I’ve always loved Austin, Texas. I’ve been there a few times for South by Southwest, a bachelorette party, a road trip with my partner, and a work trip with a friend. All of those trips were the kind that involve dancing to live music until 1 AM and recovering until noon the next day. My most recent visit was different. I stayed at Hotel Viata in the wooded West Lake Hills suburb and spent my time lounging around the pool, relaxing in the sauna, and enjoying a quieter, more resort-like version of Austin.
Photos: Hotel Viata
This Hotel Outside of Austin Brings a Dash of Tuscany to the Texas Hill Country
An Italian aesthetic with Texas-sized rooms
Photo: Hotel Viata
West Lake Hills is about five miles from downtown Austin, but pulling up to Hotel Viata, it was almost as if I’d landed in Tuscany. The hotel (formerly Hotel Granduca) has echoes of an Italian villa, with lemon-yellow stucco, terracotta walls, wrought-iron furniture, stone fountains, and cypress trees peppering the property.
The lobby art broke the illusion. The first painting I noticed was a Gucci-emblazoned bull by Robert Walker. The hallways on either side featured a revolving display of art including Blue Sky Art on Wheels, a mobile exhibit that cycles through Texas artists. The other side was adorned with bold, colorful paintings of women from artist Lisa Krannichfeld.
Entering my room was another reminder that I was, in fact, in Texas (although the artworks lining those walls were Italian-inspired). Where a hotel room in Tuscany might be 350 square feet, my one-bedroom was 900 square feet, which is larger than my former New York City apartment. Accommodations at Hotel Viata range from 480-square-foot Deluxe and Superior rooms to one- and two-bedroom suites ranging from 740 to 1,350 square feet.
A cold bottle of white wine sat on the table, which I poured to sip as I explored the suite. The living room was fully separated from the bedroom by the entryway, making the suite feel more residential than an oversized hotel room. The living room included a comfy sofa, two armchairs, and a large flat-screen TV where I planned to rewatch Interview with the Vampire on Netflix. Next to the seating area was a kitchenette with a mini fridge, water fridge, Nespresso machine, and a wooden tea box stocked with a variety of teas. There was also a desk next to the TV, and a small dining table behind the sofa doubled as a spot for room service.
The bedroom had a king-size bed, another flat-screen TV atop a dresser, and a Juliet balcony where I could look out at the pool. Then I opened the bathroom door. In front of windows overlooking the Texas hills sat an enormous white soaking tub. I had visions of me, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and a little bubbly relaxing come evening time. There were also dual sinks, a spacious walk-in shower with a built-in bench, and a walk-in closet with plush robes.
ADA-accessible and hearing-accessible rooms are available at Hotel Viata, including select rooms with roll-in showers.
Rosé by the pool and a quick trip to the sauna
Photo: Hotel Viata
Outside on level two, cypress trees ring the courtyard pool. I ordered a glass of rosé from Al Fresco, the seasonal poolside restaurant (during the low season, guests can order food and drinks from Laurel, the hotel’s main restaurant) and lost track of time in one of the comfiest lounge chairs I’ve ever sat in. There are also in-water lounge chairs, a hot tub, a fire pit, and private cabanas with their own mini fridges if you’re willing to pay for one. I visited during the week, but on Fridays and Saturdays, a DJ spins by the pool.
I wasn’t about to work out on vacation, but the hotel’s 24-hour gym has cardio and strength-training equipment, free weights, treadmills, and Peloton bikes. If you book a treatment at Spa Viata, gym access comes with it, along with the sauna, steam room, showers, relaxation lounge, and pool area. The spa’s treatment menu covers massages, scrubs, facials, mud masks, hydrotherapy, and red-light treatments.
After lounging by the pool all day, I treated myself to a quick sauna session. A day pass gets you the same run of spa amenities even if you skip the treatment. Couples or friends can also book the private spa suite for more privacy, with its own soaking tub, rain shower, private lounge, and side-by-side massage tables.
Rigatoni, ribeye, and everything in between
Photo: Hotel Viata
Laurel is Hotel Viata’s flagship full-service restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as daily afternoon snacks and a weekend brunch. A large indoor tree rises through the dining room, its branches reaching up towards the skylight, making the dining room feel almost like a courtyard. The restaurant overlooks the outdoor terrace with views of the surrounding hills, and the kitchen sources what it can from local vendors day to day, working Texas ingredients into a menu built on Italian tradition.
Starters range from fresh burrata with toasted hazelnuts and strawberries to a salumi board of Italian cured meats and house pickles. Mains include handmade pasta, as well as proteins like dry-aged ribeye or Chilean salmon. For dinner, I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka, a light and airy dish with fresh tomatoes that burst in my mouth and chili flakes that added a touch of heat. Everything is served à la carte, so I ordered a side of broccolini, as well. The hotel grows its own herbs in a little garden next to the pool.
Laurel does private dining, too. There’s a room that seats up to 12, and you can work with the chef on a custom menu, keep it simple with a family-style meal, or opt for a three-course prix-fixe dinner. For a different kind of privacy, in-room dining is served from 7 to 11 AM and from 5:30 to 9 PM. For breakfast the next morning, I ordered a fluffy spinach omelet served with roasted potatoes. The food came quickly, so I was able to enjoy my morning tea and breakfast bright and early at the living room dining table while catching up on some writing.
How to get to Hotel Viata and around the area
Photo: PQN Studios/Shutterstock
Hotel Viata is a roughly 30-minute drive from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and a roughly 15-minute drive from downtown Austin, so you’ll want to rent a car at the airport or plan to rely on rideshares if you want to visit Austin’s main attractions. Having said that, part of Hotel Viata’s appeal is the fact that it’s removed from the city.
One mile from the hotel, Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is an easy add if you want to get outside. The 227-acre preserve has 2.5 miles of hiking trails winding through the Texas Hill Country woodland, with a scenic overlook and a seasonal waterfall along the way. Trails are free and open on weekdays; reservations and a small day-use fee kick in on weekends and holidays. 