of items such as pear pecan salad, whipped blue cheese, and beer-braised pork shank. The restaurant has several options for hosting private events. Indoors is the main dining room for 50 guests and a 14-seat private dining room with audiovisual equipment. A patio with a dual-sided fireplace seats 50, and a covered balcony seats 25.
Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars, an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting bar, opened in the Shops at the Galleria in October. Now the third Austin location, the shop is available for small group bookings and tasting events. The space seats 28 or holds 55 for receptions.
Inspired by the neighborhood bars of the Midwest and Northeast is Haymaker, a bar and restaurant that opened in late September. The menu tends toward hearty fare—bratwurst, Italian beef, poutine—as well as craft beer. The venue offers buyouts and has audiovisual capabilities for presentations. The indoor-outdoor space accommodates about 300 people for events.
Among the winter's most anticipated openings is LaV, a French-inspired restaurant in a converted warehouse on the city's east side from executive chef Allison Jenkins and managing partner Vilma Mazaite. Designed like a home, the interior will have several intimate rooms each designed with a distinct style. The wine bar will have tall communal tables; the bar lounge is in the center of the restaurant; the main dining room will have an elegant feel; and the wine cellar will host private events of 12 people. Outdoors, there will be a fountain with pergola seating and stone tables. In total, the 5,000-square-foot space will seat 146 diners. Buyouts are available. Until the restaurant opens, the Say laV Trailer is introducing diners to the restaurant by catering off-site events and may be available for outdoor events in the restaurant's garden.
Established in to 1894, the storied Houston Club has a new home atop One Shell Plaza. As part of a $3.5 million renovation, the social club offers a sleek lounge, Allen's Landing restaurant and bar, and small meeting rooms with videoconferencing and other audiovisual equipment. A second phase of the renovation debuted in October and added the 16-person Power Board Room, the full-service Magnolia restaurant, and a 2,652-square-foot ballroom that holds 320 for receptions or 190 at rounds.
Opened in May, Searsucker is the third outpost of the concept from Top Chef finalist Brian Malarkey. The restaurant, which also has locations in San Diego and Scottsdale, Arizona, is in Austin's warehouse district and serves New American classic cuisine with cocktails, craft beer, and wine. The 7,000-square-foot space seats 293. The entire restaurant is available for buyouts, and a semiprivate space seats 12 to 14 people.
The Galleria location of the Palm reopened in July following an expansion and renovation in time for its 35th anniversary in the city. The now-8,800-square-foot restaurant boasts a 150-seat dining room, a 23-seat bar, and a lounge; it also features a 1,400-square-foot private function room that accommodates standing cocktails for 125 and has 60-inch flat-screen TVs and an audiovisual system for presentations. The restaurant has its signature cartoons on the walls as well as a mural designed by Zachary Bird that features iconic Houston landmarks and notable guests.
In December, the Fourth Ward space formerly home to Zimm’s Little Deck was transformed into Brooklyn Athletic Club, a bar, restaurant, and casual sports center. The patio area has facilities for boccie, badminton, horseshoes, and croquet, as well as outdoor movies. The club is available for private events and teambuilding retreats.
Previously a Boy Scouts of America building, the three-story Mr. Peeples Seafood & Steaks opened in July following a major renovation. The 40,000-square-foot space is glamorously decorated with purple and red graffiti art, alligator accents, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and a 16,000-bottle wine tower. The second floor is a private event space for as many as 250 people, and a 10,000-square-foot dance floor is planned for the basement.
The golf entertainment complex TopGolf offers its own game similar to bowling or darts, only players shoot golf balls with embedded microchips at targets. In addition to play, the venue offers separate event space. The 3,000-square-foot Signature Room fits 200 guests and can be divided for smaller events. There is also a rooftop terrace.
Del Frisco’s Grille, the more casual concept from the company behind Double Eagle Steakhouse and Sullivan's Steakhouse, opened in March in the River Oaks area with more than 7,000 square feet of space, including a 1,400-square-foot patio. The main dining room seats 240 and two outdoor spaces can each accommodate 75 guests. A private dining room seats 25 people or holds 45 for receptions. The space features a bar countertop made of zinc, an open kitchen, dark wood accents, and chrome light fixtures designed to resemble stars.
The former Brownstone building in Upper Kirby has added 1919 Wine & Mixology to its mix of venues. Corner Entertainment's mother-daughter duo Darla Lexington and Michelle Coopwood's latest space features a shabby-chic three-sided bar, lounge seating, a speakeasy-theme cocktail room where guests can choose their drink's ingredients from costumed waitstaff, a private event space called the Lexington Room, and a patio. The venue accommodates 90 people.
