The Ruby Hotel

On the north side of the Austin metro area is Round Rock, Texas, an Old West town that’s seen its fortunes rise along with Austin’s boom. It’s no longer as sleepy as it was when it was a bedroom community for workers who commuted to the capital, but from within the grounds of the Ruby Hotel it’s as tranquil a place as you could ask for. It’s built on three acres of land on a bluff overlooking the sedate Brushy Creek, surrounded by century-old live oak trees, and while the house that was once the property’s sole occupant still stands — it’s home to the hotel bar — it’s joined by a strikingly modern 39-room boutique hotel.

The rooms are modern, but not minimal — they’re decorated in saturated blues and greens, and outfitted with king (or a pair of full) beds, balconies, and luxuries like bedside reading lamps and walk-in showers. The bar takes its inspiration from the cocktail culture of the Fifties and Sixties, and is, along with the swimming pool, the low-key social hub of the hotel. And despite the pastoral setting, you’re in downtown Round Rock, which has dining and entertainment options of its own, all within easy reach.