48 Best Hotels in Austin, Texas

Everything’s bigger in Texas, and in Austin they don’t get any bigger than the Fairmont. This towering 1,048-room hotel is a city resort, with six restaurants and bars, an expansive spa, the city’s largest rooftop pool, and exclusive VIP floors that act as a ‘hotel with a hotel’. Basically, it’s all here in the downtown landmark.

What used to be a fading 1938 motor court is now a revamped, quintessentially Austin motel that sits pretty in the heart of South Congress’s stretch of trendy restaurants and shops. It's a favorite with hipsters, artists, and LBGTQ+-friendly folk, who hang by the kidney-shape pool, where live music and special dance and aerobic classes are hosted regularly. Funky, throwback rooms are expertly outfitted with retro decor and kitschy accoutrements, like the signature Bunkhouse kimono robes in every bathroom. The staff, made up of laid-back locals, aims to please.

Tucked away just south of Lady Bird Lake, this recent addition to the local Bunkhouse Hospitality group comes with a hip vibe that attracts some of the city's chicest travelers. Each room boasts a small terrace, some overlooking the pool and lounge area where live music and various special events are hosted every week. Carpenter's Hall, the full-service café, offers everything from espresso and breakfast tacos on-the-go to a great lunch, dinner, and cocktail menu. The grounds are immaculately manicured, the on-site pool is lovely, and Barton Springs and Zilker are a short walk away.

Built in 1886 and impeccably restored, The Driskill represents a time when people mingled in grandiose settings and continues to epitomize old-world Texas luxury. Each room—decorated with old photos, vintage curios, and refurbished antiques—is unique, so specific requests should be made when reserving. Standard rooms are cramped, but corner rooms showcase nice city views. Reasonably priced suites provide spacious living areas and private balconies that are worth the splurge (try to reserve the LBJ Suite). The 1886 Café & Bakery is worth a visit, as is the elegant bar, which attracts business travelers and savvy downtown revelers with its live music and happy hour.

This 15-room boutique hotel is the ultimate choice for travelers looking to explore the city's vibrant and historic east side. It occupies a prime spot on the bustling East 11th Street, just across the street from the popular Kenny Dorham's Backyard food truck and live music venue and within walking distance of the areas's best shops and restaurants. Virtual check-in and concierge services make guests feel like they're arriving home, and communal, open-aired lounges with custom coffee stations and stocked minibars on every floor enhance the feeling that the whole property is an extended living room for the chic clientele. No two rooms are alike, but each sport an eclectic mix of inspired decor and luxury amenities. The first floor restaurant, Poeta, is a fabulous Italian eatery serving all day menus to guests and locals alike. Some rooms have lovely patios overlooking the bustling street below and the two-story suite with full-kitchen and a clawfoot soaking tub is worth the splurge.

Historical elegance and modern luxury converge in this 47-room boutique hotel, located in the Goodall Wooten mansion on the south edge of the UT campus. This 1900 Texas Historic Landmark still shines in all its Classical Revival glory. While most accommodations are located in the North Wing addition completed in the 1980s, nine rooms in the original mansion exude the most charm, with junior suites offering private verandas and Carrara marble–tiled bathrooms. The entire property is outfitted with amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, 24-hour fitness room, and twice-daily maid service. There's also a charming lap pool and garden courtyard, and a fine-dining eatery, Goodall’s, and a parlor bar are all on the main floor.

Saint Cecilia goes beyond anything you'd expect in an eclectic, decidedly Austin accommodation, from the art deco–style bar to the neon lights that read "S-O-U-L" shining above the heated outdoor pool. No two rooms are alike on the swanky, highly exclusive South Congress estate, from contemporary poolside bungalows to suites in the historic Victorian main building, though each reflects an extravagant, vintage-inspired style in a rock-and-roll meets turn-of-the-20th-century France motif. All have luxurious Hästens beds, refinished antiques, and unconventional artwork ranging from Keith Richards portraits to vintage Cuban movie posters. An on-site café has an all-day menu.

This hip, bungalow-style boutique hotel, located in the midst of South Congress Avenue, features a modern, minimalist style, adorned with balconies, patios, and tropical vegetation. Rooms cater to the young and happening, with concrete floors, flat-screen TVs, locally stocked minibars, and spartan, artist-driven interior design, like pine furniture created by artisans from Marfa, Texas. The pool is small but picturesque, and the bamboo-shrouded courtyard lounge serves bar snacks, beer, wine, and popular cocktails, like their signature champassions (champagne and passionfruit juice with raspberries). Jo's Coffee occupies the same lot, and several first-rate eateries and shops are a short stroll away.

Popular with groups, from bachelorette parties to corporate weekenders, this Rainey Street hot spot has become a downtown mainstay since opening in 2015. An early newcomer in the Austin hotel boom, the massive luxury operation offers live music–inspired decor, on-site entertainment, and, of course, direct access to downtown's best bars and venues. Complimentary TREK bikes are available for guests to cruise around downtown, and a 24-hour concierge provides expert recommendations for navigating the city. Weekend crowds are unavoidable, and advance reservations are imperative during annual events like SXSW. The excellent on-site restaurant, Geraldine's, is accessed by a separate elevator on the ground floor.

