© Bunkhouse / Photography: Nick Simonite

With a coolness factor unmatched in all of Texas, Hotel Magdalena first opened its doors in Austin almost two years ago. And yes, it was an event we talked about in a previous post. Featuring an interior design which takes ample cues from the city’s 1970s lake-side culture and music scene, the Bunkhouse hospitality group property quickly caught on with like-minded locals and visitors alike. And now, Hotel Magdalena ups the ante with an alluring new facility on the premises: Equipment Room. Situated in the hotel’s former basement storage space, this new watering hole is inspired by the jazz kissa phenomenon in Japan, a music listening café where a curated collection of vinyl is paired with a well-stocked bar. The new venue at Hotel Magdalena is the brainchild of Amar Lalvani, Bunkhouse executive chairman, and James Moody, owner of popular downtown music venue The Mohawk, who picked up on the idea while wandering around Tokyo.

The duo teamed up with Josh LaRue and Gabe Vaughn, co-owners of Breakaway Records, to recreate such a unique spot in the Texan capital. The interior design, created by the hospitality group in collaboration with design firm RIOS, sees an elongated bar with stools, and at the far end, a DJ booth brimming with vinyl. Mind you, the collection features more than 1,200 records in different genres. The setting is complemented with cozy seating arrangements with carefully selected furnishings and decorations, such as button-tufted loveseats, Guzzini floor lamps, antique mirrors and rare concert posters. Equal attention has been given to the acoustics and sound infrastructure which has been executed by Klipsch. Needless to say, Equipment Room‘s offerings and setting are unique in town, pairing an ultra comfy setting with easy listening, craft cocktails and snacks.

Equipment Room
Hotel Magdalena, 1101 Music Lane (Travis Heights)
Austin, TX 78704
Telephone: +1 512 44231000

© Bunkhouse / Photography: Nick Simonite