Hotel Herringbone

Style

Swish boxpark bolthole

Setting

Heart of downtown

An industrial-style complex constructed partially from old shipping containers, Hotel Herringbone makes a strong, contemporary first impression. But look beyond the glass shopfronts and exposed girders and you’ll find nostalgia-laced maximalist interiors that are flamboyantly feminine. Eyeshadow blue, mint green and lipstick pink palettes pair with art deco-style flourishes to glamorous effect. And there’s more vibrancy to unearth at its smorgasbord of dining and drinking spots, with sociable downtown co-ords as the olive in your martini.

Facilities

Rooms

Hotel Herringbone has 21 rooms, including five suites.

Checkout

11am; check-in is 3pm, but both are flexible, subject to availability. Late check-out (till 2pm) may be charged.

More Details

Rates include a light grab-and-go breakfast (coffee, cold-pressed juices, fruit, yogurt) from the guest-refreshment station; more substantial eats can be ordered to your room for an extra charge.

Also

The Queen Room (ADA) has been modified to be accessible to people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. All floors of the hotel are accessible via an elevator.

Free Internet Access

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

At the Hotel

Free yoga sessions and hotel-branded yoga mats, plaza with trees, outdoor seating and live music stage, kids' play area, welcome drink on check-in, a free daily wine hour at Song Bird and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: air-conditioning, 50-inch smart TV, minibar, coffee-making kit, free sparkling and still bottled water, aluminium water bottle, hairdryer and Grown Alchemist bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

Each of Hotel Herringbone’s rooms have enough bold-hued maximalism to satisfy your inner glamorpuss, but for a bigger dose of pomp, the King Suite with bath tub and patio is our numero uno — not just for its standout column-flanked, in-room tub, but for its private outdoor space.

Spa

There’s no spa onsite, but Hotel Herringbone’s partnership with the Skin & Body Refinery gives you special discounts on certain services from this full-service spa, around half an hour’s stroll (or five-minute drive) from the hotel.

Packing Tips

Pack light: with all the local boutiques on offer you’ll need some space for the inevitable holiday swag. Do pack your most eye-catching sun hat to combat the Texan rays.

Also

You can rent the Moke, the hotel’s own electric buggy, to explore the surrounding area in — just make sure you’re back for the nightly ‘wine hour’ at Song Bird, with free tastings.

Children

Little Smiths are welcome at Hotel Herringbone, and some rooms sleep up to four, but there’s no crèche or babysitting service. There’s a kids' play area in the grounds, with climbing frames and games on a turfed area.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

If you’re fascinated by process, Red Herring’s long chef’s table facing the open kitchen gives you the inside track. But some might say Lucky Buck’s rooftop beats the lot.

Dress Code

Red Herring is fashionable but not fussy, so smart-casual attire fits the bill.

Hotel Restaurant

Red Herring is Hotel Herringbone’s starring dining option, serving daily from 5pm to 10pm. What was formerly the premises of a city vehicle storage company now makes a beautifully lofty, industrial-style dining room. Book in advance to make sure you’ve got your seat for sampling chef Joel Garza’s seasonal coastal-Mediterranean menu. Start with something from the raw bar (note the ostentatiously large decorative shell poised above it), maybe beef tartare or tuna crudo with a side of pickles or pita, moving on to calamari with black garlic aioli, red shrimp risotto or yogurt-marinated chicken-thigh skewers.

Lucky Buck’s is the hotel’s relaxed rooftop bar, serving daily from 6pm to 11pm (the bar stays open for drinks until midnight on Friday and Saturday). Take your pick from a small menu of casual American plates — gourmet hot dogs and loaded nachos — plus draught beers and cocktails to wash it all down with while the sun sets.

Song Bird is the wine and charcuterie bar doubling rather nicely as a live music venue. It’s open daily from 11am to 6pm and serves charcuterie boards, sandwiches, salads, and a carefully assembled wine and beer list.

Hotel Bar

Bag a pair of scalloped-velvet chairs at the Red Herring’s octagonal art deco-themed bar (open daily 5pm to midnight) and linger over craft cocktails and bar snacks, sometimes to the soothing sounds of live piano sets (usually 9pm to 11pm at weekends). For tequila devotees, the Valentina cocktail is a heady blend of blanco tequila, aloe vera liqueur, cucumber, lime, Calabrian pepper and chilli salt.

Lucky Buck's (open daily 6pm to 11pm, and until midnight, Fridays and Saturdays) is the more casual offering, bolstered with rooftop views of downtown, and a list of beers, frozen drinks and signature cocktails. (Our top pick is the homemade frozen strawberry margarita.) Large TV screens are on hand to loop you in on any sporting action.

Last Orders

The Red Herring kitchen closes at 10pm, and Lucky Buck’s closes at 11pm.

Planes

For domestic flights, Waco Regional Airport is around a 15-minute drive away. For international arrivals, Dallas Fort Worth International and Austin International airports are both around an hour and half’s drive away. The hotel doesn’t provide airport transfers, so you’ll need to rent a car or arrange a taxi.

Trains

There’s an Amtrak stop west of Waco at McGregor on the Los Angeles to Chicago line, but there’s usually only one train a day, so you’ll need to be super savvy with your timings if you choose this option. It’s around a 25-minute drive from McGregor to the hotel in Waco.

Automobiles

There’s a free parking lot next to the hotel and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also some on-street parking. Valet parking is available for an additional fee, ranging from $6 to $24.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

With its glass-fronted retail outlets on the complex, Hotel Herringbone invites a bit of retail therapy, and these shops are a great introduction to the local shopping scene. Start with a spree at Magnolia Market, landmarked by the Magnolia Silos. It’s largely home and garden wares on offer, although there's also food, drink and events. Ramble & Company Waco is the place to pick up a few tees, and books and coffee are the order of the day at Fabled Bookshop and Cafe.

For sportier leanings, you could challenge yourself to the mountain biking trails in Cameron Park, hike through Lake Waco Wetlands, or hit the Waco Surf water park. And you can revisit past athletic glories at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Renting paddleboards, kayaks or canoes through Waco Paddle Company is a great way to discover Waco’s Brazos River. And golfers will want to tee off at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course, a ten-minute drive from Hotel Herringbone.

Art Center Waco and Martin Museum of Art have you covered for gallery wandering, and a trip to the Dr Pepper Museum is practically de rigueur in Waco. Learn about the manufacturing history of the well-known soft drink, or book onto a blind tasting session or workshop to make your own soda.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .