Hotel Granduca
Hotel · Afton Oaks
1080 Uptown Park Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
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Highlights
Italian villa-style hotel with posh rooms, gourmet dining & pool
Italian villa-style hotel with posh rooms, gourmet dining & pool
"A luxury, all-suite property in Uptown that was purchased about a year ago by the Transwestern Hospitality Group family, the hotel underwent a full renovation and partnered with Episcope Hospitality (led by David Morton of the Morton’s Steakhouse legacy) to add a modern but chic European ambiance; the restaurant kitchen alone received a $1 million upgrade. Interior designer Kara Childress imprinted the interiors with warm tones, burnt orange and gold accents, and a massive collection of Western-scene images by British photographer David Yarrow, including a striking Texas rendition of the Last Supper. The property offers six distinct event spaces for private dining and celebrations, including a room that opens to an open-air courtyard with a garden-like setting, a pool, and a fountain dating from the 1900s—features that make it well suited for al fresco dining and events. Ryan Gaudin notes the broader challenge for hotel restaurants: "They don't want anything complex," and the goal is to offer dishes that are simple and well executed to meet travelers where they are while still being interesting enough to draw local diners. The hotel was created by Giorgio Borlenghi to evoke an old-world Italian atmosphere and emphasizes impeccable service in a private, intimate setting." - Brittany Britto Garley
"This romantic boutique hotel in Uptown Park offers high tea daily between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Starting at $58 per person and $33 per child, the experience includes a variety of savory and sweet tea sandwiches, scones with Italian mascarpone cream, and a selection of hot teas. Those looking to kick things up a notch can spring for upgraded options featuring a glass of Prosecco or a crafted high tea cocktail." - Megha McSwain
"This romantic boutique hotel in Uptown Park offers high tea daily between 1 and 4 p.m. Starting at $59 per person and $35 per child, the experience includes a variety of savory and sweet tea sandwiches, scones with Italian mascarpone cream, and a selection of hot teas. Those looking to kick things up a notch can spring for upgraded options featuring a glass of Prosecco or a crafted high tea cocktail." - Brittany Britto Garley, Megha McSwain
"With waterfall fixtures and column-adorned pergolas, this small but stylish hotel pool will transport visitors to the beaches of Italy. In addition to the poolside menu of small dishes and cocktails, the hotel’s full-service Italian restaurant Il Giardino restaurant offers pasta, pizzas, seafood, and sandwiches, plus wine and cocktail pairings. Cool off with pistachio ice cream or sorbets, available in strawberry, mango, and lemon flavors." - Brittany Britto Garley
"T+L readers showed overwhelming support for the city’s local and boutique properties, praising the Italianate, residential-style Hotel Granduca (No. 4) for its exceptional service. “Every time I stay here,” one reader says of the Granduca, “it’s consistently the very best quality in everything.”" - Travel + Leisure Editors
