driven experiences, is unveiling today plans for its latest boutique, Hotel Daphne, scheduled to welcome guests in early 2025. This addition marks Bunkhouse’s second hotel project in Houston, following the highly anticipated opening of Hotel Saint Augustine in Montrose’s Museum District in the fall of 2024.
Centrally located at 347 West 20th Street, Hotel Daphne will be nestled within the historic Houston Heights neighborhood near the bustling 19th Street shopping district, known for its locally-owned businesses and curated retail shops. Hotel Daphne will comprise 47 rooms and suites, an all-day restaurant, a ground-floor bar and lounge, a picturesque courtyard, a refreshing pool with a pool bar, a library, and a lobby retail shop – all embodying the signature Bunkhouse experience.
“We are very excited to be expanding our presence in Houston with the Hotel Daphne, our second project in the works,” said Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman, Bunkhouse Hotels. “The hotel will be a sophisticated yet relaxing gathering place for visitors and the local community alike, in a neighborhood that we adore. The exact type of place Bunkhouse is renowned for creating. One that is reflective of the city’s diversity, history, and culture.”
Hotel Daphne takes inspiration from the architectural charm of the Heights, which is one of Houston’s oldest neighborhoods that was founded as a utopian society in the 1890’s, seamlessly blending into the neighborhood’s recycled industrial style. In partnership with developing partner RGA Ventures LLC, Bunkhouse has enlisted Blanchard A+D, based in Massachusetts, and Darwin Architecture, based in California, as the architects of record for this five-story new build, which will feature painted brick, stepped parapets, and steel windows.
The name “Daphne” draws inspiration from Greek mythology, where Daphne, the daughter of the river god Peneus, transformed herself into a laurel tree to escape Apollo’s romantic obsessions. This mythological tale encapsulates the hotel’s essence, mirroring the delicate, sweet, and spicy nature of the laurel plant. Bunkhouse is keeping Hotel Daphne’s interior design and creative direction in-house, which will result in a harmonious blend of the Heights’ diverse styles, fusing Arts and Crafts with Folk Victorian influences. Expect inviting and luxurious spaces where the familiar meets the far out.
“Bunkhouse wrote the book on doing cool boutique hotels in Texas, and ever since I stayed at Hotel San José many years ago, I have dreamed of helping bring Bunkhouse to Houston,” said Ben Ackerley, one of Hotel Daphne’s owners. “Our new hotel, Hotel Daphne, will be the first of its kind in the Heights and is only going to add to the momentum that the neighborhood already has going as it grows into one of the premiere neighborhoods/destinations in the city.”
“I moved to Houston 40 years ago and have watched the amazing growth that has made Houston one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world,” added Bob Ackerley, one of Hotel Daphne’s owners. “This hotel project, with my son Ben, is a small way for our family to give back to this community and help improve and add to the attractiveness of the Heights neighborhood. We look forward to working with Bunkhouse on providing a superior guest experience for both locals and visitors to our city.”
Bunkhouse, currently operating six of its ten hotels in Texas, including five in Austin and one in San Antonio, is eager to contribute its unique brand of hospitality to the vibrant Houston community.
