EXPERIENTIAL LOYALTY

Bunkhouse Hotels’ First Houston Concept, Hotel Saint Augustine, Now Open in the Heart of Houston’s Montrose Neighborhood

Designed in collaboration with interiors firm Post Company and architecture firm Lake|Flato, the new-build hotel brings a highly anticipated destination to the Museum District, complete with a destination restaurant helmed by James Beard nominated chef Aaron Bludorn

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Hyatt

Hotel Saint Augustine, the newest boutique hotel from the acclaimed hospitality brand, Bunkhouse Hotels and from developer, The Marchbanks Company, is now officially open in Houston’s beloved Montrose neighborhood. Dotted across 2.2 acres, the hotel features 71 hotel rooms and suites, a Gulf Coast-inspired restaurant, an intimate event space, all-day lobby lounge and listening room, and circular heated pool.

Located in the cultural epicenter of the city’s art, food, and nightlife scenes, Hotel Saint Augustine is the Bunkhouse brand’s inaugural hotel in Houston. In keeping with the brand’s tradition of naming hotels after patron saints, Hotel Saint Augustine’s origin is inspired by several references — the patron saint of printing, given its proximity to the Menil Drawing Institute; one of the cofounders of Houston, Augustus Chapman Allen; the abundance of Saint Augustine grass found throughout the city; and a nod to the month of August for the hazy, late summer nostalgia it brings.

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“Adding a Bunkhouse hotel in Houston has been our team’s dream for a long time,” said Amar Lalvani, who recently took on the role of President and Creative Director, Lifestyle, Hyatt after leading The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels brands for the past decade. “Houston is an underappreciated capital of culinary, culture, art, and design, and those things are all core to the Bunkhouse mission. We can’t wait to become a part of such a rich and diverse local community and introduce new visitors to a city we love.”

The interior design was led by Post Company, the esteemed New York- and Wyoming-based design studio, who set out to create an inviting retreat that feels both unexpected and thoughtfully designed with moments of subtle surrealist whimsy in collaboration with Bunkhouse Hotels. The design honors Houston’s rich artistic heritage, drawing inspiration from the spirit of the museum district and of Houston itself, resulting in a design that reflects Bunkhouse’s signature style while embracing the essence and culture of the dynamic city. While Hotel Saint Augustine is not affiliated with the Menil Collection, one of the country’s finest arts institutions, the property does seek to engender the ethos of the Menil family and the museum, drawing inspiration from the spirit of the museum collection and Houston itself. To complement the hotel’s location adjacent to the Menil Collection campus, the artwork throughout the property has intentionally been kept minimal to create a serene environment through artful elements found in the hotel, such as furniture, textures, lighting, objects, and landscaping choices.

The lobby, which fronts Loretto Drive, sits in the main building behind a quaint entry courtyard. Designed to mimic a curator’s private home, the space feels like a layered living room with rich interiors and saturated colors. The reception desk is wrapped in burled walnut with Calacatta Viola marble accents, while dramatic theatrical drapery in sheer linens divide the adjacent open parlors and seating areas, creating various nooks for gatherings throughout the day. Deep blue walls and ceilings in the lobby and bar add to the sense of otherworldliness, pulling the space into an immersive, moody palette, while large, framed windows peak out to the courtyard and screened porches to bring the outdoors in. At the bar, antique mirror panels reflect the hotel’s surrounding landscape, while a listening room complete with a refurbished Otari MX5050 BII-2 Restored Tape Recorder and reel to reel player, alongside a record player, provides a constant flow of music with plans for special activations in the future.

The property’s food & beverage concepts are helmed by the hotel’s restaurant partners: Houston’s well-known chef and restaurateur Aaron Bludorn, and Bludorn Director of Operations Cherif Mbodji, who have successfully opened three restaurants in Houston, including Bludorn, which was a semifinalist in the 2024 James Beard Awards and recently recommended by the Michelin Guide, Navy Blue, and most recently, Bar Bludorn.