A $25 million renovation to the Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston, which finished in October, includes updates to its 50,000 square feet of meeting space and a new prefunction lobby area. The 23 meeting rooms host events for as many as 1,080 guests. A new color scheme features earthy tones like chocolate, taupe, and cream, with sapphire accents. New lighting is intended to create a starry-sky-like atmosphere.
The entrance to the Rosemont Social Club is through the back door, a speakeasy touch to this two-level lounge that opened in July in Montrose. While the first-floor space is a jewel box of a bar—just six seats, a couch, and slipper chairs—the upper level has its own bar and is attached to a large furnished patio that accommodates 150 for events. The landscaped roof includes individual cabanas for 10 people; two can be combined for standing receptions for 30. The entire club can be rented for events of as many as 250 people. Rosemont's menu features seasonal craft cocktails as well as small plates to share.
From the owners of El Gran Malo is El Big Bad, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant serving 50 infused tequilas, Texas and Mexican beers, and cantina fare such as tacos, tortas, and ceviche. The multilevel space has several options for events including a 100-person private room, a wrap-around balcony for 60 people, the mezzanine, which accommodates 20, and the Club Social, which holds 90. It opened earlier this month.
The Contemporary Austin's Jones Center downtown offers two spaces for events, including a 3,300-square-foot roof deck offering views of the Austin skyline and the Texas Capitol. It has a built-in bar and kitchenette, bistro tables, seating, and a movie screen. It holds 220 for receptions, 245 theater-style, or 150 for seated dinners. For smaller events, the Community Room features a 15-foot window overlooking Congress Avenue. It has built-in audiovisual equipment and seats 80 theater-style or 25 in a boardroom setup.
A $6 million renovation completed this spring updated several aspects of the 405-acre Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, which includes 60,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 230,000 square feet of outdoor function space. Sheller Barrelhouse Bar, a restaurant and live music venue, now has separate zones for dining, dancing, and billiards, and is adjacent to a fire pit. Two new shaded decks provide cover and space for food trucks brought in for events.
Qui, a new restaurant from Top Chef and James Beard award winner Paul Qui, opened in June. The space includes 55 seats and a 10-seat tasting room. Qui said the concept combines an homage to his past—classic culinary training and Japanese cuisine—as well as inspiration from his worldwide travels.
With a beer selection that includes 54 Texas-only craft brews on tap, Craft Pride celebrates its home state. The design includes a cutout of the state of Texas suspended from the ceiling with pinholes denoting each brewery in the state and a star for Austin. Opened in March, the concept is available for buyouts and accommodates 150 on an outdoor space and 50 inside. The venue also includes a retail area and a two-story walk-in cooler. Detroit-style pizza food trailer Via 313 opened in the backyard space in August as the resident food truck.
Hotel Ella, which opened in September, is a 48-room luxury hotel built in what was originally the Goodall Wooten Mansion. The grounds feature an interior courtyard with a pool, private cabanas, and a new restaurant and lounge called Goodall's Kitchen & Bar. Meeting facilities include audiovisual equipment and can host events of 300 people.
Sway, a family-style Thai restaurant, opened in December with an emphasis on shared plates served at communal tables. The restaurant is available for buyout and has an inside seated capacity of 92 guests, including counter and bar seats, or 122 including the patio. Receptions can accommodate as many as 125 guests inside or 150 with the patio.
Barlata, a Spanish tapas restaurant, opened this summer on South Lamar. The colorful 3,100-square-foot space offers buyouts and seats 125 at booths, tables, and a bar. The restaurant, from Austin architect Michael Hsu, features long communal tables, an open kitchen, and cartoon-like murals in black and white.
Lone Star Court hotel offers more than 3,500 square feet of Texas Hill Country-style meeting space. In addition to 2,000 square feet of of indoor space like the 30-person Sisterdale School House, a 1,600-square-foot outdoor covered Ladybird Pavilion accommodates 120 for receptions and features an adjacent 18,000-square-foot lawn.
Located in a two-story house on Rainey Street, NO VA Kitchen & Bar opened in August with a curated menu of items such as pear pecan salad, whipped blue cheese, and beer-braised pork shank. The restaurant has several options for hosting private events. Indoors is the main dining room for 50 guests and a 14-seat private dining room with audiovisual equipment. A patio with a dual-sided fireplace seats 50, and a covered balcony seats 25.
