Hotel 1928 — Hotel in Waco

Some trips are planned, every detail meticulously arranged. And then there are the rare, incredible journeys that unfold unexpectedly, guided by a feeling you just can’t ignore. Our family’s day trip to Waco was supposed to end after a delightful visit to the Magnolia Silos and a wonderful dinner at the Hotel 1928 restaurant, where our server, Sebi, greeted us with a warmth that felt like a hug. But as the evening settled in, we knew our adventure wasn't over. The hotel itself, a stunning masterpiece of 1920s architecture reimagined with modern elegance, had captivated us. We weren't ready to leave.

On a whim, I approached the front desk and said, "I would like to get pricing on staying the night and keeping this amazing time going." That's when we met Mikayla, one of the hotel's managers, and the person who single-handedly transformed our impromptu inquiry into the most memorable hotel stay of our lives.

Mikayla didn't just give us a rate; she curated an experience. With the grace and intuition of a seasoned conductor, she orchestrated an evening that transcended mere hospitality. She offered us a fantastic rate and then, to our astonishment, gave us a private, after-hours tour of the hotel. It wasn't a rehearsed speech; it was a genuine, heartfelt sharing of stories and experiences, making us feel not like guests, but like cherished friends being shown a hidden gem.

The level of care was simply world-class. Mikayla’s attention to detail was reminiscent of a stay at a Ritz-Carlton, yet her personal touch made it feel even more special. She walked us to our room, presented us with a beautifully curated gift box, and treated our children with a kindness and affection that made them feel as if they were visiting their favorite aunt. She didn't just do her job; she poured her heart into it, spoiling us in the best possible way and ensuring every moment was seamless and special.

The wonderful time continued the next morning. We were so charmed by Sebi's hospitable spirit at dinner that we requested her again for breakfast, and she was just as delightful. The food, from dinner to the coffee the next day, was simply incredible.

While the Hotel 1928 is a destination in its own right—a breathtaking property in the heart of Waco—it was the people who made it truly shine. Mikayla is the soul of that establishment. She is an absolute star who possesses a rare gift for making people feel seen, valued, and completely at home. Our spontaneous decision to stay the night became the highlight of our trip, a core memory we will treasure forever. Thanks to her, Hotel 1928 is no longer just a place we might visit; it is the only place we will ever stay in Waco. If you are looking for an experience that is first-class from start to finish, look no further. And if Mikayla is on duty, prepare to be amazed. She is an invaluable asset, and her passion for her guests is the definition...

This hotel has got to lower their rates. For frame of reference, my cost for one night lodging including all taxes and valet fee (there are no other parking options) was $582. I had a trip planned that brought me near Waco. So I added on an extra day solely to come here and see some of what I’d been watching on tv for the last decade. I went to the silos, breakfast at Magnolia Table, and one night at Hotel 1928. When you look at Chip and Joanna’s other business ventures, you can see the care that goes into even the smallest details. This is probably what sets Magnolia apart. The devil is in the details. I would be surprised if they have any control over the operations of Hotel 1928. This wasn’t like visiting anything else they’d had a hand in. Firstly, they robbed me blind. For the amount of money the hotel charges, excellence would be expected. Kudos to the camera crews that made the guest rooms look even remotely normal. Our “premium king” was tiny. I couldn’t figure out what made it premium, other than charging me more money. There’s a giant pillar in the middle of the room that we can barely get around without anywhere to fit two large suitcases. Artwork is falling behind the matted frames. Nonworking charging ports. McMurtry books lining the window shelves of the guest rooms…lies. Morning coffee is instant. Seriously, there’s no coffeemaker. We were told where free coffee would be located downstairs in the morning. Showed up at 7 am and there’s no coffee. Nothing. Unless I would like to buy coffee of course. There’s plenty of that available. Berties’s on the rooftop…closed. They took extra care to rope it off so anyone that’s traveled halfway across the country can’t see any part of it. I’m so disappointed in the lackluster experience at this hotel that I’m turned off on the entire Magnolia thing. It’s almost as if they’re exploiting Chip & Joanna’s names by charging these exorbitant room rates and failing to provide any sort of acceptable hotel experience in return. Like we’re just supposed to be happy with terrazzo floors, fancy light fixtures, and a library. Being a fine hotel, appears to be irrelevant. If you’re only going to stay because you’re fans of any of the Fixer Upper shows, I would strongly recommend just coming in to take a look around and perhaps eating at one of the restaurants. You’re not missing ANYTHING if you...

The look of the hotel is terrific. The look and feel is very very nice. Staff was exceptionally friendly. The disappointments were many. The room was 69 degrees and it did't warm up until early the next morning even though we turned on the heat. The bathroom floors are beautiful but the floors were freezing and we had to put towels on the floor in front of the sinks and toilet to stand the cold. The explanation we were given made no sense about why the room was so cold and couldn't warm up. We actually had to go to Walmart to buy some sweat pants and hoodie to handle the cold. In the bathroom the toilet roll is actually slightly behind the sitting position and you have to reach backwards and the toilet paper can't tear properly. There were no soap dishes in the bathroom so that when we used the bars of soap we had to leave them wet sitting on the sink. Food was OK, but was not anything special. Neither my meal or my wife's was anything special. Pork chops were cooked too much and were dry and tough. Cowboy caviar was tasteless. Water dispenser brought to the table had water spots on it. Bedroom doesn't have a desk chair and to use the bar area where a desk could be possibly be used ottomans would have to be pulled out. Walls were paper thin and we could hear the people in the next room as loud as they would have been had they been on our room and they were talking at normal volume. Bedside tables only had one USB A (old technology), and only one electric plug. I had to pull out the bedside tables to plug in a second devise. TV's are old school (not smart TVs) so there was no option to stream any movies. Elevators were so small that one cart and three people were crowded. Frequent calls to the front desk were not answered and several times we went to talk to someone at the front desk no one was there. Overall the hotel is beautiful but from a functionality perspective was sub par and inefficient. A much better stay experience would have been a Holiday Inn Express or Hyatt place. It's a nice tourist place if you follow the Magnolia Channel but way overpriced for what you get. But again, if you want to stay at a hotel constructed on the Magnolia channel it would be a...