Hotel Daphne, a forthcoming boutique hotel from Austin-based Bunkhouse Hotels scheduled to open in January, unveiled initial details ahead of the property’s debut.
Known for its boutique hotels throughout Texas and beyond, Bunkhouse Hotels expanded to Houston in early 2025 with Hotel Saint Augustine. Hotel Daphne will be located in the historic Houston Heights. The 49-room property will serve as an extended living room with an all-day restaurant, ground floor bar, library and private events space, picturesque courtyard and a signature lobby retail shop.
Opening in phases, Hypsi, the hotel’s full-service restaurant and lounge, will debut first with dinner service in November 2025. The hotel looks forward to welcoming overnight guests shortly following Hypsi’s arrival, with travelers now able to reserve rooms beginning this January.
“We are thrilled to soon welcome guests to Hotel Daphne, creating a new gathering place in the heart of the Heights. This neighborhood has such a rich history and creative energy, and our team is excited to once again bring that authentic Bunkhouse Hotels experience to Houston," Omar Abreu, regional general manager, Hotel Saint Augustine + Hotel Daphne, said in a statement.
Hypsi will be helmed by executive chef Terrence Gallivan, the former chef of the Michelin-starred Alto in NYC with deep Houston roots after opening the former acclaimed restaurants, The Pass & Provisions and Elro.
Designed in-house by Bunkhouse Hotels, Hotel Daphne’s interiors will draw inspiration from the Heights’ diverse architectural style of arts and crafts, blending custom furniture, vintage finds, and bold, trippy prints. Hypsi’s design will balance playful whimsy with cozy familiarity, featuring opulent fabrics, a lush courtyard, an indoor fireplace framed by an antique mantel, psychedelic pillows, and a bar with leather Cassina chairs, nodding to the Heights’ historic supper clubs.
Architecture is a collaboration between Massachusetts-based Blanchard A+D and California-based Darwin Architecture, with landscape architecture by Houston’s McDugald Steele. The five-story painted brick structure with stepped parapets and steel windows is thoughtfully integrated into the neighborhood’s character.