"Why book? It feels like a relaxed urban retreat tucked off of popular South Congress Avenue, one that pays homage to Austin’s music scene while also drawing inspiration from the city’s lesser-known lake culture.
Set the scene: Four towers, all with an open-air feel thanks to breezeways, balconies, and rooms with floor to ceiling windows, frame a dynamic green space with an open lawn, fragrant herb-covered hills, and tiered limestone beds planted with native trees like bald cypresses and Mexican sycamores. Guests lounge around a heated, 80-foot pool, which echoes the city’s popular natural swimming hole, Barton Springs, or catch up over small plates at Summer House on Music Lane restaurant.
The backstory: The Magdalena is the latest property from Bunkhouse, Austin’s homegrown hospitality firm that’s also behind the properties—the Hotel San Jose, the St. Cecilia, and the revamped Austin Motel—that helped lay the groundwork that turned the city into the popular travel destination it is today. Unlike Bunkhouse’s other properties, the Magdalena is a completely new build, albeit one that they entrusted to frequent architecture partners, Lake Flato. The firm was also behind brand new and neighboring South Congress shopping and dining complex, a win for hotel guests and city residents alike.
The rooms: Rooms touch on the nostalgia of Austin’s 1970s lake culture. Open breezeways connect the property’s four buildings, and sustainable timber ceilings flow from outdoor walkways into bedrooms with cool concrete floors and custom walnut furnishings. The mix of suites, double queens, and studios—23 of which are on the top floor—all have sliding windows that open to private porches with views of leafy live oaks and the growing cityscape. Design touches include works by music photographer Scott Newton, custom reading lights by designer David Weeks, and organic Keetsa Tea Leaf mattresses. Spanish tile bathrooms in pop colors (red, yellow, green, and blue) are stocked with striped cotton robes and blissful Sangre de Fruta bath products. And in true Bunkhouse fashion, minibars are stocked with local and regional favorites: Frito bean dip, Fairweather Cider, and lagers from St. Elmo Brewery, just miles away. Book a suite if you’re looking for extra space inside and out—all suites have screened in porches or patio spaces with dining tables.
Food and drink: Diners donning an elevated ATX look—Peruvian leather boots, feathered felt hats, polka-dotted tulle blouses—relax at patio tables or saddle up to the striking emerald green-tiled bar. Executive chef Jeffrey Hundelt, whose resume includes Austin favorites such as Launderette, serves up dishes like poaches eggs with Aleppo pepper and za’atar toast; whole branzino served with red chimichurri and green herb salsa; and a cheeky, upscale play on a French onion dip. Save room for dessert: The restaurant’s take on southern favorite banana pecan pie is made with homemade vanilla bean ice cream. And the property’s pool bar is the latest hangout; the guests-only nook done up in muted, geometric tiles serves up cocktails like the Springs Eternal, made with sauvignon blanc, pear brandy, pineapple, and orange. Travel to a private basement to try Equipment Room bar with Japanese-inspired cocktails and sake that groove along with custom vintage hi-fi equipment and ultra-curated records for a take on Jazz Kissa culture.
The neighborhood/area: The Magdalena’s location, just off of South Congress Avenue, is one of her biggest draws. This pedestrian thoroughfare is popular thanks to its independent stores and restaurants, as well as draws like Lady Bird Lake and the city’s downtown, all in walking distance. Guests can pop into shops like Neighborhood Goods, which showcases up-and-coming designers, or book a table on the winding, river-like patio at Aba for Mediterranean-style plates.
The service: The Magdalena team is social and friendly. The Bunkhouse philosophy has long been to hire people who are service minded—and have a story to tell. They might check you in by day and have a show at an East Side dance hall by night, or deliver your chips and guacamole after spending the wee hours on their next screenplay.
For families: If you’re traveling with kiddos, consider booking the Music Lane Queen Rooms—they’re designed with two beds—and call in advance to request pack ‘n plays. Kids can also look forward to lawn games and a dip in the pool. Like all Bunkhouse properties, the Magdalena is also pet friendly.
Eco effort In a win for the planet, plants—most of which are native—are irrigated by HVAC condensate and stormwater runoff, which is stored underground. Lake Flato also used mass timber, a sustainable resource, in its wooden design details.
Accessibility: The hotel is wheelchair accessible." - Stirling Kelso
