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In a town known for its charm, creativity, and effortless style, Hotel Lulu stands apart as a place designed for lingering. From the moment you arrive, it’s clear this isn’t just a hotel, it’s an invitation to slow down and embrace la dolce vita, Round Top–style. And for the month of February, that invitation is even sweeter: guests who book two nights can enjoy a third night on the house, making it easy to extend your stay and truly settle into the rhythm of town.
As Round Top has blossomed, so has the reputation of Hotel Lulu – thanks to proprietors Armando Palacios and Cinda Murphy and their Palacios Murphy Hospitality group that has stamped both Round Top (Hotel Lulu, Lulu’s, Il Cuculo, Mandito’s) and Houston (Armandos, Lulu’s) with their distinctive brand of genteel, gracious living.
How has Hotel Lulu continued to hold sway as Round Top’s international profile has exploded? We reached out to Palacios Murphy’s director of marketing for some insight. Johns, who knows the hotel inside and out, remains the vigilant, fastidious overseer of all facets of hospitality that has made Lulu famous:
How do most guests become familiar with Lulu? It seems like the whole world knows about the antiques shows but how do people find their way to Lulu?
Our owners, Cinda and Armando have been iconic fixtures in the hospitality space for 48 years. So, we owe much of our success to their reputation in Texas. Round Top has also seduced celebrities, designers and the aesthetically inclined traveler for many years. I think we organically attract a certain demographic who is interested in a retreat from the chaos in the world and the urban communities we love living in but like to escape often.
Palacio/Murphy calls the Lulu a study in “radical hospitality.” Interesting phrase. What does it mean and how has the hotel enacted “radical hospitality”?
We have restaurants and the hotel, but our true interest is in community and the people who bring our spaces to life. We have had the honor of being part of really important moments in life for people — from small celebrations to larger moments like weddings. We take these moments incredibly seriously and will do anything we can to make our guests happy with the intention of building a lifelong relationship with each and every one of them. I think in a landscape full of big corporate chains and a barrage of social media and digital content that is essentially advertising that true genuine human connections are effectively radical. Everyone who becomes a part of our team knows that we will do whatever we can to make a guest happy, inspire them and leave them a little bit better than when we met them.
The hotel seems to have thought of everything in terms of guest comfort. But what are some of the things the hotel has done to enhance the experience or put it over the top at the guest’s request?
There isn’t much we won’t do to make a guest happy. The most memorable experience that comes to mind was for a high-profile guest who shall, of course, remain nameless. Guests were treated to private styling sessions upon arrival to help accessorize and plan their looks for their gatherings and add some authentic Round Top flare to their wardrobe which they of course got to take home. We also provided caviar service in their room every afternoon at 3pm and they were treated to anything they wanted from our 111skin Beauty Bar.
Is there a memorable “strange” request?
Several—but I think I will decline to indulge in this question. Maybe we will write a book one day!
Does Lulu really have a bar cart experience that can be delivered to guest rooms?
Didn’t you ask me about Radical Hospitality? We have several fabulous bar carts our muse, Cinda aka Lulu, has hunted down in Round Top. It does require preparation and advance notice but we love to do it!
RT is so small that it seems every inch is (or should be) familiar. But is there a hidden/undiscovered or little-known person/place/thing that you consider a must-do or quintessential RT experience?
The Festival Institute is unrivaled space and property in Texas and we are so lucky to be their neighbors in Round Top. I think a lot of people miss visiting their private art collection and a performance in their nearly perfect acoustic space.
What are those little reptiles darting around the grounds and should we be afraid of them?
We have little Green Anoles and Little Brown Skinks that love the natural landscape. They are completely harmless and make for great entertainment for the farm cats or even temporary pets for visitors. I think they are more afraid of you than you are of them!
Is there an on-property Lulu mascot like a pet bird or house cat or a ghost or something of that nature?
Some say they see ghosts and we do have a friendly farm cat from next door that you often see around the property lounging in the sun. Our guests also enjoy the ponies, goats, donkeys and alpacas next door!
What is the most popular menu item at Lulu restaurant; what is the best cocktail at Il Cuculo?
There are two menu items that are signature dishes at Lulu’s — the short rib and the Bolognese. Both are incredibly delicious and the culinary equivalent of a warm hug. The most ordered drinks are our flaming Carrajillos on cold days, martinis, and our Garden Spritz on warm days.
