Hotel San José - the jewel of South Congress Avenue. A former motor court, the property went from Motel to Hotel in 2000 under the direction, care, and vision of Liz Lambert. Amidst the busy-ness of South Congress and all of its changes, Hotel San José remains a constant: a familiar escape with minimal-yet-iconic rooms and a welcoming lounge with a Texas classic: Spicy Micheladas.

Mostly laid back- it knows how to party, too. The hotel hosts tentpole events in the parking lot like South By San José, a 5 day music festival during SXSW, Always and Forever Free- where you see bands your future-self saw “way back when”. Jo’s Chili Cook Off has warmed the city each winter for over 15 years, inviting professional and home chefs to compete with their best chili and raise funds to end food insecurity in Austin at the same time. Add in “only hear it here” dj sets and live music performances in the Courtyard Lounge, and a retail shop for travelers and locals alike and know this- you’ve found a special part of Austin.

Here: a chance to teleport to the parking lot one spring day in 2023 as we hosted the 23rd South By San José:

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Here: a chance to teleport to the parking lot one spring day in 2023 as we hosted the 23rd South By San José: 〰️

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creative direction: Photography

Capturing the scope of Hotel San José can require moving from reflective rooms and into the crowd. Cristina Fisher, Rose Lichtenfels, Alison Marlborough, Chad Wadsworth, Daniel Cavazos, and Constanza Ulloa-Colina gave shape to the memories of our guests by capturing our quiet lobby, refreshing beverages, an audience in unison, and nights among the bamboo.