Every Austinite knows the feeling. The week is full, the calendar is fuller, and a real trip would take more planning than the rest you need.
So skip the airport.
The best staycation in Austin is close enough that the drive is part of the rest, and far enough that the city drops out of the rearview mirror. Fifteen minutes west of downtown, on Bee Cave Road, eight board-and-batten cottages sit on a grove of more than 300 heritage live oaks. There’s a farm-to-table café, a saltwater pool, and a big Texas sky over the Hill Country. Condé Nast Traveler named The Wayback one of the best boutique hotels in Austin.
Here is how we’d spend twenty-four hours here. On a Wednesday, ideally. The midweek nights are the calmest on the property, the café is open, and on Thursday every bottle of wine is half price all day.
3:00 PM: Check In Under the Oaks
Take Bee Cave Road west and watch the skyline shrink behind you. By the time you park, the shade has dropped ten degrees and the only traffic is a pair of cardinals.
Pick your cottage the way you’d pick a table. Cottage 6 has a king bed, windows over the hills, and a private back patio made for an afternoon glass of wine. Cottage 8 has a kitchenette and a back door that opens to the lawn and the hills, plus a gas fireplace for the cool months (December through March). Cottage 3 sits in the back corner and is the most private of the eight. Traveling with friends? Cottages 1 and 4 and The Nook each sleep four.
Every cottage comes with organic cotton sheets, Honest Cotton robes, San Saba bath products from right here in Texas, and filtered water across the whole property.
3:30 PM: Happy Hour at the Cabana
Happy hour runs 3 to 5 PM, Wednesday through Saturday. Bottles of wine are half off and signature cocktails are $3 off (dine-in only). Take a seat at the Cabana and order something cold.
Nobody is in a hurry here. You shouldn’t be either.
5:00 PM: Do Very Little
This is the hour most trips forget to schedule. A lounge chair by the saltwater pool. A book you’ve been meaning to finish. A nap that runs long. The lawn is wide, the oaks are older than the city’s skyline, and the afternoon will wait for you.
6:30 PM: Golden Hour Over the Hills
Cottages 5 through 8 look out over the Hill Country, and this is the hour they were built for. Find a chair on the porch. The light goes gold, then pink, then soft blue over the hills. Pour what’s left of the bottle.
7:00 PM: Dinner, Two Minutes From Your Door
The Wayback Café cooks a seasonal, farm-to-table menu with Texas olive oil and ingredients sourced from farms across the state. Sit in the dining room, out on the patio, or on the lawn. Dinner runs until 9 PM Wednesday through Saturday (last seating 8:30), and reservations open 21 days in advance.
The best part comes after dessert. The walk home takes two minutes, and nobody needs a ride.
8:30 PM: S’mores by the Fire
On a cool night there’s a fire going and s’mores to make. Look up. Fifteen minutes from downtown, the sky over the Hill Country still has stars in it.
10:00 PM: Lights Out
Crisp sheets, a soft robe, windows open to the oaks. The city is fifteen minutes away and, for one night, entirely somebody else’s problem.
8:00 AM: Coffee on the Porch
Every cottage is stocked with Fara coffee and a coffee maker. Take the first cup out to the porch and watch the grove wake up. Cottage guests can ask our team about breakfast options. On Saturdays and Sundays the café opens at 9 AM for brunch.
9:00 AM: A Walk Under the Live Oaks
More than 300 heritage live oaks shade the property. We built around every one of them. Take a slow lap before the day warms up. If you’d like to range further, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Barton Springs, and Lake Travis are each a short drive away.
11:00 AM: Check Out, Then Stay for Lunch
Check-out is at 11, which happens to be exactly when the café opens on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Thursdays every bottle of wine is half price all day. Order lunch on the patio, take your time with it, and be home by two.
Total time away: twenty-four hours. It will feel longer. That’s the point.
Make It the Whole Property
Some getaways deserve the whole crew. The Wayback’s eight cottages sleep up to 22 guests, and the property can be reserved in full for birthdays, bridal and baby showers, family reunions, company retreats, and intimate weddings. The Café, patio, Cabana, lawns, oak grove, and pool all become yours, and every event is catered by our kitchen and craft bar.
Give It Away
The holidays are closer than they look. Wayback gift cards cover cottage stays, the café, and pool passes, which makes a night under the oaks one of the easier gifts in Austin to give. Buy a gift card
This Month at The Wayback
Thursday, October 15: Art in the Garden, 5 to 7 PM. Local art, complimentary pours, then dinner.
Wednesday, October 21: Mahj on the Lawn, 6 to 8 PM.
Thursday, October 22: Watercolor Workshop: Big Bend Landscape.
Sunday, October 25: Live jazz on the lawn, 11 AM to 1 PM.
Planning a midweek night? A Wednesday, October 21 stay puts Mahj on the Lawn a few steps from your door and the watercolor workshop the next day. The café is closed Saturday, October 17 and Saturday, October 24 for private events.
Your Austin Staycation, Answered
Where is The Wayback?
At 9601 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78733, in the Hill Country about 15 minutes west of downtown Austin.
What’s the best night for a staycation at The Wayback?
Wednesday or Thursday. Midweek nights are the calmest on the property, the café is open for dinner, happy hour runs 3 to 5 PM, and bottles of wine are half price all day Thursday.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is at 3 PM and check-out is at 11 AM.
Is The Wayback a bed and breakfast?
The Wayback is a boutique hotel with eight private cottages and an on-site farm-to-table café. Breakfast isn’t included in the rate, though every cottage has Fara coffee, the café serves brunch from 9 AM on Saturdays and Sundays, and cottage guests can ask about breakfast options.
Which cottage is the most romantic?
Cottage 6, with a king bed, Hill Country views, and a private back patio. Cottage 8 is a close second, with a kitchenette and a gas fireplace that’s lit December through March.
Can I eat at The Wayback Café without staying overnight?
Yes. The café is open Wednesday through Friday 11 AM to 9 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday 9 AM to 3 PM. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations open 21 days in advance.
Can I bring kids or pets?
Children 10 and under are welcome for an additional $50 per child per night. The Wayback welcomes pre-approved service animals only.
Can I reserve the whole property?
Yes. All eight cottages sleep up to 22 guests, and the property hosts weddings, showers, retreats, and private parties with catering from the café.
The city will be right where you left it.