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We all know Lulu will be fully booked ahead of the antiques shows but what is a truly perfect time to visit?
My favorite time to be in Round Top are the weekdays when much of the town is closed. It is the perfect excuse to lounge by the pool, day drink on your porch and truly escape the chaos of daily life in the city. The sky is endless and so is the quiet. We usually run a 50% off special during the week in the summer that attracts guests looking to enjoy the ancient Italian art of “il dolce fa niente” or the sweetness of doing nothing.
Everyone who lives and works in RT wants the town to shine. As the top inn/hotel, do you feel you have a greater responsibility in promoting RT or acting as a town ambassador?
I will forever be an advocate for the magic of the best small town in Texas that is Round Top. We have worked really hard to weave the authentic Round Top experience into our property. From the historic structures we have outfitted with treasures found from local vendors and the iconic festivals alike to the 19th century stone building that houses our restaurant — we want guests to feel the spirit of our town from sunset to sundown on our property. So even as we grow we maintain an eagle-eyed focus on telling the story of our small town.
The website says something called Veranda is coming soon. Spill: what is it?
This is truly an exciting evolution for us and it is truly thanks to the vision and fierce advocacy of our owners, Cinda and Armando Palacios. We purchased the property next to the hotel to expand our footprint and also to preserve the historic significance of our location. The Veranda is part of an original Round Top home that we have transformed into our Lodge which is home to our Lobby and Living Room as well as three luxury suites for an even more elevated escape. It is open exclusively to hotel guests and overlooks the fire pit as well as the neighboring farm. It is the perfect place to lower your blood pressure and just enjoy the landscape…enhanced by a cocktail preferably. It is a game changer for our guests, and we are so excited to add that value to our guest experience.
We also hear Lulu has expansion plans. Can you share details? In addition to more guest rooms will the plan being other enhancements to the Lulu experience?
We will always focus on improvements to continue to surprise our guests and keep them coming back for more. I don’t think we have even begun to scratch the surface of how far we will take it. We always want to be better and bring the best the world has to offer to such a special property.
For a limited time, guests are invited to linger a little longer—stay two nights and enjoy a third on the house. Book your stay here using code Love26.
In a town known for its charm, creativity, and effortless style, Hotel Lulu stands apart as a place designed for lingering. From the moment you arrive, it’s clear this isn’t just a hotel, it’s an invitation to slow down and embrace la dolce vita, Round Top–style. And for the month of February, that invitation is even sweeter: guests who book two nights can enjoy a third night on the house, making it easy to extend your stay and truly settle into the rhythm of town.
As Round Top has blossomed, so has the reputation of Hotel Lulu – thanks to proprietors Armando Palacios and Cinda Murphy and their Palacios Murphy Hospitality group that has stamped both Round Top (Hotel Lulu, Lulu’s, Il Cuculo, Mandito’s) and Houston (Armandos, Lulu’s) with their distinctive brand of genteel, gracious living.
How has Hotel Lulu continued to hold sway as Round Top’s international profile has exploded? We reached out to Palacios Murphy’s director of marketing for some insight. Johns, who knows the hotel inside and out, remains the vigilant, fastidious overseer of all facets of hospitality that has made Lulu famous:
How do most guests become familiar with Lulu? It seems like the whole world knows about the antiques shows but how do people find their way to Lulu?
Our owners, Cinda and Armando have been iconic fixtures in the hospitality space for 48 years. So, we owe much of our success to their reputation in Texas. Round Top has also seduced celebrities, designers and the aesthetically inclined traveler for many years. I think we organically attract a certain demographic who is interested in a retreat from the chaos in the world and the urban communities we love living in but like to escape often.
Palacio/Murphy calls the Lulu a study in “radical hospitality.” Interesting phrase. What does it mean and how has the hotel enacted “radical hospitality”?
We have restaurants and the hotel, but our true interest is in community and the people who bring our spaces to life. We have had the honor of being part of really important moments in life for people — from small celebrations to larger moments like weddings. We take these moments incredibly seriously and will do anything we can to make our guests happy with the intention of building a lifelong relationship with each and every one of them. I think in a landscape full of big corporate chains and a barrage of social media and digital content that is essentially advertising that true genuine human connections are effectively radical. Everyone who becomes a part of our team knows that we will do whatever we can to make a guest happy, inspire them and leave them a little bit better than when we met them.
