Group travel is a chaotic endeavor in the very best of circumstances. The temptation to split up and chase individual goals is strong, but those goals are seldom as fun without friends. Inn Cahoots, a new multipurpose hotel and venue, is bringing everything under the same roof to solve that problem for Austin travelers starting on July 21.
The "inn" mirrors a food truck park, a festival, or an exceptionally well-developed hostel. Occupying most of the 1200 block of East 6th Street, it contains (by its own estimation) "the first-ever hotel designed specifically for group travel" along with three public bars, two gardens with stages, and an unspecified group of food trucks.
If that sounds a little rowdy, that's the idea. Founder and CEO Kristen Carson, a "longtime Austin resident," created this traveler's playground in response to "party houses" that were disrupting neighbors in residential areas. Hopefully, the new compound can host travelers with similar goals where they belong — on a street that's already partying with or without them.
“The idea for Inn Cahoots came from my belief that bachelor and bachelorette parties shouldn’t be held in residential neighborhoods,” said Carson, who has her own experience as an Airbnb host, in a release. “I wanted to create a place where these parties and other large groups could have space to have fun while being in an area that would welcome them.”
The venue isn't new, but it is opening for the first time to the general public. The inn has been accepting bookings since 2019, but only via word of mouth. The event spaces were also reserved for more corporate needs; Formerly used for large-scale private events, the same seven spaces are now open to the public daily.
Now Inn Cahoots has five condo-style suites with common areas, kitchens, and multiple bedrooms each. A modular design with rolling walls can combine suites at the living room, as an accommodation for even larger groups. The inn also offers another edge over Airbnb or private rentals: dedicated hotel service.
The main recreational spaces are Bar Mischief, IYKYK, and Austin Garden & Studio. All three are bars — Bar Mischief pares things down to 20 seats and luxe cocktails, while IYKYK turns a rooftop into a speakeasy music lounge — but Austin Garden & Studio is the main event. Its scope contains the inn's third bar bar, the food truck lot, a yard, and a former radio studio that is "rumored" by neighbors to have an important Austin history as the home of the city's first Spanish-language station.
Photo courtesy of Inn Cahoots
Inn Cahoots was designed to accommodate groups traveling together, to lessen the strain of tourists on residential neighborhoods.
Austin Garden & Studio is also the only subspace with its own stated mission: "to maintain and bolster the city’s character and spirit while functioning as a backyard hangout for the community." Some of this commitment is made through booking acts, including a 10-piece band with a weekly residency. A "Sip & Support" initiative also benefits local nonprofits directly by donating a portion of its sales each month.
“The Inn Cahoots team has worked tirelessly to make this dream come to life,” said COO of Inn Cahoots Michelle Chuang in the release. “Whether you’re looking for a cozy cocktail lounge, a cool rooftop speakeasy, or a high-energy bar, we have something for everyone here — and we can’t wait to welcome Austinites to come experience it all."
Three days of grand opening festivities approach. Each RSVP (following the links) doubles as an entry to win the prize listed.
- Friday, July 21, 5 pm to 2 am — Austin's Official Women's World Cup pep rally and watch party, live music, and DJ sets. Win an agave tasting for eight people.
- Saturday, July 22, 5 pm to 2 am — Rotating DJ set. Win a VIP cabana and cocktails experience for 10 people.
- Sunday, July 23, 2-11 pm — Live broadcast of 101X's Chillville, live music, drag queen trivia, and DJ sets. Win YUNGBLUD tickets for two people.
The team is already working on expanding the concept to Nashville, so Austin-based fans of Inn Cahoots may have a home away from home soon.
