Penthouse, please!

Long-awaited luxury hotel za-za-zooms into downtown Austin with rooftop bar

Okay, so it might have missed that original 2015 deadline, but Hotel ZaZa is finally opening its doors in Austin. The opulent hotelier, which also has locations in Dallas and Houston, announced it finally has checked into the Capital City.

Located just steps from Republic Square Park at 400 Lavaca St., the 159-room ZaZa offers a restaurant, craft cocktail bar, rooftop pool and bar, live entertainment stage, decadent spa, and more than 8,000 square feet of meeting space spread across six separate venues.

"Hotel ZaZa Austin marries big city sophistication with authentic Texas style to create the city’s preeminent luxury hotel," the hotel teases in a release.

Cultivating that big city sophistication/authentic Texas style is Dallas-based Duncan Miller Ullmann, who also designed ZaZa's outposts in Houston and the Big D. In addition to the standard queen and king rooms, the firm was tasked with creating individually themed suites, such as a Palm Spring-inspired Bungalow 6 and the opulent rock ‘n’ roll-themed Back Stage Pass King Suite.

Suite or no suite, every guest is treated to C.O. Bigelow bath products and the hotel's signature candle-lit turndown service.

Austin chef Jacob Weaver, best known for stints at Juliet Italian Kitchen and Asti, is leading the hotel's restaurant program. The property's ground-floor restaurant, Perfect Strangers, offers cocktails; light bites; and a contemporary menu of salads and soups, sandwiches, and entrées, and is open to guests and locals alike.

The seventh floor cocktail bar, the aptly named Group Therapy, is also home to the hotel's live music venue, Stage Fright. (Kudos for these names, ZaZa.) Adjacent to Group Therapy is the poolside Cabana Bar. Speaking of which, the luxury pool boasts views of both the city skyline and Republic Square Park.

Rates for the newly opened Hotel ZaZa Austin begin at $289, and reservations can be made here.

The hotel's pool overlooks downtown Austin.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Zaza Austin

The hotel's pool overlooks downtown Austin.

openings hotels downtown

Downtown News

Dallas convention center re-do will shut down DART stop for 3 years

Courtesy photo

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Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is about to shut down its stop at the Convention Center Station for the next three years.

The agency is being forced to close the station to accommodate the city of Dallas' construction and redevelopment of the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. As part of the project, the station will be closed for the duration of construction, which is currently estimated at three years.

The Convention Center Station is a stop on both the Red and Blue lines, and the shutdown will affect anyone traveling to or from southwest Dallas. North Dallas, Plano, Rowlett, and Carrollton will thankfully be spared.

Rail detours
Riders who previously used the Convention Center Station will be directed to nearby alternative stations at Cedars or EBJ Union. DART has prepared clear signage, rider alerts, and bus connections to support customers and make navigating the closure as easy as possible.

Bus detours
Routes 28 and 106 will maintain regular service outside of downtown. Within downtown, instead of taking Lamar to the Convention Center, the bus will turn left on Young Street, right on Akard Street, right on Marilla Street where the Akard and Marilla bus stop is located (stop number 20685).

Outbound, routes 28 and 106 will turn left on Young Street, right on Lamar Street and then proceed on their regular route.

Layover at Akard and Marilla: Passengers deboard at Cedars Station and take the special South Dallas GoLink to bus stops at Akard and Marilla or to EBJ Union Station.

Route 224 will operate a detour going inbound. Inbound trips will come downtown via Elm and continue to Houston, turn left on Commerce and continue to Harwood. It will then turn left to go to the East Transfer Center where it will layover. Outbound trips will originate from the East Transfer Center and operate a regular route out of downtown.

Layover at East Transfer Center

Passengers arriving by train can deboard at Convention Center Station to board route 224.
Another option for passengers is to deboard at Akard Station, then board 224 at Elm and Akard.

Route 383 East Transfer Center is your final stop. 383 will not continue past this station. This route will be discontinued on February 02, 2026.

DART will implement a new GoLink Zone for Convention Center Station customers that will only provide service for trips originating at EBJ Union Station, Cedars Station, or the substitute bus layover location on Akard and Marilla and terminating at one of those locations.

The service will operate 7 days a week, from 5 am to midnight. Customers using this GoLink Zone may only travel between these three designated points.

All changes will be reflected online and in the GoPass app for the duration of construction.

downtown transportation