In a few short weeks, thousands of visitors will descend on Round Top for Antiques Week. For more than 50 years, this biannual event has brought people from all over the world to one of the tiniest towns in Texas. For a town with a population of 90, first-timers may be surprised to find so many restaurants, boutiques, wine bars, beer gardens, coffee shops, and other hangouts. For those who have been making the rounds up and down Hwy. 237 for some time now, they may notice that on every return trip, there’s something new.
Round Top has been called the “Aspen of Texas” for its development into a year-round tourist destination. In fact, the year-round part is the focus of local business owners working together to get the word out that they are here, even when Antiques Week is not. Weekenders from Houston and Austin have already discovered this place, but there’s a lot more to see and do than a Saturday and Sunday will allow. And, while Round Top is growing at a rapid pace, it’s still got that small-town sensibility. Nobody is in a hurry here, so take your time.
A good place to start is on Round Top’s iconic town squares. Each one preserves a piece of history in the way the buildings have been saved, restored and repurposed. We’ve compiled a short list of favorite spots open year-round.
Rummel Square
Founded in 1826, Round Top has always had something of an arts and music scene. In the 19th century, it was home to a prominent string band and to Clara Rummel, the “poetess of Texas.” Places like Festival Hill and Shakespeare at Winedale carry on the cultural tradition of the area while Rummel Square pays tribute to the Texas poetess.
Curate by Stash – Cheryl Schulke and her partner Paul Forde handcraft leather goods in a century-old factory in Sealy, Texas. Their Round Top outpost contains their leatherwork as well as impeccably curated clothing, apothecary items, greeting cards, and other special finds that make for great gifts.
Lyric Salon – Born out of a passion for connecting with people and providing hospitality, owner Brooke Michie is doing what she loves in this little salon. She and husband, Paul, are also opening Round Top Brewing and Lollitop Sweet Shop this year.
The Garden Co. – Bold flavors and beautiful presentations are things to expect from The Garden Co. The menu changes periodically, but lunch mainstays include the crispy Brussels sprouts and the Asian grilled chicken salad. Dinner is built around high-quality proteins like duck, lamb and prime beef; sides such as roasted vegetables; and bread pudding for dessert. Sit outside on the deck under the big oak tree.
Prost on Block 29 – Prost is an intimate wine bar located in a stone cottage that happens to be the oldest building in Round Top. Grab a glass of wine and a charcuterie board, or order from Jax Brenham, the mobile pizza oven in the courtyard.
Townsend Provisions – Owned by Ryann Ford and husband, Nick Mosley, Townsend is a bright and happy shop stocked with T-shirts, tea towels, and other fun gifts. The boot room upstairs is a must-see with the largest selection of cowboy boots in town.
Henkel Square
This quaint town square is known for shopping, dining, and a little bar-hopping. A collection of 1800s German homes now house some of Round Top’s coolest concepts.
Abejas – The Houston-based boutique expanded to Round Top with a display of an incredible collection of leather, turquoise, hats, blankets and more. It’s an elevated version of a Southwestern-Marfa-meets-Santa Fe vibe, and it just feels good to be in the airy, aspirational store.
The Ellis Motel – No rooms for rent here at Lee Ellis’ emporium and lounge, but you can still hang your hat and kick your feet up in one of his showrooms, which features his fine collection of antiques, all of which are for sale. Sidle up to the gorgeous bar for a cocktail and stay awhile.
Humble Donkey Studio – Artist John Lowery and wife Laurie have created a whimsical gallery to showcase his original art and her antique finds.
Local Roots – Located in the green house on Henkel Square, the sign reads Local Roots Good Eats and lists “sandwiches, salads, sweets, deviled eggs, casseroles and more.” Among their latest offerings: maple brown sugar cinnamon rolls and pulled pork cheddar biscuit sliders.
