Elite Traveler May-June 2018

elite traveler MAY/JUNE 2018 119

TOP SUITES

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE JWMarriott Austin

LADY BIRD PRESIDENTIAL SUITE Lake Austin Spa Resort Texans have long loved summering at lake houses. Join that ritualistic pilgrimage to healing water with a stay at Lake Austin Spa Resort, widely recognized as one of the world’s best destination spas. Reachable by luxury boat transfer from downtown Austin (or 30 minutes from the airport by car), the casually sophisticated hideaway overlooks the lake, surrounded by untrammeled nature. Offering sensible gourmet cuisine, water sports galore, fitness classes, hiking trails, three pools and hammocks strung beneath trees, the retreat ensures further restoration at its spa, a tranquil sanctumwith more than 100 varied treatments. Opt for the Lady Bird Presidential Suite, named for the former First Lady and wildflower devotee. Aptly, the commodious suite honors her with a private wildflower- flecked garden with a hot tub. Inside, two rooms with a fireplace and sitting area await. From $1,500 per person per night, including meals, classes and seminars. Contact Janis Clapoff, managing director, jclapoff@ lakeaustin.com, +1 512 372 7388, lakeaustin.com

CONGRESSIONAL SUITE Four Seasons Austin

One of the largest JWMarriotts in the world, this stylish giant filled a citywide need for upscale guest rooms when it opened in 2015. Immediately delighting Austinites with its trendy Texas-centric design and buzzing restaurants, the hotel has become an unexpected social hub that energizes the once staid Congress Avenue. There’s not one, but three Presidential Suites to welcome high-profile guests. Designed to showcase panoramic city vistas, they encompass a bedroom, two bathrooms and a dining section —all with minimalist furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows. For larger groups and VIP clients, the hotel provides the opportunity to rent the entire 34th floor, its highest. The Austin 360 package includes 23 Skyline View rooms, two Presidential Suites and for good measure, a dedicated butler. Austin 360 package from$30,000 for two nights. Presidential Suite from$2,000 per night. Contact Samantha Stites, senior marketingmanager, samantha.stites@ whitelodging.com, +1 512 608 4271, jwmarriottaustin.com

Long occupying what everyone acknowledges as the best location in town, Four Seasons Austin rises from the banks of Lake Lady Bird, just beside the AnnWRichards Congress Avenue Bridge. A hub for locals who love its snazzy lobby bar and contemporary American gourmet restaurant, Trio, the hotel has just renovated its suites to be in line with Austin’s contemporary flair. Evoking a slightly masculine urbanity, this getaway opens its back doors to an ample lawn with hammocks, sitting areas and a pool, and offers direct access to the city’s popular waterside trails. Try the Congressional Suite, designed in the spirit of Austin’s luxurious waterside mansions. It boasts a 955-sq-ft wraparound deck furnished with full-size dining table, two fire features and lounge seating with a view. Texas design elements, such as a dyed cowhide ottoman, let you feel as if you are on a chic ranch, not in the center of the city. From$6,500 per night. Contact Ashley Getsinger, guest experiences supervisor, ashley.getsinger@fourseasons.com, +1 512 685 8106, fourseasons.com

THE CATTLE BARON SUITE The Driskill

A century before Austin was a hipster paradise or a music mecca, it beckoned settlers to the West. The Driskill, situated among the Bourbon Street–like ruckus of West Sixth Street, began in Victorian times as the vision of cattle baron Jesse Driskill. A palatial haven of glitz and marble, it remains a slice of upscale Western hospitality and elegance. Rumored to be haunted, the downtown hotel lies steps from the Texas State Capitol and the University of Texas. Fully restored, retaining classic glamour throughout, the hotel projects a nostalgic grace. Honor the founder by staying in the Cattle Baron Suite, a 1,200-sq-ft, four-room oasis crowned by 16ft-tall ceilings. Accented withWestern art, cowhide rugs and period antiquities, it features all the creature comforts Driskill himself imagined. From$800 per night. Contact Margaret

Teisberg, reservations supervisor, +1 512 391 7103, driskillhotel.com

WHERE TO DINE

caviar menu. And since we are in Texas, expect to be tempted by immense cuts of meat, such as a 42-ounce Beeman Family Ranch porterhouse. jeffreysofaustin.com FAREGROUND Emblematic of Austin’s cool-kid vibe, Fareground opened downtown in January as the perfect noshing spot for gourmets who want it all. A stylish food hall designed by local architect Michael Hsu, the chichi eatery houses outposts by some of the capital city’s most storied chefs — several of them honored by the James Beard Academy. From tacos to sushi, charcuterie to epicurean dagwoods, each diminutive restaurant within offers a slice of the city’s culinary largesse. With menus (and bars) deeply committed to local ingredients, this all-day dining spot oozes see-and-be-seen appeal

— not to mention unforgettable flavors. A highlight? Bake shop Easy Tiger’s artisanal breads. faregroundaustin.com EMMER & RYE An homage to the farmer’s bounty, Emmer & Rye particularly honors the world’s lesser-known grains via creatively executed presentations and combinations. Chef Kevin Fink, a James Beard finalist and alumnus of Noma and French Laundry, redefines ordinary cuisine without affectation at this extremely unique restaurant. Aptly situated in the Rainey Street Entertainment District, the eatery keeps things fun with a brunch pastry cart and dim sum–style service at other mealtimes. Choose items bursting with flavor and anchored by grains, such as short-rib carnitas in a hominy broth or green Emmer garganelli with pork belly. emmerandrye.com

FONDA SANMIGUEL For decades, this powerhouse of Mexican cuisine has been the place where Austin residents (and out-of- towners, too) have gathered to celebrate their lives. Evoking a hacienda feel with handmade furniture, bright Oaxacan colors and eye-popping art, Fonda serves up authentic regional dishes. Enjoy tortillas made as you watch, and the town’s best margaritas any evening, but don’t miss the bountiful Sunday brunch, which is a local institution. fondasanmiguel.com UCHI James Beard award winner Tyson Cole learned to cook under the tutelage of a chef in Japan. When he returned to Austin, he brought a new appreciation for meticulous preparation and scrupulous presentation, as well as

tried-and-true Japanese techniques. The success of Uchi, his first restaurant, led the rise of Austin’s burgeoning gourmet food scene. Expect well-crafted Asian food with flair and Japanese style using farm-fresh Texas ingredients. Ensconced in a cozy South Austin bungalow, this contemporary eatery reflects both Austin’s old guard and its openness to what is new. Taste some of Cole’s favorites with the 10-course omakase menu. uchiaustin.com JEFFREY’S OF AUSTIN For date night, reserve a table at Jeffrey’s in Clarksville, a characteristic ‘Old Austin’ neighborhood. This new-school steakhouse blends Mad Men –era panache with an intimate local feel. Don’t miss the Gulf fried oysters and extensive

From top: One of the trendy eateries at Fareground; the Napoleon Room at Jeffrey’s of Austin

Photos sonheimphoto.com, Dan Ham, Terry Vine, Christian Horan Photography, Geoff Duncan