Which of These 8 New Hotels Is Right for Your Staycation?

C. Baldwin

• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Opening date: October 2019
• Number of rooms: 354
• Vibe: Flirty and feminine
• Claim to fame: Its legendary opening party drew a celebrity crowd—Slim Thug, Lynn Wyatt, half of the Houston Texans team—and featured a surprise performance from disco queen Gloria Gaynor.
• Who you’ll see: Stylish millennials and vaguely familiar influencers
• Instagram op: The “well behaved women rarely make history” wall
• Where to eat: Celebrity chef Chris Cosentino’s Rosalie Italian Soul
• Staycation here… With your besties to bask in the #girlpower (its namesake is Charlotte Baldwin Allen, a.k.a. the Mother of Houston) and take the Tesla out for a complimentary spin.

Cambria Hotel

• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Opening date: September 2019
• Number of rooms: 226
• Vibe: Perfectly polished
• Claim to fame: Its former life as the iconic Great Southwest Building, circa 1927
• Who you’ll see: GRB-goers and overnight ’stros fans looking for something a little more luxe
• Instagram op: Original art-deco accents like the period fireplace; classic skyline view from the top-floor ballroom
• Where to eat: Houston-inspired meals at the sleek in-house restaurant, The Rig; Potente, Astros owner Jim Crane’s swanky Italian joint
• Staycation here… If you’re dreaming of an easy escape from the ‘burbs and you appreciate the finer things.

AC Hotel

• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Opening date: July 2019
• Number of rooms: 195
• Vibe: European-style minimalism
• Claim to fame: The circa-1914 art-deco building, commissioned by Jesse Jones, has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Who you’ll see: Hip business travelers
• Instagram op: The century-old barrel-vaulted ceilings in the Zoe Ballroom
• Where to eat: The in-house AC Lounge for tapas; Bombay Pizza across the street for an Indian-fusion twist on classic pies
• Staycation here… After jamming out to a big name at Toyota Center or a local act in EaDo.

InterContinental Houston Medical Center

• Neighborhood: Med Center
• Opening date: March 2019
• Number of rooms: 354
• Vibe: Refined, practical luxury
• Claim to fame: Its size (21 stories); its location in the heart of the world’s largest medical complex
• Who you’ll see: TMC visitors and traveling health professionals
• Instagram op: The living moss wall in the sun-drenched lobby
• Where to eat: Safina for onsite Mediterranean fare; Third Coast, atop a nearby Med Center building, for a menu as diverse as Houston
• Staycation here… For some R&R and to explore the neighboring Museum District

The Post Oak Hotel

• Neighborhood: Uptown
• Opening date: March 2018
• Number of rooms: 250
• Vibe: Pure, unadulterated extravagance
• Claim to fame: Its owner, billionaire hospitality magnate Tilman Fertitta; its status as the city’s only AAA Five Diamond–certified destination
• Who you’ll see: Legitimate celebrities; ladies who lunch
• Instagram op: The three-story atrium lobby’s show-stopping, custom-built chandelier, inspired by the Dubai Opera House and dripping in more than 15,000 Swarovski crystals
• Where to eat: Any of Fertitta’s seven onsite concepts, including cute café Bloom & Bee and decadent Mastro’s Steakhouse
• Staycation here… To indulge in the lavish spa, gawk at the two-story Rolls-Royce showroom, and get a glimpse of how the other half lives.

Hotel ZaZa Memorial City

• Neighborhood: Memorial City
• Opening date: December 2017
• Number of rooms: 159
• Vibe: Sexy and sophisticated
• Claim to fame: The Magnificent Seven Suites, inspired by exotic destinations
• Who you’ll see: Traveling doctors and energy execs; chic grandmas visiting their picture-perfect Memorial-area kids
• Instagram op: Your adorable doggo lounging in the Egyptian cotton linens in front of a custom headboard (yes, it’s pet-friendly!)
• Where to eat: The hotel’s own Tipping Point; top-rated steakhouses like The Taste of Texas and Perry’s, both nearby
• Staycation here… To forget the kids for a bit at the ZaSpa and the Beach Club pool.

Hotel Alessandra

• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Opening date: October 2017
• Number of rooms: 223
• Vibe: Vintage glamour
• Claim to fame: Its award-winning midcentury interiors by renowned local designer Lauren Rottet—think emerald-green velour couches and mod brass fixtures.
• Who you’ll see: PYTs toasting in Euro-chic cocktail bar Bardot
• Instagram op: The dazzling marble staircase in the front entry
• Where to eat: Onsite bistro Lucienne for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in funky, futuristic digs; The Grove in nearby Discovery Green
• Staycation here… For a luxurious weekend that’s part romance (sumptuous soaking tubs), part Mad Men (martini cart room service).

Hotel Ylem

• Neighborhood: Braeswood Place
• Opening date: February 2017
• Number of rooms: 79
• Vibe: Cozy and eclectic
• Claim to fame: Its transformation from an ultra-corporate Holiday Inn Express into a funky, family-owned boutique hotel
• Who you’ll see: Texans fans; do-good travelers—mini-bar sales here, among other items, benefit charity.
• Instagram op: The mural by Houston artist Janavi Folmsbee, which spans the hotel’s entire front façade
• Where to eat: Tropicales in the Rice Village area for a similar vibe with tasty Latin flavors
• Staycation here… To see another side of the Bayou City before heading to the Rodeo.

Published in the 60 Ways to Be Happy in 2020 issue of Houstonia Mag.