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Perseid (per-see-id), the hotel’s premiere all-day restaurant, is a take on the quintessential neighborhood bistro, with a menu that celebrates the diverse global influences shaping Houston’s food and culture. The cuisine, which blends Texas Gulf Coast flavors with French-inspired touches, combines elements of refined comfort with traditional techniques, all while emphasizing bold, distinctive flavor. On the beverage side, expect a seasonal blend of classic and creative cocktails, named after icons from Houston and the Montrose neighborhood, alongside classic French wines from small producers and eclectic wines sourced from family-owned wineries across the globe. The restaurant’s interiors are a vibrant space, nodding to the surrealist landscape created for the entire property. Ombre dipped wall treatments and hand painted textural abstract murals create a sense of intimacy across the rooms. An eclectic range of furniture, including custom Art Deco inspired pendants hang from the modeled ceiling to complete the space.

Houstonians and hotel guests alike can also enjoy the day to night concept, Augustine Lounge and Listening Room, situated within the hotel’s lobby in the main building. Serving breakfast and an all-day menu alongside a full bar, visitors can expect sweet and savory options to start their day, in addition to a handful of sharable bites, sandwiches, and dessert. At the bar, cocktails coincide with a selection of draft beer and wine, including non-alcoholic options. Additionally, Saint Augustine’s flexible event space that sits on top of Perseid is designed to accommodate events both grand and intimate for up to 250 guests with porches overlooking the courtyard and pool, and a food and beverage program from the Bludorn team.

Across multiple buildings, Saint Augustine features 71 varied room types, from 200-sq-ft “Petite Queen” rooms to “Atelier” suites complete with private outdoor living space, ensuring that local art and culture are accessible for all. Each of the suites and guestrooms boast playful furnishings and finish details to lend a surrealist edge to the composed décor. Monochromatic hues of blue, deep red, sage, and mustard envelope each bed with ceramic wall tiles to emphasize a true color study, while drapes and velvet textures add a level of indulgence into the space. Oversized sculptural lighting and surrealist fixtures such as the amoebic-shaped wall mirrors disrupt the expected proportions of the space, and nickel and chrome finishes add moments of modern texture.

“We are thrilled to join the Houston community, and more specifically, Montrose neighborhood, as we open the doors to Hotel Saint Augustine,” said Omar Abreu, General Manager, Hotel Saint Augustine. “Montrose’s rich cultural history, unique and welcoming charm, and its proximity to multiple beloved art institutions make it a destination for locals and travelers alike.”

With architecture by renowned Texas firm Lake|Flato, and landscape architecture by lauded Texas studio Ten Eyck, the indoor/outdoor hotel is comprised of five small two-story buildings that blend seamlessly into the neighborhood’s residential character, intersected by four lushly landscaped courtyards and winding outdoor pathways featuring complementary plants including mature heritage oak trees, eyelash sage, dwarf rock palm, and blue rabbit’s foot fern. Each building is connected by open air bridges and porches to create a residential feeling, with gray elongated brick and combed wood siding to complement the area’s lush natural landscape, which is a central element of the design. Hotel Saint Augustine maintains its connections to the Montrose neighborhood via multiple entry points throughout the city block.

“For over 20 years, people have been talking to me about the need for a hotel in the Museum District. Not just any hotel—they wanted it to be the right one: a property at the correct scale with a commitment to seamlessly blending into the neighborhood both aesthetically and by offering public spaces where local Houstonians want to gather,” said Greg Marchbanks, CEO, The Marchbanks Company. “The entire team on this project thought deeply about these objectives and how they manifest in every part of the experience right from the beginning, and I feel that we really hit the mark with Hotel Saint Augustine.” 

As Bunkhouse Hotels expands their brand presence throughout Texas and beyond, Hotel Saint Augustine plans to uphold the Bunkhouse Hotels’ ethos of creating community-driven experiences. The property will celebrate Houston’s history of unexpected pairings and cutting-edge culture through programming and partnerships. Bunkhouse Hotels will continue their growth in Houston this year with the opening of Hotel Daphne in the historic Houston Heights neighborhood and the first Jo’s Coffee to open outside of Austin.  

Source: Hyatt