New Braunfels’ Faust Hotel is ready to reveal its glow-up as it heads into a second century. The storied property at 240 S. Seguin Ave., built in 1929, will reopen May 19 after undergoing an extensive revamp and adding a swanky new flagship restaurant.
Prior to the renovation, the hotel sat vacant for more than two years. A group of New Braunfels locals, working with Lark Hospitality, finally decided enough was enough: the heritage site was too important to let languish.
"In my mind, there is nothing better than a well-done historic renovation," owner Andy Duettra previously told CultureMap. "You get the style and feel of a properly artisan-built property combined with modern amenities. You literally cannot recreate this in the modern world, and we're losing enough of our historic buildings to make the effort worthwhile in every respect."
The thoughtful rework was careful to preserve Faust’s historical details. Original Spanish Colonial Revival features — stairway tiles, doors, the front desk, sconces, and an exterior fountain — were integrated with contemporary flourishes such as statement wallpaper and playfully upholstered furnishings.
Guests can enjoy creature comforts in the 45 rooms, all outfitted with luxuriously appointed king beds, walk-in showers, custom vanities, 55-inch streaming televisions, retro Frigidaire mini-fridges, Nespresso coffee makers, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Six corner suites can be upgraded to up to three bedrooms with a separate living space, and nine junior suites provide additional room for travelers.
The old sign still stands after the renovations.Photo by Jason Risner
If they can tear themselves away from their rooms, guests won’t have to travel far to grab a meal. The boutique hotel drafted Luce Ristorante e Enoteca veteran Michael Moore and executive chef Adam Gilly to guide the food and drink program. The approach will combine Gilly’s French finesse with seasonal Texas ingredients — and a nod to the property’s almost 100-year-old legacy.
The signature restaurant, Wilhelm & Werner, is a Texas brasserie with European influences. The dinner menu includes riffs on continental classics like an “apple strudel” of foie gras and pork, saffron tagliatelle with Gulf shrimp, and poulet rôti with a savory bread pudding.
Fittingly, the cocktail menu pours a few pre-Prohibition standards like sidecars and Manhattans along with originals like the Prickly Pear Blossom (orange blossom gin shaken with fresh lime and aperitivo) and the Cucumber Orchid Martini (vodka and elderflower).
After the main event, guests can sneak into the basement speakeasy beneath the restaurant space. Walter's is an homage to the hotel's founder, Walter Faust, offering craft cocktails and late-night bites such as popcorn butter-poached lobster, confit duck taquitos, and poutine du jour.
The cocktails nod to Faust’s long history. The Move, made with barrel-aged Balcones Bourbon, tells the story of Walter Faust moving his family home across the street on logs. Elevator Operator — a take on the espresso martini — winks at one of the hotel’s ghostly ex-employees. And The Rebirth-2026 completes the arc with a splashy gin libation, complete with Texas wildflower petals and edible gold leaf.
The hospitality program also includes the famed Prince Solms Lobby Bar and a refreshed Magnolia Patio, both open to hotel guests and the public.
The Faust owners are still putting a few finishing touches on Walter’s Speakeasy and the Magnolia Patio, which will debut shortly after the hotel reopens. Reservations are currently open for stays and dinner at Wilhelm & Werner.
“We are so pleased to officially reopen our doors,” says Duettra in a release. “This project has been a labor of love for our friends and family, and it holds a great deal of importance to many in New Braunfels. We are thrilled to be able to carry on the legacy of the Faust Hotel and can’t wait for the community to see it.”
The old sign still stands after the renovations.Photo by Jason Risner
