In this guide, we cover all you need to know about traveling to Round Top, Texas, including the top recommendations for hotels, antique shops, and restaurants.
The town of Round Top, Texas, has a population of 93 people, and arriving there for the first time is like unearthing a treasure. After traveling via a number of miles of country roads, which are highlighted by sightings of longhorn cattle and white fences, the fashionable tiny town arrives almost instantly. Round Top is comprised of a collection of old buildings, and its total land area is less than one square mile. These buildings house antique and vintage shops, apparel stores, and even a cheese shop, a candy store, and a coffee and pie counter that is reminiscent of a Hallmark store.
The New York Times referred to Round Top as "the Cotswolds of Texas," while a local resident was reported in CultureMap San Antonio as referring to the community as "the next Jackson Hole." The magazine Texas Monthly even referred to it as "the Aspen of Texas." Round Top, however, has its own distinct personality and appeal, even when it is not hosting the triennial Original Round Top Antiques Fair. It is a place where the allure of the English countryside collides with the flair of the American West and the sky-high real estate prices found in the mountain towns. Round Top has been the site of "The Show," a multi-day extravaganza that has exploded in size over the course of its existence, beginning in the late 1960s. Today, hundreds of thousands of people go to the town and the tents, barns, and hayfields that are located along Highway 237 in the hopes of purchasing or selling an assortment of antique furniture, artwork, and textiles.
Even though antiquing may be the thing that put Round Top on the map and in the pages of many magazines, there are a variety of other reasons to head to the tiny town. These reasons include a world-renowned musical institute, a historic dance hall, and an expertly designed boutique hotel with top-tier amenities and a wholly original story. In addition, there is not a single restaurant chain in the vicinity. Here is some information on visiting Round Top, Texas, that you should take into consideration before making travel arrangements.
The Finest Lodging Options in Round Top, Texas
The Hotel Lulu first opened its doors in 2021, making it a relatively recent addition to the area. However, the hotel's rebuilt and restored buildings — which were originally known as Bybee Square — give it a strong feeling of place, one that is in perfect harmony with the innovative mindset of its new owners. The Texas-based hospitality business Palacios Murphy, led by Cinda Murphy de Palacios and Armando Palacios, developed the 14-room resort with the Italian phrase "il dolce far niente" as their guiding principle in the design process. The phrase "the sweetness of doing nothing" is translated into English as "the sweetness of doing nothing," and it is a message that is felt throughout the property, from the plush bathrobes and Le Labo products to the quaint "napping room" in the larger suites and the general peace and quiet that is noticeable the moment you come on site.
Tearoom Cotswolds Gloucestershire, England pic.twitter.com/a0ifwAqFLu
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The Hotel Lulu is comprised of nine separate buildings, including three private cottages and six bungalows dating back to the 19th century. There is a small pool, a herb garden, and a formal garden located in the space between the buildings. This space is perfect for those days when you need a break from the Texas heat. Getting some sustenance outside of the Hotel Lulu is also a choice you have. On demand, a breakfast basket containing pastries, muffins, yogurt, and fresh fruit can be brought to your room. Additionally, the hotel restaurant, Lulu's, as well as the hotel cocktail bar, Il Cuculo, are open seven days a week, which is unusual for Round Top.
In the event that Hotel Lulu is unavailable during the dates you have selected, Round Top offers a selection of additional distinctive lodging options. The Frenchie is the kind of hotel that is ideal for girls' getaways, and Sheila Youngblood, the owner of Rancho Pillow and its designer, is the one who brought the hotel's colorful atmosphere to reality. At The Vintage Round Top, you can reserve a whole cottage exclusively for yourself, or you can book a room at the Wander Inn, a boutique hotel that is owned by the same people that own Junk Gypsy.
Top Attractions and Activities in Round Top, Texas
Antique shopping is typically the most talked-about activity in Round Top, and there is no shortage of well-stocked rooms or wide venues to tour in order to find a wooden kitchen table from the 1800s or a well-worn pair of cowboy boots. In fact, antique shopping tends to be the most talked-about activity in Round Top. Visitors are welcome to peruse the wares at Market Hill, Round Top Ranch Antiques, White Barn, 550 Market, and Round Top Antiques and Design Center, all of which are open even when the festival is not in session. More contemporary interpretations of the Texas shopping experience may be found in stores like as Curate by Stash, Wimberly, and Townsend Provisions, which spans two stories and is located in Houston. If you are specifically interested in artwork, you can find original pieces at both Humble Donkey Studio and The Gallery at Round Top. Both of these establishments are located in Round Top.
But Round Top isn't just about shopping and tracking out the most amazing deals all the time. You may find the Round Top Festival Institute if you drive about a mile outside of town, then turn left onto Jaster Street. The institute is located there. The institute, which was established in 1971 by the globally famous concert pianist James Dick, is focused around its 1,000-seat Festival Concert Hall, which is both an auditory and visual marvel. The institute is situated on more than 200 acres of lush area. In addition to a schedule of live musical performances and master classes, the campus features a number of thoughtful additions that are accessible to the general public. These include a museum room where visitors can examine the personal effects of David W. Guion, the renowned composer who arranged the cowboy tune "Home on the Range" as sheet music; walking trails; gardens; lakes; and a chapel dating back to the 1800s that has been restored. You are free to come on your own, or you may make an appointment for a guided walking tour with one of the trained staff members at the institute.
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With music still on your mind, you should wrap up your day in Round Top by going to The Stone Cellar, an authentic Texas honkytonk, where you can enjoy some country music and line dancing.
The Finest Dining Experiences in Round Top, Texas
Round Top is a town that defies its size in terms of the variety of delectable foods and quaint establishments where one may enjoy a beverage of their choice, whether or not it contains alcohol. The Palacios Murphy brand has expanded to include Lulu's, a rustic Italian eatery located within the hotel with the same name; Il Cuculo, a cocktail bar with murals painted by artist Andrea Condara that are suitable for Instagram; Popi Burger, a quick-service restaurant; and Mandito's, a Tex-Mex restaurant that welcomes customers with a bowl of guacamole and a cold margarita after a long day of shopping.
Both the Royers Round Top Cafe and its sister establishment, Royers Pie Haven, are run by the same family and attract customers with their nostalgic ambiance and well-known culinary creations (we recommend the Texas Trash Pie). A trip at Round Top Coffee Shop for some grab-and-go breakfast tacos, baked goods, and a selection of caffeinated beverages is ideal for getting an early start, and a visit to The Garden Co. for some salad and sandwiches in the middle of the afternoon is essential for maintaining your level of energy. At the end of the day, unwind at Prost on Block 29 with a refreshing glass of sauvignon blanc and a slice of margherita pizza on the restaurant's outside terrace.
The Perfect Time to Pay a Visit
Your visit to Round Top should take place in the winter, spring, or fall when the antique fair is held if you wish to see the town at the height of its appeal. The March and October dates of the fair coincide with the world-famous Marburger Farm Antique Show, which means that it is virtually impossible for you to leave the fair without making a purchase of some kind. Travelers who would rather avoid competing with thousands of other tourists for hotel rooms, parking spots, and restaurant reservations can plan their trips outside of the peak season for antique shopping. The vast majority of stores remain open throughout the year; however, many of them are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so it is important to make appropriate preparations.
How to Get There Round Top is located about in the middle of the distance between Austin and Houston, which is 73 and 96 miles, respectively. To go to Round Top and see more of the surrounding area, you will need to rent a car if you arrive at either Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) or George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH).