Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin announced today that famed San Antonio chef and six-time James Beard Foundation finalist Steve McHugh will open his first Austin restaurant, Luminaire, along with bar Las Bis at the much-anticipated 31-story lifestyle hotel. Luminaire, Las Bis and the hotel are expected to open late summer, and the hotel is now accepting reservations and group inquiries for September 1, 2022, and beyond.
Located at 721 Congress Avenue, steps from the Texas Capitol and next door to Austin’s beloved Paramount and State Theatres, Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin will be the newest lifestyle hotel to grace the Austin skyline, offering guests a launchpad to explore the best of what Austin has to offer. The eclectic and modern property will feature 246 guestrooms and suites designed by Nelsen Partners and OBMI Interiors, including a 1,400-square-foot penthouse suite boasting full living and dining areas along with an outdoor deck with panoramic views. The hotel’s interior spaces will be inspired by Austin’s boho-chic style with nods to the city’s energetic music scene, and will showcase an extensive art collection created by local Austin-area artists.
McHugh, who is also executive chef of Landrace at Thompson San Antonio as well as owner and executive chef of Cured, will helm the all-day ground-floor restaurant, Luminaire. Featuring an indoor and outdoor space with a relaxed and casual atmosphere, Luminaire’s cuisine will focus on seasonal local Texas fare and charcuterie, with a bar offering a curated selection of classic cocktails, craft beers and new world wines. Las Bis, which will be located on the 8th floor and feature an outdoor terrace with full views of the Austin skyline and Congress Avenue, will specialize in a select menu of playfully plated conservas, craft cocktails and biodynamic wines.
Food and beverage offerings for banquets will be overseen by Chef McHugh as well, providing an elevated experience for the property’s event spaces. Approximately 2,560 sq. ft. of meeting space will be conveniently located on one floor of the hotel, with an additional 1,400 sq. ft. of flexible event space available on the 31st floor in the property’s penthouse suite.
“I am thrilled to be overseeing such an exciting new venture,” says McHugh. “After almost a decade of running Cured and most recently Landrace in San Antonio, to now have a presence in Austin is something quite meaningful for me. At Luminaire, I will continue with my philosophy of incorporating and honoring Texas’ diversity of local and seasonal ingredients, working closely with farmers, and ensuring sustainability a top priority.”
"Steve McHugh is a visionary within the culinary world, and we are delighted to be collaborating with such an accomplished and forward-thinking chef,” says Harrison Compton, general manager of Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin. “Hyatt Centric hotels cater to savvy, in-the-know explorers who want to get a true feel for the city they are visiting, and partnering with Chef McHugh is the ideal match. We are looking forward to welcoming visitors and locals alike, as well as World of Hyatt members, for a one-of-a-kind dining experience paired with an unforgettable lifestyle hotel experience in the heart of this iconic city.”
News and information presented in this release has not been corroborated by WTWH Media LLC.