The hotel seems to have thought of everything in terms of guest comfort. But what are some of the things the hotel has done to enhance the experience or put it over the top at the guest’s request?
There isn’t much we won’t do to make a guest happy. The most memorable experience that comes to mind was for a high-profile guest who shall, of course, remain nameless. Guests were treated to private styling sessions upon arrival to help accessorize and plan their looks for their gatherings and add some authentic Round Top flare to their wardrobe which they of course got to take home. We also provided caviar service in their room every afternoon at 3pm and they were treated to anything they wanted from our 111skin Beauty Bar.
Is there a memorable “strange” request?
Several—but I think I will decline to indulge in this question. Maybe we will write a book one day!
Does Lulu really have a bar cart experience that can be delivered to guest rooms?
Didn’t you ask me about Radical Hospitality? We have several fabulous bar carts our muse, Cinda aka Lulu, has hunted down in Round Top. It does require preparation and advance notice but we love to do it!
RT is so small that it seems every inch is (or should be) familiar. But is there a hidden/undiscovered or little-known person/place/thing that you consider a must-do or quintessential RT experience?
The Festival Institute is unrivaled space and property in Texas and we are so lucky to be their neighbors in Round Top. I think a lot of people miss visiting their private art collection and a performance in their nearly perfect acoustic space.
What are those little reptiles darting around the grounds and should we be afraid of them?
We have little Green Anoles and Little Brown Skinks that love the natural landscape. They are completely harmless and make for great entertainment for the farm cats or even temporary pets for visitors. I think they are more afraid of you than you are of them!
Is there an on-property Lulu mascot like a pet bird or house cat or a ghost or something of that nature?
Some say they see ghosts and we do have a friendly farm cat from next door that you often see around the property lounging in the sun. Our guests also enjoy the ponies, goats, donkeys and alpacas next door!
What is the most popular menu item at Lulu restaurant; what is the best cocktail at Il Cuculo?
There are two menu items that are signature dishes at Lulu’s — the short rib and the Bolognese. Both are incredibly delicious and the culinary equivalent of a warm hug. The most ordered drinks are our flaming Carrajillos on cold days, martinis, and our Garden Spritz on warm days.
We all know Lulu will be fully booked ahead of the antiques shows but what is a truly perfect time to visit?
My favorite time to be in Round Top are the weekdays when much of the town is closed. It is the perfect excuse to lounge by the pool, day drink on your porch and truly escape the chaos of daily life in the city. The sky is endless and so is the quiet. We usually run a 50% off special during the week in the summer that attracts guests looking to enjoy the ancient Italian art of “il dolce fa niente” or the sweetness of doing nothing.
Everyone who lives and works in RT wants the town to shine. As the top inn/hotel, do you feel you have a greater responsibility in promoting RT or acting as a town ambassador?
I will forever be an advocate for the magic of the best small town in Texas that is Round Top. We have worked really hard to weave the authentic Round Top experience into our property. From the historic structures we have outfitted with treasures found from local vendors and the iconic festivals alike to the 19th century stone building that houses our restaurant — we want guests to feel the spirit of our town from sunset to sundown on our property. So even as we grow we maintain an eagle-eyed focus on telling the story of our small town.
The website says something called Veranda is coming soon. Spill: what is it?
This is truly an exciting evolution for us and it is truly thanks to the vision and fierce advocacy of our owners, Cinda and Armando Palacios. We purchased the property next to the hotel to expand our footprint and also to preserve the historic significance of our location. The Veranda is part of an original Round Top home that we have transformed into our Lodge which is home to our Lobby and Living Room as well as three luxury suites for an even more elevated escape. It is open exclusively to hotel guests and overlooks the fire pit as well as the neighboring farm. It is the perfect place to lower your blood pressure and just enjoy the landscape…enhanced by a cocktail preferably. It is a game changer for our guests, and we are so excited to add that value to our guest experience.
We also hear Lulu has expansion plans. Can you share details? In addition to more guest rooms will the plan being other enhancements to the Lulu experience?
We will always focus on improvements to continue to surprise our guests and keep them coming back for more. I don’t think we have even begun to scratch the surface of how far we will take it. We always want to be better and bring the best the world has to offer to such a special property.
For a limited time, guests are invited to linger a little longer—stay two nights and enjoy a third on the house. Book your stay here using code Love26.
