Hotel Granduca Hotel Granduca offers eight unique room layouts with options ranging from full-size baths to walk-in showers, kitchens and expansive closets.[/caption]

Houston-based Hotel Granduca opened its second location Nov. 4 in the Westlake area at 320 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin. The 190,000-square-foot hotel was developed by Giorgio Borlenghi and sits on 38 acres.


Borlenghi saw a need in Austin for an upscale luxury hotel when his son Alex was attending The University of Texas, said Tim Dupree, director of sales and marketing at Hotel Granduca Austin. “This isn’t exactly an ‘up and down’ hotel,” Dupree said. “It doesn’t really fit downtown—we needed hillside. Westlake was perfect.”


He said Hotel Granduca is expected to be a popular event venue and wedding destination. The hotel has 6,650-square-feet of meeting rooms and event space, with a ballroom that seats up to 230 guests. “We’ll only host one wedding per week,” Dupree said. “It will be the bride’s time. We think that will give her the best experience.”


Hotel amenities include a saltwater pool, a billiards room, shuttle service to The University of Texas home football games, and twice-daily maid service. Hotel Granduca partnered with Woodhouse Spa for spa services and treatments, Dupree said.


Visconti Ristorante & Bar, located inside Hotel Granduca, will feature signature Italian dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Seating is available inside the restaurant and outside.


“The fireplace will be going outside on the deck, and the view is beautiful,” Dupree said. “I think [its] happy hour will be a Westlake gathering place.”


Guest rooms range from approximately $299 to $3,349 per night, Dupree said. Hotel Granduca Austin offers 194 guest rooms in eight layouts, he said.