Upscale Italian Villa | Barton Spring, Zilker Park

About this listing

Summary

This classic Italian Villa sits at the top of the Zilker neighborhood –a quiet, historic, residential neighborhood with streets shaded by majestic heritage oaks.
You will be located by the entrance of Zilker Park, which is the center for all activities, sports, recreation and events Austin is known for. Barton Springs Pool –Austin’s crown jewel natural spring where Austinites like to cool down– is down the street 2,500ft away (= half a mile = 10 min walk). Upstream of the pool is the entrance to Austin’s Greenbelt, a network of fairly flat beautiful trails bordered by cliffs and Barton Creek. Downstream of the pool the river merges into Town Lake (aka Lady Bird Lake), the dammed river that cuts across Austin. The entrance of Zilker Park is another 5min down the same street (about 3,000ft away, 15min walk). This is where where you can enjoy open space, disc golf, volleyball, picnics, the Umlaut sculpture garden, canoe and paddle-board rentals, and Austin’s hike and bike trail –Austin’s central trail along Town Lake (10 miles of flat shaded trail with downtown views, perfect for a run, a bike ride, or a stroll).
Zilker Park’s great lawn is right there and it is home to Austin City Limits (ALC) festival –you’ll be 3,000ft away, 15min walk down the same street from so no need for a car/parking, no waiting for an overcrowded shuttle, and no impossible-to-find Uber/electric scooter. In December the same great lawn hosts the Trail of Lights –a holiday outdoor experience filled with s’mores and millions of lights which is always a hit with families. You will find a variety of restaurants, bars and coffee shops by the park’s entrance along Barton Springs Rd and South Lamar –everything from Italian to BBQ to Tex-Mex, plus Austin’s incomparable Alamo Drafthouse movie theater (all within a mile).
The Botanical Garden is 1.2 miles away, while downtown and West 6th st, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, are about 1.9 miles away.

The Villa is a custom-built, 3-level home sitting on a corner lot. featuring a high ceilings, modern amenities, spiral staircase. The space is great for gatherings of friends, family, coworkers retreats and events.
3 levels, a rarity in the neighborhood, which provides stunning, unobstructed views of downtown’s skyline. On the first floor: the kitchen with pro-grade appliances, a large living and dining area with fireplace, a shaded terrace for al-fresco dining, and a private patio with outdoor fireplace and 2-person hot tub. No Italian Villa is complete without a cellar and this one can accommodate a truckload of your favorite beverages.
The spiral staircase takes you to the 3rd floor –a space designed for the entertainer with two terraces, a lounge area with wet bar and TV, an outdoor seating area and a grill –everything you need to enjoy a morning coffee or a nightcap in good company while gazing a the skyline.

This is

complete with with a pro-grade appliances, kitchen, a private courtyard, hot tub, and 3 large patios. This is an incredible home for entertaining, the perfect place to retreat amongst Austin’s landmark spots and after adventures on the town. Great wifi throughout the entire house.

the home of Austin’s largest park bordering downtown,
restaurants

Space

This magnificent 4 bedroom home is situated on a corner lot with stunning views of the downtown Austin skyline. Surrounded by beautiful landscaping, the property features a fully equipped, pro-grade kitchen, spacious living, and multiple dining areas both inside and out.

The first floor features large, open-plan living and dining areas. Dramatic windows and atrium doors are situated between hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings lend a resort feel while restaurant-grade appliances and granite counters await a guest chef. Prepare meals in the kitchen and step out into an enclosed courtyard and one of two outdoor grilling areas. The courtyard also features a hot tub spa for 2 adjacent to a custom wood-burning fireplace.

The large living room hosts large groups on oversize Chesterfield couches, with a large screen TV, gas log fireplace and surround sound Sonos speakers throughout the entire home.

The main dining room is composed of a large table for 6 between the kitchen and open living room. Guests can dine inside or dine al fresco just off the main dining room where another table for 6 is featured on the large, covered terrace overlooking the North side of the property grounds.

