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.
Steve McHugh to Open Restaurant at Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue
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,” said 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,” said 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.”
For more information or to book a reservation at Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin, please visit hyattcentriccongressavenueaustin.com. For any sales-related inquiries, please email AUSCT-RFP@hyatt.com.
The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.
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About Steve McHugh:
McHugh opened his first restaurant, Cured, in 2012 in San Antonio to much acclaim. The seasoned chef from a small farm in Wisconsin had already accomplished so much within his career – ten years in the vibrant culinary epicenter of New Orleans working as chef de cuisine at August, followed by two years at Lüke in San Antonio. In 2018, McHugh was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a Smart Catch Leader for his use of the purest regional ingredients paired with organic methods, which influences others to focus their efforts in maintaining healthy, sustainable food sources now and for future generations. Good Food 100 Restaurants and James Beard Foundation selected Cured as a restaurant that exemplifies sustainability through its purchasing to support every link in the food chain and change the food system for good.
About Hyatt Centric
Hyatt Centric is a brand of full-service lifestyle hotels located in prime destinations. Created to connect guests to the heart of the action, Hyatt Centric hotels are thoughtfully designed to enable exploration and discovery so they never miss a moment of adventure. Each hotel offers social spaces to connect with others in the lobby, meanwhile the bar and restaurant are local hot spots where great conversations, locally inspired food and signature cocktails can be enjoyed. Streamlined modern rooms focus on delivering everything guests want and nothing they don’t. A passionately engaged team is there to provide local expertise on the best food, nightlife and activities the destination has to offer. For more information please visit hyattcentric.com. Follow @HyattCentric on Facebook and Instagram, and tag photos with #HyattCentric.
About McWHINNEY
Colorado-based real estate investment firm McWHINNEY is passionate about creating great places and providing awe-inspiring experiences. Since 1991, McWHINNEY has developed more than 6,000 acres of vibrant master-planned communities and more than 10 million square feet of vertical commercial and mixed-use properties in the Rocky Mountain region and on the West Coast. With a growing Texas portfolio, in addition to developing Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin, McWhinney acquired the luxurious Austin Proper hotel in September 2021. With offices in Loveland and Denver, McWHINNEY has been named Colorado’s “Developer of the Year” by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and won the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Global Award for Excellence and the Denver Business Journal Real Estate Champions – Catalyst Award for Denver Union Station. For additional information, visit www.mcwhinney.com.
