Luxury lodging
3 restaurants on tap for downtown Austin hotel undergoing luxury makeover
Work is underway on a massive transformation of the Radisson Hotel & Suites Austin Downtown — which occupies a prime location along Lady Bird Lake — into a luxury property with three restaurants.
New York City-based hotel developer and owner the Sydell Group is revamping the hotel, built in 1965, as the Line ATX. The property will feature 428 “reimagined” guestrooms.
Southern California designer Sean Knibb and Austin architect Michael Hsu are spearheading the hotel’s redo, pegged at $75 million. The Line ATX is scheduled to debut in the spring of 2018.
Floor plans for the Line ATX show two restaurants, a bar, and a coffee bar on the first level. Several ballrooms are set for the second floor, while the sixth floor will include a restaurant and a fitness center.
What now is the Radisson hotel has had a rocky history with eateries.
For years, the main restaurant there was TGI Friday’s. In 2014, the space became Chavez, a Southwest-inspired eatery helmed by chef Shawn Cirkiel. A year later, after the departure of Cirkiel, the spot was converted into a contemporary American restaurant called Dine, guided by chef David Garrido.
The Radisson’s latest restaurant incarnation shut down this May following the 2016 acquisition of the hotel by a Sydell-led investor group.
Another highlight of the Line ATX will be an artists’ residency program and gallery shining the spotlight on emerging local artists.
A sales kit for the hotel indicates each guest room will be decorated with custom-designed furnishings that “reflect the natural materials and landscape of Central Texas,” as well as artwork created by Texans. Complementing every room will be a minibar, “plush” bedding, and handmade toiletries.
Austin will be home to Sydell’s third Line hotel. The two others are in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Knibb designed the LA property, which opened in 2014 in the Koreatown neighborhood. In a recent article, The New York Times gushed that the hotel “feels like a midcentury oasis.”
“The romantic idea for the Line, going back to its initial creation, is it would be a gathering place for the community,” Andrew Zobler, CEO of Sydell, told The Times. “Now, at night, we get a large contingency from the neighborhood.”
Representatives of Sydell couldn’t be reached for comment.
This shot by Jesus Corona features wildflowers bathing in the sunset in Bexar County.“Sunset” by Jesus Corona
Gary T. Ray caught Gruene Hall and the surrounding buildings at the perfect dusk moment.“Gruene Nights” by Gary T. Ray
It's amazing that Bill Weekley found this rattlesnake among sunny wildflowers and much more ominous skies.“Danger in the Wildflowers” by Bill Weekley
This gray fox may look like he's sitting on the ground, but Mike Zarella caught him sitting in a tree in Blanco County.“Gray Fox up a Tree" by Mike Zarella
It's not surprising viewers were enchanted by this welcoming road, which seems to lead into a future with more Hill Country blooms and beauty.Bluebonnet and Live Oak Road by William Shelton
The rest of the calendar images.Mockup courtesy of the Hill Country Alliance