The LINE Austin

Once is happenstance; twice is coincidence; three times is brand identity. The third LINE Hotel once again transforms a faded mid-century chain hotel into a hip and contemporary boutique hotel, this time in Austin, Texas, on the shores of Lady Bird Lake. To be fair, the old Crest Inn’s exterior has more than a little bit of retro appeal — but it’s thanks to architect Michael Hsu and designer Sean Knibb that the LINE Austin is as stylish as it is today, mixing classic modernism and industrial-chic textures with some subtle nods to the geography and geology of Austin and the surrounding Hill Country.

The rooms all look out over either the lake or downtown Austin through full-length windows, and while they’re sparse and simple, they’re by no means uncomfortable. Equally important are the public spaces, like Arlo Grey, where Top Chef winner Kristen Kish applies a bit of French and Italian influence to American comfort food, and Alfred, a café with roots in Los Angeles. Coming soon is a rooftop bar with a view of the lake — and the LINE’s location, just on the north side of the Congress Bridge, places it within easy reach of an almost unimaginable amount of nightlife.