Austin Motel

1220 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, USA

The site When she renovated this 1938 property in Austin’s happening South Congress neighborhood, local hotelier Liz Lambert riffed on three aesthetics: art deco, midcentury motel, and ’80s kitsch.

The hotel Lambert, a lover of all things vintage, kept all the curvy features of the original building, including the bulbous red neon sign out front. The 41 guest rooms are a retro mash-up of red vinyl tufted beds, silk-screened music posters, and kitschy lip-shaped rotary phones. The throwback theme continues in the public spaces: Lounge chairs and red-and-white umbrellas flank the kidney-shaped pool, and the hotel’s shop, Bodega, sells quirky Americana curios (neon Slinky, anyone?). Don’t miss a burger and onion rings at Jo’s Burger Box, which serves a satisfying array of American classics.

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So Close Yet So Far Out: Austin Motel

A small, unique, homegrown business...family owned for 75 years and with an awesome, friendly and hard working staff that keeps the business going wonderfully. Each room has a one of a kind feel due to the colors, murals and decorations used. And the pool is one of the best located pools in town! The motel is on the strip of the famous SoCo (South Congress District) and just a few minutes away from downtown Austin and many other must sees in town, like the Lady Bird Lake and Zilker Park.

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