A longtime Austin venue, the Smash ATX bar, is slated to be demolished to make way for a new dual-branded hotel carrying the Hilton flag. Peachtree and Merritt Development are collaborating on the ground-up project, which will rise 30 stories and operate under the Embassy Suites by Hilton and Tempo by Hilton brands.
The planned tower is expected to deliver a total of 480 guest rooms. According to the development team, the room mix will include 184 keys under the Embassy Suites banner and 296 keys for the Tempo brand, positioning the property as one of the larger new hotel projects announced for the city in recent years.
The hospitality offering will be supported by meeting and event space as well as multiple food-and-beverage components. Plans call for approximately 7,700 square feet of flexible meeting space integrated into the high-rise design. A prominent national restaurant operator is expected to take roughly 10,000 square feet across the first and second floors, and the program also includes a rooftop bar and a lounge, adding additional activation to the property.
While full project economics have not been disclosed, Hotel Business reported that total development costs for the dual-branded tower could exceed $250 million, underscoring the scale of the planned investment. The architect of record for the hotel is TDLR Group, which is leading the design of the 30-story structure.
As currently scheduled, the hotel is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2029, transitioning the site from the existing Smash ATX bar use to a large-format, dual-branded Hilton property with significant guest room count, meeting space, and food-and-beverage offerings.
