The standard comes to Austin | News
A new chapter is coming to the South Congress. The Standard brand will debut its first Texas outpost with The Standard, Austin, opening in spring 2027 as a vibrant reinterpretation of the beloved South Congress Hotel. The project marks The Standard’s first U.S. opening in more than a decade and places Austin within the brand’s growing constellation of global destinations, from London and Ibiza to Bangkok and Brussels, with locations in Lisbon and Mexico City expected to open later this year. The Standard, Austin will be a conversion and renovation of the existing South Congress Hotel, located at 1603 South Congress Ave, Austin, Texas 78704.
A collaboration between Hyatt and Timberline Real Estate Partners, The Standard, Austin, will transform the property into a culturally immersive gathering place for locals and travelers alike. The hotel will offer social wellness experiences, a rooftop pool and world-class restaurants and bars. The rooms will bring a global sensibility to life with local craftsmanship.
The project is led by an Austin-based creative team that combines global hospitality expertise with the cultural fabric of Austin. Amar Lalvani, president and creative director of Hyatt’s Lifestyle Group, is joined by James Moody – founder of Guerilla Suit and known for his work behind the Mohawk and Equipment Room – Stan Nix, managing partner of Timberline Real Estate Partners, and local architect Michael Hsu. Hsu takes a nationally recognized hospitality-focused approach and is known for defining many of Austin’s most iconic hospitality and mixed-use destinations. The interior design will be a collaboration between Goodrich Design and The Standard brand’s award-winning in-house design team led by Verena Haller.
Hyatt’s Austin-based Bunkhouse brand team will support the project, ensuring continuity with the neighborhood’s distinctive design and community sensibility. The Standard brand team is no stranger to the Austin market, having worked closely with the team at Bunkhouse Hotels and their beloved Austin properties for over a decade.
“I have always loved the South Congress Hotel and long saw its potential to become The Standard, Austin,” said Lalvani. “We have assembled an incredible team of Austin-based friends and collaborators who will both honor and breathe new life into the property’s legacy. Austin deserves a hotel that reflects the cultural capital it has always been and the world-class city it has become.”
“South Congress has always been a place where Austin’s past and future meet,” Nix said. “Bringing The Standard brand here feels like the natural next step: a commitment to the legacy of the street and an opportunity to create something globally relevant, socially vibrant and built for the long term.”
Conceived as more than a hotel, The Standard will function as a vibrant campus of ideas and experiences that evolves day and night. Guests can move seamlessly between cafes, dining areas, guesthouses and outdoor meeting areas, animated by music, conversation and a considered cocktail program, culminating in a rooftop pool above South Congress.
“We’re trying to build a unique and creative place that feels good every time you walk in – morning, evening, weekday, weekend,” Moody said. “Something that allows you to take care of yourself or let go a little bit, depending on the day. Austin doesn’t quite have that yet.”
The South Congress Hotel will close for renovations in summer 2026, and The Standard, Austin is expected to welcome its first guests in spring 2027. More announcements will follow soon. For updates and information, visit standardhotels.com.
