Austin Motel, Austin, Texas
Retro Cool on South Congress
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A lovingly restored 1938 roadside motel that celebrates Austin’s rich roadside heritage through authentic retro Americana rather than manufactured nostalgia.
● A playful redesign by Liz Lambert and Bunkhouse that combines vintage motel culture, bespoke furniture, bold graphics, and colourful interiors with unmistakable Austin character.
● An iconic South Congress landmark where neon signs, a legendary kidney-shaped pool, and a laid-back social atmosphere have made it one of the city’s most beloved boutique stays.
A South Congress Institution
Long before South Congress became one of Austin’s trendiest neighbourhoods, Austin Motel was already welcoming travellers beneath its famous neon sign. Open since 1938, the white stucco motor inn has witnessed decades of the city’s evolution, surviving changing fashions while remaining firmly woven into Austin’s cultural identity. Rather than replacing its character with polished luxury, hotelier Liz Lambert and her (former) Bunkhouse team recognised the property’s greatest strength: its history. Their restoration honours three defining eras of the motel—the optimism of the 1930s when it first opened, the colourful expansion of the 1950s, and the free-spirited atmosphere of Austin during the 1980s. Together they create a hotel that feels both nostalgic and surprisingly contemporary.
Americana with a Wink
Austin Motel embraces classic roadside Americana without ever becoming kitsch for its own sake. The original neon signage remains proudly in place, while the interiors celebrate colour, personality, and playful design through bespoke furnishings, custom wallpapers, vintage references, and handcrafted details created in collaboration with local artists and makers. Burgundy vinyl tufted beds, classic push-button telephones, vintage silkscreen music posters, bold Voutsa wallpapers, laminated desks, and carefully curated decorative objects give every room a distinctive personality. Rather than recreating the past exactly as it was, the design filters decades of motel history through a contemporary lens, resulting in spaces that feel authentic, joyful, and effortlessly cool.
Rooms That Celebrate Simplicity
The motel’s 41 guestrooms remain intentionally uncomplicated, staying true to their roadside origins while introducing a level of comfort that feels thoroughly modern. Custom furnishings, rich colour palettes, Sferra linens, tactile materials, and thoughtful details replace unnecessary luxury with genuine personality. There are no oversized suites or elaborate distractions here. Instead, the rooms invite guests to embrace a slower rhythm, reflecting the carefree optimism that once defined the golden age of American road trips while offering every comfort today’s travellers expect.
The Pool That Defines Austin Motel
At the heart of the property lies one of Austin’s most recognisable swimming pools. The original kidney-shaped pool has become an icon in its own right, surrounded by classic red-and-white parasols, reproduced mid-century furniture, loungers, and a lively patio bar that captures the playful spirit of the motel. Far more than simply a place to swim, the pool has become the hotel’s social centrepiece, hosting everything from leisurely afternoons in the Texas sunshine to tongue-in-cheek events including synchronised swimming lessons and punk rock water ballet. It perfectly embodies the property’s refusal to take itself too seriously.
The Spirit of South Congress
Austin Motel feels inseparable from the neighbourhood that surrounds it. Positioned in the heart of South Congress, guests are only steps away from independent boutiques, live music venues, cafés, galleries, and some of Austin’s best restaurants. The lobby and adjoining retail space continue the playful narrative, functioning less like a traditional reception and more like a neighbourhood bodega stocked with carefully selected snacks, local drinks, vintage-inspired souvenirs, hotel memorabilia, and quirky design objects. Like the city itself, the motel thrives on individuality, creativity, and a healthy sense of humour.
Why It Works
Austin Motel proves that heritage doesn’t need polishing to become desirable. By preserving the personality of a beloved roadside landmark while introducing thoughtful contemporary design, Liz Lambert and Bunkhouse have created one of America’s most authentic boutique motels. Colourful, unpretentious, and unmistakably Austin, it captures the spirit of South Congress better than almost anywhere else—a place where vintage Americana, local creativity, and modern hospitality come together beneath one of Texas’ most iconic neon signs.