The bedrooms and spa-like bathrooms begin downstairs with the Queen Suite. Then up the towering spiral staircase to the second level to find 2 more bedrooms, a second bathroom, and the Grand Master Suite. These rooms are connected by a large hallway made of Italian plastered walls on one side and a decorative hand-stenciled wall on the other side.

The spectacular Grand Master Suite begins as you enter through the spacious bath with garden spa soaking tub, walk-in spa shower and floating double vanities with a unique two-story silo allowing natural light to bathe the room. The master bedroom also has a large screen TV, plush king bed, and large balcony with views of the treetops and the tops of a few of Austin’s tallest buildings.

Retreat to a 3rd-floor lounge area that connects two large terraces. The lounge features a wet bar, full-size refrigerator, and large screen TV. The North terrace is outfitted with Sun Spa patio furniture, including 2 comfy club chairs and a 4 person sofa. The second BBQ sits adjacent to the patio furniture so grilling, dining and entertaining can be had here as well. The South Terrace is where guests will gather to enjoy the million-dollar view of Austin’s evolving city skyline above the urban forest we call Barton Springs. Picturesque and truly above the tree line, this is a photo op you won’t want to miss. Note: The sofa up here converts to a queen bed.

Every detail of this home has been carefully curated to accommodate our family and yours. From the cozy couches inside to the outdoor terrace couches floating among the trees, there’s no shortage of inviting areas to explore. The villa is perfect for a family or group of friends who appreciate elegance and desire a prime location in the heart of Austin’s Barton Springs area.

Whether your group is looking to relax or explore Austin, the Villa is ideal for both. Take your pick of any number of Austin’s finest spots to hang out or eat on Barton Springs Road or South Lamar which are both walking distance from the property. This location offers convenient access to the heart of Austin and some of the most beautiful areas of the Downtown area. It’s a 10 min walk for a dip in Barton Springs Pool or a show at Zilker Metropolitan Park—one of the prime venues for SXSW and Austin City Limits.

Note: We follow the CDC and Airbnb Recommended Cleaning Guidelines. You can rest assured this property has been completely sanitized prior to check-in.

Please also review “Other Details To Note” for additional considerations.

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Specific to longer stays:
Stays over 29 days are not subject to the State and Local Hotel Tax. However, the housekeeping fee and the Safely fee remain in place.
–Instead of collecting a deposit we have partnered with Safely.com to provide you with accidental damage protection up to $1,500. The Safely fee is $50 for short term stays and $200 for stays over 29 days. $50 of the $200 is collected at the time of booking and the remaining $150 will be collected via a payment request. The Safely fee is refundable if the reservation is canceled at least 24 hours prior to the arrival date.
–Additional Cleaning Fee. We want to keep our properties in tip-top shape and we ask that housekeeping comes in to clean at least every 2 weeks. One cleaning is included in every stay. Your property manager will help you to schedule these additional cleanings at a time that works for you and we will arrange payment.

Transit

Austin offers plenty of transportation options. Ridesharing, micro-mobility, and mass transit are available on Barton Springs Road and everywhere in between. The airport is just 15 minutes away.

Notes

Prior to check-in, we will send you detailed directions to ensure a seamless arrival. Pack n Plays or High Chairs must be requested prior to arrival.

No parties, please. If you plan to have people over who are not part of your registration list please let us know in advance as we need to seek owner approval. This is a quiet neighborhood.

If you are wanting to host an event or hold a gathering, you will need to acquire owner approval, sign an additional contract and pay additional fees. Please contact Stay Local Austin to discuss your needs and request pricing.

HOTEL TAX COLLECTION: Both the City of Austin and the State of Texas require all hotel and vacation rental hosts to collect hotel tax. We collect these two taxes within the booking transaction. The state requires 6% and the city requires 11%. YOU ARE HELPING SUPPORT AUSTIN ARTS and CULTURE: A portion of the city hotel tax helps support Austin’s musicians and artists.

