Houstonians love having a beach in their backyard, making frequent weekend trips to Galveston year-round. And while there’s no shortage of upscale and budget-friendly hotel options, there are few choices in-between. Enter the long-awaited Hotel Lucine, a newly revitalized boutique hotel that adds a fresh perspective to the mix.

At the corner of Seawall Boulevard and 10th Street, this reimagined motor court has a rich history dating back to the 1960s, when it was known as the Treasure Isle Motel. It’s now a quaint 61-room, two-story property named after the lucine shell, which is often overlooked when beachcombing, but reveals a shiny pearlescent side once picked up.

On a visit shortly after it opened in November, Hotel Lucine had some kinks to iron out—spotty Wi-Fi, no cable, and the safes in the closets didn’t have batteries yet. At one point, overwhelmed rooftop servers prompted a candid moment visible to guests in which the head bartender suggested everyone just “take a deep breath.” The hotel is not pet-friendly, so plan accordingly. There is no elevator to the second floor—the front desk staff will help bring your luggage up, but if you cannot take the stairs, request a first-floor room. Regardless of some initial flaws, Hotel Lucine is a pleasant stay that has promise.

Galveston-born owners Keath and Dave Jacoby brought new life to the hotel while keeping the original retro aesthetic found in every nook and cranny. The courtyard and pool in the center of the hotel, for example, are covered by the original blue concrete tiles, and the minimalistic layout of the rooms was mostly preserved.

There’s not much art on the walls or places to sit beyond the beds, but first-floor rooms have direct access to the courtyard and pool, and balcony rooms on the second floor come with outdoor seating and a view overlooking the pool and pergola. Fans of interior design will revel in the vintage, pink-tiled bathrooms, a major staple in American homes from the 1940s to 1960s. The visible underside of the roof above every balcony is painted different pastel colors, a fun touch to the whole midcentury vibe.

Another highlight is the pool area, where you can lounge under a classic fringe-tassled beach umbrella while sipping a cocktail. The intimate-sized, heated pool only gets a little under six feet deep, perfect for a leisurely dip.

The Den, a central gathering space across from the front desk, welcomes guests for breakfast and coffee in the morning, afternoon meals, and night-time cocktails. Expect bites like salads, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and shrimp cocktail. It’s a hub that’s reminiscent of being below deck in a classic seafaring vessel due to its subdued lighting, proximity to Seawall Boulevard, and lack of windows that give a sense of enclosure, offering a temporary escape from the outside world.

The Fancy, the hotel’s 1,500-square-foot on-site restaurant led by chef Leila Ortiz, is possibly one of the best dining options on the island. After Justin Yu and Bobby Heugel—owners of Houston hot spots like Better Luck Tomorrow, Anvil, and Theodore Rex—backed out of the concept, Yu recommended Ortiz to take over. She boasts noteworthy experience as sous chef for New York’s famous Momofuku Noodle Bar, working alongside David Chang; and as sous chef and operations manager for Houston’s UB Preserv. The cuisine, coined as American “fine-ish” dining, showcases French-inspired dishes with Gulf Coast flair, and is especially saucy. According to Ortiz, this is intentional. “I want to hit notes with emotion, memory, and experience, and pack as many interesting flavors as I can,” she says. “I’m a saucy girl.”

Ortiz says the roasted chicken with ground chicken–filled dumplings and the grass-fed beef rib eye have been popular with diners. Other successful items from the November menu included the kampachi crudo, made with a spicy orange sauce that brings out the flavor of the fish; the perfectly cooked broccoli with bacon; and the roasted Gulf snapper wrapped in thinly sliced potatoes with a creamy onion-based sauce.

The three dessert options—chocolate torte de ganache, poached pear with sweet wine gelée, and the warm lemon butter cake with sweet crème—were good enough to just order them all. The drink menu has a small selection of wines from Spain, Italy, France, and beyond; a handful of gin and bourbon cocktails; and four draft beers including two from local breweries Galveston Island and Houston’s Eureka Heights.

Don’t leave without spending some quality time on the picturesque rooftop bar, located on the second floor of the hotel. The 180-degree ocean views make it an ideal spot to soak up the last hours of the sun.