Italian restaurant mogul Carmelo Mauro went all out when he created this new parking lot adjacent to his eatery housed in an historic old Austin railroad hotel. Diners are met by the valet attendant as they pull under the white limestone porte-cochere. Cars are then whisked away to a perfectly paved lot enclosed by limestone pillars topped with globe lights and separated by delicate lacy metal scrollwork. The designers even saved the large live oak tree in the lot and landscaped around it. As parking lots go, this one leaves some of the paradise in its rightful place.