Pop A Top Too Bottle Shop – Tiffany Reid and husband, Britt, own the original Pop A Top Bottle Shop in La Grange and this one on Henkel Square. Known for premium spirits purveyed in a fun, modern setting, it’s not your typical liquor store. It’s more of a hangout with big leather chairs for lounging and a scotch and whiskey room for tasting.
Royer’s Pie Haven – All in the family, Bud Royer’s daughter, Tara, opened a pie shop on Henkel Square. Choose from savory or sweet pies, or try one or two of each.
Teague’s Tavern – Don and Kiki Teague opened the tavern in 2016 to celebrate good times and good food, Texas-style, like burgers with bacon jam and chicken fried steak. Teague’s Tavern proudly has a variety of Texas beer on draft and Lone Star in the refrigerator.
Wimberly – Handmade jewelry, belts, handbags, clothing and other vintage and antique treasures are what you can expect to find at the beautiful Wimberly.
Bybee Square
One of these squares is not like the others, as Bybee Square is currently undergoing a major transformation and will soon become the site of Hotel Lulu, a 13-room boutique hotel. To understand where it’s going, it’s important to know where it’s been.
Faith Bybee, and husband Charles, a Houston banker, began working together on Round Top in the early 1960s buying and restoring 19th-century structures and filling them with art and antiques. Faith Bybee was a patron of the arts and had hundreds of rare antiques in her private collection, including an engraving of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere in its original frame dating back to the Revolutionary War. When her husband died in 1972, she continued to add to her collection. Most of these pieces now belong to the Dallas Museum of Art. She also continued buying buildings, amassing some 40 or more original, pioneer-era structures.
By the 1980s, word had spread about what she was doing in Round Top, and that, at that point, she owned most of the town. The New York Times ran a 1986 piece on Faith Bybee, dubbing her the “Doyenne of Texas Restoration.” In the article, the writer referred to Round Top as a town “too small for hotels.” And, posed the question: “What are Mrs. Bybee’s plans for the restoration?” She explained that it was her intention to preserve a small part of Texas history, and that she hoped it would go on forever.
It’s still going on today, nearly 35 years later. Credited as “the mother of modern-day Round Top,” Jacquelyn Ditsler is the managing director of the Bybee Foundation. Under her watchful eye, she created Round Top’s first retail square. Her vision was to create an income stream for the Foundation and to make Round Top a year-round destination. The rental income generated from Bybee Square was used for the upkeep and preservation of the historic buildings and houses owned by the Bybee Foundation on Henkel Square.
While today many of the Bybee Foundation historic properties have been sold, the Foundation continues to support historic and architectural preservation in the community. Most recently the Foundation has helped create a library on the campus of Festival Hill Music Institute. The library, curated by Lamar Lentz, houses many historic book collections, including the architectural library of Harvin Cooper Moore.
The Bybee Foundation supports non-profits, organizations, local schools, museums, and cultural centers that promote historic preservation, education and artistic endeavors.
The purchase of the square by Armando and Cinda Palacios, and the construction of their boutique hotel will only add to the arts and culture, history, and future of Round Top. Lulu’s Italian Restaurant is still open on the square while construction continues.
Credited as “the mother of modern-day Round Top,” Jacquelyn Ditsler is the managing director of the Bybee Foundation. Under her watchful eye, she created Round Top’s first retail square. Her vision was to create an income stream for the Foundation and to make Round Top a year-round destination. The rental income generated from Bybee Square was used for the upkeep and preservation of the historic buildings and houses owned by the Bybee Foundation on Henkel Square.
While today many of the Bybee Foundation historic properties have been sold, the Foundation continues to support historic and architectural preservation in the community. Most recently the Foundation has helped create a library on the campus of Festival Hill Music Institute. The library, curated by Lamar Lentz, houses many historic book collections, including the architectural library of Harvin Cooper Moore.
The Bybee Foundation supports non-profits, organizations, local schools, museums, and cultural centers that promote historic preservation, education and artistic endeavors.