Lastly, for guests who are sensitive to noise during business hours, please note that new buildings and homes are being constructed daily throughout the neighborhood. Austin is growing so you will occasionally hear equipment noise and building crews during the weekday.

Interaction with guests

Portoro offers self-check-in. As your hosts, Portoro will be available to answer any questions you may have about the home or the surrounding area.

Guests will have access via an electronic smart lock and the access code will be provided prior to your arrival.

NOTE: We follow the CDC and Airbnb Recommended Cleaning Guidelines. You can rest assured this property has been completely sanitized prior to check-in.

Neighborhood

The Zilker neighborhood is situated next to its namesake park with 350 acres of green spaces, providing access to over 20 miles of jogging and biking trails that surround Lady Bird Lake. Zilker is also home to one of Austin’s oldest and liveliest areas with lots of dining and entertainment options. Restaurants range from chef-driven hot spots to laid-back local fixtures to food trailers. There are popular venues for theater, film, live music, and local art (the Umlauf Sculpture Garden is just down the street), The Austin Botanical Gardens as well as a number of relaxed bars, many with great covered patios.

Notable hot spots close by:
The Carpenter Hall and Restaurant, Lamar Union, Juliette Italian Kitchen, Chuy’s Mexican Food, Austin Eastciders, Odd Duck and Uchi. Austin Botanical Gardens. More recommendations are provided in the guest manual.

Access

The home sits on the corner of Melridge Pl. and Burford Pl. The main entrance is located on Burford Pl. Upon arrival, guests can park up to 3 cars in the driveway. Street parking is available on Burford but is limited to 2 cars.

We offer self check-in. All Portoro’s properties use smart locks.

•We cannot guarantee early check-ins or late checkouts in advance. If the house happens to be ready earlier than our standard 4pm check-in time on the day of your arrival, we, in most cases will allow an early check-in. If your need for an early check-in or late checkout is great, your best option is to book the night prior to or after your arrival/departure.

House Rules

**VERY IMPORTANT – All Guests must comply with our house rules. Not doing so will require loss of deposit and possible eviction.

1. Maximum Overnight Occupancy is 10 people. Please make sure you enter the proper number of guests that will be staying in the home when booking.
2. We love our neighbors! Quiet hours are from 10 PM – 8 AM daily. No outside noise after 10:00PM
3. No Smoking.
4. Pets are not allowed.
5. Except for families with children, ALL guests must be at least 25 years of age with photo ID proof of age for each guest.
6. Third Party Bookings require additional details and approval from Portoro before booking.
7. Small Gatherings and events with non-overnight guests require pre-approval, deposit, and additional contract.
8. Guest CHECK OUT considerations will be sent the day before departure.
9. Guests are expected to follow ALL check-out instructions as listed in the House Manual, including notifying the host at the time of departure.
10. To ensure your safety and proper access to the home and all of our guest features, ALL guests are required to read the house manual upon arrival, notify Portoro with any questions.

Known damages incurred during your stay (Stains and spills on linens, furniture, rugs) must be reported to the property manager immediately. Only artificial candles are allowed. No burning of natural candles inside or outside of the home. Closets and cabinets labeled as “Owner Use Only” are off-limits to guests. Please be respectful and never take items from these areas. Evidence of damage to the home will result in an additional cleaning fee of $250, plus the cost of damages to the home. Reservations made during Festivals and Conferences are non-refundable, i.e., SXSW, ACL, F-1, etc.

We cannot guarantee early check-ins or late checkouts in advance. If the house happens to be ready earlier than our standard 4pm check-in time on the day of your arrival, we will message you and let you know once it’s ready. Late checkouts are almost never possible. On the rare occasion that it is possible to check in early or checkout late, there will be a fee for anything outside of a one-hour window within our standard times. If your need for an early check-in or late checkout is great, your best option is to book the night prior to or after your arrival/departure.