The elegant island bar at Serenade restaurant in Austin, showcasing a white marble counter, contemporary stools, vibrant floral arrangements, and a dramatic custom brass-framed crystal installation hanging from a mirrored ceiling.

Serenade was designed as a celebration of the natural beauty and rich ecological heritage of Austin, TX. Just steps from Lady Bird Lake, the restaurant draws from the landscape and Lady Bird Johnson’s commitment to preserving wildflowers and native plants across Texas. We sought to create an immersive dining experience that harmonizes with its surroundings while establishing a distinct identity separate from the adjacent W Austin hotel. Serenade’s entry is marked by a dramatic tunnel of flowers, brought to life by a custom hide art installation. Inside, the flooring features rich rojo Alicante marble, arranged to evoke the irregular pavers of a winding garden path. Above the bar, a crystal installation mimics Austin’s live oak canopies. A custom mosaic of native birds celebrates Lady Bird Lake, while an expanded terrace connects guests to the city's pulse.

w austin serenade

Austin, Texas

An intimate dining alcove at Serenade featuring an orange leather banquette sofa, cream-colored chairs, and a custom patterned hide art installation arching across the wall and ceiling with modern vertical sconces.

2,580 SF Hotel Reception & Entry
2,760 SF Living Room & Bar - 70 Seats
1,154 SF Seat Secret Bar - 34 Seats
616 SF Coffee Bar - 14 Seats
2,560 SF Restaurant - 96 Seats
2 Private Dining Rooms - 20 Seats
1,644 SF Restaurant Courtyard - 66 Seats

PROJECT statistics

Liz Neiswander
Scott Sickeler
Foreman Rogers
Jessica Thompson
Nicole Rodriguez Vasquez
Sophie Adler
Lily Chen
Debbie Wong

PROJECT TEAM

client

Ryman Hospitality Properties

2025 Gold Key Awards - Hotel Luxury
2025 Gold Key Awards - Guestroom Luxury
2026 IIDA Georgia Chapter BOB Awards - Finalist of Play: Best of Hospitality Category

awards

A sunlit dining area next to expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, highlighting square wooden tables, patterned orange chairs, and natural light casting shadows across the floor.
Intimate dining corner showing a detailed floral mosaic tiled accent wall, grey floor-length drapes, and wooden dining seating.
A broad architectural perspective of the interior space, displaying the interplay between the arched custom hide ceiling installation, modern fluted columns, and clusters of tables.
A transition view revealing the restaurant's unique irregular rojo Alicante marble flooring path leading past a structural column toward an open seating area.
An expansive look down the length of the main dining room floor, emphasizing the winding garden path floor layout flanked by the central bar and intimate perimeter seating.
An atmospheric nighttime view of the spacious outdoor dining terrace, showing multiple patio tables and seating configurations illuminated beneath warm string lights and a large central tree canopy.