The Driskill Hotel Begins Full Renovation

August 12, 2025

AUSTIN, TX — Pixiu Investments, Woodbine Development and Hyatt Hotels Corporation have announced plans for the full renovation and restoration of The Driskill Hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, in the Texas capital. According to a press release, the transformation of Texas’s first luxury hotel and legendary 1886 landmark will include 175 guestrooms, the lobby and common areas, meeting and social spaces and culinary outposts — with the addition of a new ballroom, cocktail bar, and curated retail space.

The first phase of the renovation will debut this fall; it will include the reimagined The Driskill Bar and The Driskill Grill, as well as a new bar, The Victorian — operated by Austin-based MML Hospitality — along with the 110 Tower Guestrooms built in 1929, a refreshed fitness center, and a new 2,800-square-foot ballroom on the Mezzanine Level.

The second phase, to be completed in the summer of 2026, will include the hotel lobby, grand staircase, and original guestroom tower of 74 historic rooms, as well as the debut of a curated retail space named aptly for the hotel’s prominent general manager and founding family children: Stark & Sisters. The Driskill’s transformation will culminate in tandem with its 140th anniversary in December 2026.

“Pixiu and Woodbine purchased The Driskill with a commitment to stewarding it for generations to come,” said T. Dupree Scovell, managing partner at Woodbine Development. “In addition to preserving this Texas treasure’s storied legacy and unique traditions, this historic renovation will bring Texans together from all over the state to enjoy the Grand Dame of our state in fresh and new ways. Whether our guests come to the property for a meal, a meeting or a momentous occasion, this transformation is going to elevate the experience they have with us — as well as the caliber of the memories they take away. We couldn’t be more excited about that.”

This new era will be ushered in by Dallas-based SWOON, the Studio, a design and branding team whose work can be seen in like-minded projects such as The Adolphus in Dallas, The Vanderbilt in Newport, Rhode Island, and Emeline in Charleston, South Carolina. Helmed by founders Samantha Sano and Joslyn Taylor, their vision for The Driskill is deeply rooted in its history. Fusing together its centuries’ worth of charm, connection, and culture, SWOON intends to create a space that is celebrated among locals and revered by inbound visitors — harkening back to its origins as a gathering place for movers and shakers, and where big ideas come to life.

“The reimagining of The Driskill isn’t about a look or style, it’s about celebrating the history and embracing things that last,” said SWOON’s Taylor. “The Driskill will transcend fad, embracing thoughtful details, honest materials and clever comforts that feel all at once modern and timeless. Our goal with The Driskill is that it will be full of unique, immersive moments, considered programming, and environments imbued with a warm, elevated accessibility that underscores the hotel’s soulful vibe.”

The Driskill’s new design will take direction from its lore, leaning into the moments that have nurtured its legacy through the centuries. The first-floor lobby will anchor the property as a cultural hub, that channels the stories of Texas’ rich history and fosters an environment to create new stories. Just off the lobby, a historic archive will serve as a time capsule of The Driskill through the decades.

The Mezzanine Level, housing the hotel’s social spaces, will pay homage to Lady Bird Johnson, echoing the gathering areas of old with crown molding, vibrant greenery and natural light.

An extension of the project is a new partnership between The Driskill and Austin-based MML Hospitality. MML will oversee all food and beverage operations for the hotel beginning this month and it will debut several new concepts.

The Driskill Bar and The Driskill Grill will take a new direction from New York’s Chef April Bloomfield, who will steward this new concept as her Southern debut and first project under her new role with MML. The space is currently undergoing extensive design renovations and a menu overhaul, with plans to reopen in late fall 2025. An original concept from MML, The Victorian, will also be unveiled this fall as a vibrant cocktail bar and lounge on the corner of 6th Street and Brazos. Subtle enhancements to the 1886 Café & Bakery will also be made, ensuring the charm and character are upheld for decades to come.

“Growing up in Austin, The Driskill always had a kind of mystical aura,” said Larry McGuire, co-founder of MML Hospitality. “It’s always been an iconic cornerstone of downtown hospitality, from famous politico events to big weddings, to late nights in the piano bar, to David Bull bringing fine dining back. The whole MML Hospitality team is thrilled to be in the beautiful building, hopefully adding to The Driskill legacy with respected western history coupled with modern Austin sensibilities.”

Built in 1886 by Colonel Jesse Driskill, The Driskill is a landmark of Texas history and served as the first luxury hotel in the state. The hotel has long stood as a gathering place for politicians, cattle barons, oil tycoons, and international dignitaries, serving as a setting for election watch parties and opulent celebrations.

The Driskill will continue service throughout the renovation process and remains part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a collection of architectural icons that celebrate history, artistry and ingenuity.

Pixiu Real Estate was founded in 2010 and is comprised of an expanding portfolio of real estate properties around Austin and Texas. Among the properties that Pixiu maintains ownership are the Littlefield and Scarbrough buildings adjacent to The Driskill.

Woodbine Development Corporation is a full-service real estate company with 50 years of development, investment, acquisition, and asset management experience.

SWOON, the studio is a design house focused on branding, residential, commercial, and hospitality interior design, experiential design, photography, and retail curation. Since its inception in 2009, SWOON has been a multi-disciplinary design house.

MML Hospitality is a partnership between restaurateurs Larry McGuire and Tom Moorman and hotelier Liz Lambert. Together, they develop and manage projects spanning restaurants, hotels, and retail, in Texas and beyond.