About the Inn and Innkeepers
About Gateway Guesthouse
The Gateway Guesthouse is dedicated to excellence in accommodations, amenities, service and cuisine. Our goal is to ensure your time with us is all you expect and more.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Bess & Blaise
Owners & Innkeepers
The Gateway and The Community
Bess and Blaise continue to maintain active profiles in the community with involvement in Project Transitions, Emancipet and our local NPR and Classical Music Organization. In addition, The Gateway is actively involved in the Austin Historical Commission, South River City Citizens and The Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake development and enhancement.
About The Innkeepers
Bess Giannakakis, co-founder, co-owner and chef of The Gateway Guesthouse, has been a professional chef for more than 20 years, working in some of the best restaurants in Minneapolis MN and most recently, founding the Colossal Cafe. Now she brings her culinary talents directly to you.
Though she fuses American, French, Greek, Italian, Moroccan, Turkish, Spanish and Mexican in her dishes, her food is often billed as ‘straightforward’, ‘authentic’ and ‘honest’. This eclectic mix is born of her heritage, history and world travels. The culinary results spring from Bess’s heartfelt belief in real food, for real people.
In addition to advancing in all chef and ownership experiences, Bess has often been asked to deliver fine cooking lessons and demonstrations. She has been Food Safety Certified for more than 20 years and is often consulted regarding addressing the many concerns of food safety within the real world environment of cooking for the public.
Blaise Bahara, co-founder, co-owner and operations manager of The Gateway Guesthouse, has worked extensively as an executive and consultant with Fortune-500 corporations and as the owner and operator of her own Events Management and Interior Design firms.
About The Pups
Louie, a 7-year old Standard Poodle and Leo, a 5-year-old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are the offical-greeters, love-receivers and squirral-guard-dogs on the property. Our new rescue pup is Lazos, a 3-year-old Standard Poodle with a sad past, bright future and heart of gold. All are hypo-allergenic for any of our Guests who may have allergies. We hope you enjoy having them around.