Boiler Nine Bar + Grill breathes new life into downtown Austin’s historic power plant

Austin’s restaurant scene got a little hotter this year, with the July opening of <a href="http://www.boilernine.com">Boiler Nine Bar + Grill</a>, which occupies part of the historic <a href="http://www.seaholm.info/project.html">Seaholm Power Plant</a>. With the restaurant opening, the 1950 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/art-deco/">art deco</a> power plant, in the heart of the downtown district, celebrated the first chapter of its new life. Occupying 11,000 square feet, Boiler Nine is the centerpiece of the renovated power plant, which operated until 1989 and was decommissioned in 1996. After three years of construction, the opening of Boiler Nine Bar + Grill is an event worth toasting.

The restaurant, named for its home in the ninth boiler room of <a href="http://www.seaholm.info/timeline.html">the original power plant</a>, offers a variety of environments for diners (and drinkers) to enjoy. The main restaurant features an open kitchen where visitors can watch the wood-fired grill in action.

Deck Nine Observatory Bar comprises a rooftop space with jaw-dropping city views.

Three stories below, customers can partake of fine beverages in The Boiler Room, a “subterranean drinking den” located on the lowest level near the original boiler room.

The restaurant opened to the public Jul. 5, after a careful renovation by La Corsha Hospitality Group which is opening several other restaurants and hotels in Texas this year.

Boiler Nine’s adaptive reuse of the Seaholm Power Plant space is unique, as Austin-based architecture firm <a href="http://www.stgdesign.com/seaholm-power-plant-redevelopment">STG Design</a> worked to ensure the restaurant and bar were designed specifically to fit into the art deco atmosphere of the original structure. Other sections of the power plant in the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/adaptive-reuse/">redevelopment</a> are promised to maintain respect for the original architecture as well.

“We are very excited to open Boiler Nine Bar + Grill to the public,” said Laura Shearer, Director of Operations, in a statement. “We’ve spent a lot of time bringing our idea to life while preserving the look and feel of the historic boiler room.”

Boiler Nine is located in downtown Austin on West Cesar Chavez St., east of S. Lamar Blvd, just a short stroll from the banks of the Colorado River. After three years of construction, the restaurant is a welcome addition to Austin's historic downtown district.

Seaholm Power Plant - Austin, Texas.