The Carpenter Hotel
Opened in 2018, this hotel in Austin is true to its name. It proudly exposes building materials inside and outside, has a pool with a quirky hangar to hang out, fancy food, and 93 rooms with brick-laden balconies.
It's hard to keep up with Austin's development boom, but luckily there are still some prime examples of what keeps the city weird, in the best meaning of the word.
You are a short walk from the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Austin's coolest attraction. You can watch the scenic sunsets with the city's skyline in the foreground on a comfy bench without noisy and smelly cars passing by.
Located close to the Colorado River in the Southern part of Austin, the Carpenter Hotel is housed in a mid-century brick building plus a Brutalist-style extension for the hotel's rooms.
So, brick lovers rejoice as the orange building blocks (sometimes painted in white) appear on the facade, the reception desk, the walls of the rooms, and even shape the balconies' balustrade.
The Carpenters Hall restaurant used to be home to Carpenter's Union Hall, and thankfully the building's new owners have respected the historic structure.
At first glance, you will be confused about which is the original and which is the new building, as the work was so well done.
The original structure houses the lobby and the restaurant, and as you walk through it, the connection between old and new is seamless.
The hotel sells its own merchandise and souvenirs, so you can take home a piece of Austin.
Coffee bar
Carpenters Hall
The hotel's restaurant is open to everyone, serving classic unpretentious, comforting foods. The brunch on the weekends includes Mexican-inspired breakfasts like migas scramble, huevo frito, plus Southern-style dishes like shrimp and grits.
How about dipping into the Happy Hour Spread?
Old pecan groves surround the outdoor patio, where you can sip locally brewed drinks from the Carpenter Coffee Bar.
Qhut
The Quonset hut (lightweight prefabricated structure developed by the USA) is the poolside chill area with fans cooling you from its ceiling on hot summer days.
The outdoor pool has a picturesque setting among the pecan grove, and the hotel provides you with towels, sun loungers, and drinks upon request from either the Carpenters Hall or the Carpenter Coffee Bar.
