breaking
The legacy of songwriter Townes Van
Zandt stands as tall as Texas, and his
music has influenced everyone from Willie Nelson to
Wilco. So it’s no surprise that in Austin, the live music
capital of the world, the storied Van Zandt legacy has
also inspired a bold new hotel by the same name.
The Hotel Van Zandt sits in the heart of the
bustling Rainey Street District, where bars and cocktail
lounges operate out of mid-century bungalows and
food trucks serve tacos and tapas late into the night.
But unlike its funky neighbors, the sixteen-story Van
Zandt is a chic and sophisticated property that mixes
old-school Texan charm with edgy modern design
that riffs on Austin’s music scene. Trombone-inspired
chandeliers hang in the spacious lobby and play off
exposed brick and steel-framed windows, while guests
sink into oversized whiskey-colored leather sofas
beside a Paul Villinski installation of birds fashioned
from vinyl records—including an LP from Townes
himself—flying from a vintage phonograph. The vibe is
upscale urban cool fused with what New York–based
designer Mark Zeff calls “a great history of elegance
and Texas gentry,” and music is at its core.
After check-in, where the front desk greets
visitors with a can of local beer, guests are welcome
to listen to records in the lobby or head up to the
“Writer’s Lounge” in the bar where musicians can
plug in their guitars. Customized playlists by Director
of Music and Social Programming Lauren Bucherie set
the mood for each space. In the lobby, think Fleetwood
hotel
van
zan d t
Mac, Shakey Graves, and The Avett Brothers, while
upstairs at Geraldine’s restaurant and bar, Bucherie
amps it up with the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Kills,
and Jack White. Even the rooftop pool features its
own underwater soundtrack, but she’s tight-lipped on
what you’ll find. As Bucherie says, “You’ll have to stay
with us and take a dip to test it out.”
BACKSTORY: A freshly minted hotel inspired by the rock and roll
torchbearers of its namesake
WHERE: Austin, Texas
YOU MIGHT KNOW IT AS: The sleek midsize building off hotspot Rainey
Street with music flowing through its walls
By Heather John Fogarty
16
FLOOD
Photos BY Whit Preston
NOW: Welcoming the ever-expanding Austin festival and conference
crowds with open arms and warmed-up amps