Hotel Lucine
1002 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, TX
A Galveston original, finally given the renovation it deserved.
About Hotel Lucine
The Treasure Isle Motel opened on Seawall Boulevard in 1963, built by brothers Saul and Ben Kotin, whose architectural firm also designed the Galveston County Courthouse and Galveston Junior College. By 2021 it was called the Pearl Inn and running to seed, until Keath and Dave Jacoby spotted it. Keath grew up in Galveston; Dave served as president of the board of the Galveston Historical Foundation. Along with developer Robert Marcus, they purchased the property and spent two years restoring what it had been. Austin firm Kartwheel Studio handled the renovation, drawing on sixties-era Treasure Isle postcards for the color palette: oranges, greens, aqua blues, a shimmering gold. The concrete floors stayed. The original pink ceramic bathroom tile stayed. The U-shaped courtyard stayed. Hotel Lucine opened in November 2023.
What Hotel Lucine Is Known For
Hotel Lucine is the oldest surviving motor court on Galveston's Seawall Boulevard, and the renovation chose not to pretend otherwise. The original pink ceramic bathroom tile, the concrete floors, the U-shaped courtyard: these were kept because they were worth keeping. The people who built this are from Galveston, one of them literally grew up here, and that shows in how the property is positioned: not as a boutique hotel that happens to be in Galveston, but as a Galveston building that finally got the renovation it deserved. As Dave Jacoby put it: 'No other town on the Texas coast has the assets, charm, history or weirdness to pull this off.'
Amenities
- Pets Welcome
- WiFi
- Heated courtyard pool year-round
- Rooftop bar with Gulf views
- On-site restaurant (The Fancy)
- All-day lobby cafe and cocktail lounge (The Den)
- Live rooftop music Friday and Saturday evenings in summer
What Guests Love
- The pool is heated year-round. Swim in November, swim in March, swim whenever.
- First-floor rooms open directly to the courtyard. Second-floor rooms have private balconies with pool views and outdoor seating.
- Chef Leila Ortiz runs The Fancy restaurant with French-influenced Gulf Coast cooking. The rooftop bar has the best view in Galveston.
- The staff here is consistently and specifically praised in reviews, including by guests returning for their third and fourth time.
- The pink 1960s bathroom tile was kept. It's a small detail that anchors the whole aesthetic in this building's real history.
Worth Knowing
- The parking lot fills during peak summer weekends, especially Saturdays. Free alternatives are always nearby: street parking on the north side of Seawall Blvd and metered spots (free after in the evening) within easy walking distance.
- Second-floor rooms have private balconies. If that matters to you, request one when booking, the hotel accommodates when available.
- There is no elevator to the second floor. Front desk staff will help carry luggage. If stairs are a concern, request a first-floor room.
- The rooftop bar gets lively on weekend evenings and can carry some noise into second-floor rooms. Light sleepers may want to note this.
- Pets are welcome. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
The Room
Rooms are small by chain hotel standards and exactly right by Boutel standards: enough. The palette is mid-century restrained, warm neutrals anchored by banana leaf-print curtains, the original concrete floors, and the pink-tiled bathrooms, which the renovation left intact as a deliberate nod to the building's era. First-floor rooms open directly to the courtyard and pool. Second-floor rooms come with private balconies with outdoor seating overlooking the pool and pergola. The underside of each balcony's eave is painted a different pastel, which you notice from outside and remember from inside. TV. Minifridge stocked. Bathrobes. No microwave, which is the right call for a property with a proper restaurant thirty feet away. Sulfate-free bath products, specifically noted by returning guests.
The Grounds
The center of the property is the courtyard: a blue-and-white diamond-tiled pool deck with sage sun beds, yellow umbrellas with white fringe, and the hotel's name spelled out in tile on the pool floor. The pool is heated year-round, which matters in a Gulf Coast city where you might arrive in November or March. First-floor rooms have doors that open directly to this space. Across Seawall Boulevard, which you can cross in about thirty seconds, is Porretto Beach and the Gulf of Mexico. Parking surrounds the perimeter of the building with two additional adjacent lots. The rooftop above The Fancy and The Den has 180-degree views of the Gulf, the largest beachfront rooftop in Galveston. Free street parking on the north side of Seawall Blvd is available when the lots are full on peak summer weekends.
The Experience
The experience at Hotel Lucine works on a park-once logic: arrive, put the car away, and stay put. Breakfast at The Den in the morning, the pool through the afternoon, The Fancy for dinner, the rooftop for the evening. Live music plays Fridays and Saturdays in summer on the rooftop. The staff's warmth is the most consistent thing reviewers mention, return visitors included. There's a sense that the people working here feel good about what they're working on, which communicates itself. Galveston is two steps away in every direction: the beach across the street, the historic downtown about two miles east, Pleasure Pier a short drive. But most guests seem to stay close. One returning guest called it 'a one-stop-shop for a long weekend in Galveston' and meant it as a compliment.
Details
Galveston, TX 77550
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hotel Lucine have EV charging?
No, Hotel Lucine does not have EV charging.
Does Hotel Lucine have WiFi?
Yes, Hotel Lucine has WiFi.
What is there to do near Hotel Lucine?
Porretto Beach: 0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. The Strand Historic District: 2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier: 1.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Hotel Lucine from Porretto Beach?
0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Hotel Lucine from The Strand Historic District?
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Hotel Lucine from Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier?
1.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
Is Hotel Lucine pet friendly?
Yes. Hotel Lucine welcomes pets. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
How far is Hotel Lucine from the beach?
The Gulf of Mexico is directly across Seawall Boulevard, about a 30-second walk from the hotel.
Does Hotel Lucine have a pool?
Yes. The courtyard pool is heated year-round and surrounded by a checkered tile deck with lounge chairs and fringe umbrellas. The hotel's name is spelled out in tile on the pool floor.
Does Hotel Lucine have a restaurant?
Yes. The Fancy is a 56-seat restaurant on the property serving French-influenced Gulf Coast food, led by chef Leila Ortiz. The Den serves as an all-day cafe and cocktail lounge.
What is the parking situation at Hotel Lucine?
Free parking is available around the perimeter of the building and in two adjacent lots. During peak summer weekends, the lots can fill. Free street parking on the north side of Seawall Blvd is always available.
Does Hotel Lucine have a rooftop?
Yes. The rooftop bar is the largest beachfront rooftop in Galveston with 180-degree views over the Gulf of Mexico. Live music plays Friday and Saturday evenings in summer.
How far is Hotel Lucine from downtown Galveston?
Historic downtown Galveston is about 2 miles east of the hotel, roughly a 10-minute drive.
Does Hotel Lucine include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at Hotel Lucine.
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Things to Do Near the Galveston Seawall
Porretto Beach
0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
Galveston's public beach is directly across Seawall Boulevard, about a 30-second walk from the hotel. One of the quieter stretches of the Seawall, away from the busier tourist boardwalk several miles east.
The Strand Historic District
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
Galveston's 19th-century commercial district, where the Tremont House and the 1894 Grand Opera House anchor a neighborhood of Victorian iron-front buildings. About a 10-minute drive east along the island.
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
1.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
The amusement pier that extends over the Gulf is about a 5-minute drive from Hotel Lucine, with rides visible from the rooftop bar on clear evenings.