The Albert Hotel incorporated three historic buildings along Main Street into its design. Pam LeBlanc photo
When I heard a few years ago that a new hotel was planned for Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg, I shuddered a little, wondering if it would ruin the face of the small town known for its German heritage, annual peach crop, and nearby wineries.
I’m happy to report that when I checked into the Albert Hotel recently, I didn’t even notice it from Main Street – and I mean that in a good way.
The hotel incorporated a row of existing historic buildings into its design, putting one 1888 structure to use as a bar and transforming another built in 1906 into a coffee shop. Then it tucked the hotel’s modern rooms, restaurant, pool and spa behind those reminders of the property’s roots, out of sight of passersby. The result reminds me of that joke about mullet hairstyles – “business in the front and party in the back.” In this case, though, it’s old-timey charm in front and sleek luxury within.
The Albert Hotel’s history
The hotel draws its name from Albert Keidel, an architect and historic preservationist whose family history in Fredericksburg dates back to the mid-1840s. Albert’s great-grandfather was a town doctor and judge. His grandfather was a stonemason and rancher, and his father was a doctor and pharmacist. Albert himself became an architect and historic preservationist, with a reputation as a man-about-town who loved to travel. John Graham, part of the legacy of the nearby town of Luckenbach, described him as “the Hill Country’s last Renaissance man or its first hippy.”
I think both monikers come in useful when describing the property.
The king suite includes a cozy reading nook. Pam LeBlanc photo
Inside the new hotel
The hotel, which has 105 rooms, comes across as retro Hill Country chic. Its ceilings and furniture harken to the ‘60s and its wide open spaces feel modern and airy. The décor – including a slightly bizarre diorama that rises from the center of a circular couch and features a fox, succulents and knobby sticks of wood – adds an outdoorsy vibe.
Read more: Camping out at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
My husband and I stayed in a king suite at the end of the hallway on the second floor. The hotel offers everything from standard rooms with a king-sized or two queen-sized beds to rooms with double bunks. Larger groups might like the multi-bedroom private Albertina House.
Architect Paul Clayton of the Austin architecture firm Clayton Korte designed the property in partnership with New Waterloo. Our room featured wooden floors and a reading nook with a stack of books, including Ann Patchett’s “Tom Lake.” A small TV room held a corner couch upholstered in silvery floral material and a chartreuse rug. I loved the walk-in shower with forest green tile and pecan-scented toiletries. The cavernous main room wass furnished with the world’s comfiest bed. With the press of a button, we raised and lowered blinds in the gigantic picture window.
Dining at the Albert Hotel
Later, we ate dinner at The Restaurant at Albert Hotel, where James Beard-nominated chef Michael Fojtasek has created a menu that leans on ingredients from nearby farms and vineyards. We started with raw Gulf tuna (big thumbs up) and smoked mushrooms (thumbs up), then dug into Wagyu ribeye steaks, which I wish had a little less salt on them. Afterward, we ordered dessert. I recommend the coconut cake, infused with orange peel to give it a zesty bite.
Read more: Glamping out at Onera Fredericksburg
The Keidel, an old pharmacy, serves as a coffee shop at the new hotel. Pam LeBlanc photo
We skipped breakfast at the main restaurant so we could check out the goods at the 1906-era Keidel’s Pharmacy that’s part of the property. There, we nibbled croissants and a heavily frosted pecan cinnamon roll (bring your sweet tooth) and watched the sun creep across the wooden floors. We also poked our heads into the Albert’s bar, housed in what’s long been one of my favorite structures in Fredericksburg. (Regulars will recognize the elephant carved into the limestone above the door.) I was in the midst of Dry January, so I skipped a drink but admired the selection of tequila and whiskey. And besides whiskey and margaritas, Frito pie is on the menu.
A swimming pool in the courtyard of the Albert Hotel beckons. Pam LeBlanc photo
A barbecue restaurant called Junebugs is expected to open in March, with a menu that marries Texas barbecue and Fredericksburg’s German heritage.
A circular swimming pool is tucked into the hotel’s courtyard and a full-service spa offers massage, facials and other treatments. Event spaces are available for rental, too.
If You Go
Getting there:
Fredericksburg is located about 80 miles west of Austin. It takes about an hour and 45 minutes to make the drive.
Stay:
Book a room at the Albert Hotel, 213 E. Austin Street. Rooms start at about $200 per night.
Do:
Shop along Main Street, visit nearby wineries or peach orchards. History buffs should tour the National Musuem of the Pacific War and the LBJ Ranch. Outdoorsy types will enjoy a hike at nearby Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.
Eat & Drink
Make reservations at The Restaurant at the Albert Hotel, which serves everything from Wagyu beef to red snapper and rack of lamb. The property’s Keidel Pharmacy offers coffee, cookies and pastries. The Saloon is a full-service bar.
Pro Tip:
From the hotel, it’s a 25-minute drive to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. There, visitors can hike to the top of a huge pink granite dome. Texas Parks and Wildlife officials recently announced the purchase of more than 3,700 acres adjacent to the park, which will triple its size.