On a hilltop ridge amidst the Balcones Canyonlands nature preserve, just 30 minutes from Austin, Travaasa delivers a refreshing spin on a luxury resort, inspired by its Hill Country setting. Daily itineraries of “adventures” engage guests with their surroundings, from Zen garden meditations and ropes courses to horseback riding and campfire stargazing. Do everything—or simply disconnect at the infinity pool and recently renovated organic spa, which debuted additional lounge areas and private steam rooms in 2014. As of this writing, a Watsu pool for specialized aquatic therapies is under construction. The Preserve Kitchen & Bar offers seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine in a romantic setting. Rooms are arranged in varying sizes, some with charming treeline views. The adults-only property is ideal for romantic getaways and executive retreats alike. À la carte and all-inclusive packages available.

In the heart of the historic Hyde Park, this two-story, colonial revival-style home is convenient for a variety of restaurants and gathering places. Interiors are attractive and historic, with original pine floors and antique furnishings. The spacious Adams Suite is the most requested room, featuring a private sun porch. A separate bungalow offers a little more privacy (albeit less historical charm).

This Domain outpost provides basic, Euro-chic accommodations that placate the sensibility of the hotel's up-and-coming urban guests, especially within this retail-obsessed district. Rooms are stylish and functional, without straying too much in the luxury direction. The first-floor bar is hip and lively, with indoor and outdoor lounge spaces, multiple flat-panel TVs, pool tables, and a cozy fireplace. Ongoing construction (more hotels) within the continually expanding Domain can mean restricted self-parking space, but guests can enjoy free valet. There’s a shallow outdoor pool (more suitable for social hour than laps), and bars and cafés are within walking distance.

Business travelers, conference attendees, and a host of visiting relatives in town for UT graduations and other special events frequent this well-appointed campus-area hotel. Plush standard rooms feature courtyard, city, or UT Tower views, and presidential suites have large balconies with commanding views of the Capitol. There's a heated outdoor pool and 24-hour fitness center, plus on-site dining at the four-star Carillon Grill, a casual sports bar, and a breakfast café. A courtyard art gallery showcases rotating exhibits of artwork by UT faculty and alumni.

This elegant 14-story hotel, near the tangled intersection of I–35 and US 290, earns high marks for value but can feel removed from the city, despite being only 3 miles from downtown. The property has a resort air, with a huge marbled lobby; full-service restaurant (albeit overpriced); indoor-outdoor heated pool; large exercise room, whirlpool, and sauna; and modest spa. Rooms are decorated with classic restraint, which some might find stuffy. Upper floors have views of the downtown skyline. A city bus stop is within walking distance, and a free shuttle services the airport.

One of Austin’s most impressive 1880s Victorian homes provides an excellent base for travelers just west of downtown. It’s a historic and quiet neighborhood, just a short drive from nearby hubs like downtown's Whole Foods and West Sixth Street's bars. Interiors are exceptionally well restored, featuring hardwood floors, bay windows, and high ceilings. The two-room Fitzgerald suite is a guest favorite. Breakfasts are served buffet-style, with a wider range of dishes on weekends. Several local restaurants, shops, and a neighborhood park in Clarksville are within walking distance.

Tucked on the edge of the quaint Hyde Park neighborhood, just north of campus and downtown, the 1928 Commodore Perry mansion has been renovated to Italianate-style perfection and is now home to this Auberge Resorts Collection boutique hotel. Situated on an unassuming sprawl of 10 acres, the historic property achieves an idyllic, private countryside feel despite being minutes from downtown. A stone wall and immaculately landscaped grounds (strewn with the estate's trademark antique roses) separate the austere three-story mansion from its immediately lackluster surroundings. (The Hancock Center across the street, however, is convenient for essential needs like H-E-B or Jo's Coffee.) But the Commodore's insular luxury extends from the courtyard lounges and private terraces to the glamorous Texas-meets-European-classic interiors and exclusive, members-only atmosphere (locals can pay an annual membership fee to access the grounds, outdoor pool, and weekend fitness classes alongside hotel guests).

The local Highland Mall and shopping plaza are 2 miles from this highway-side hotel, continually bustling with conventions and business travelers; downtown is 4–5 miles away. Satisfying, but wholly unremarkable American cuisine is served in the Crossroads Grille, but there are several decent restaurants nearby. Complimentary vans shuttle guests within a 3-mile radius. Rooms are clean and comfortable and an executive floor offers upgraded amenities and lounge access. Another extra is the Sleep Advantage packet, with a calming CD, eye mask, earplugs, and lavender linen spray.

This charming Hilton outpost is tucked just off the snarl of I–35 and transports guests with its surprisingly convincing Spanish colonial aesthetic. Huge, arched windows in the lobby open onto an artfully landscaped and terraced courtyard, with pool and hot tub enclosed by six floors of arched walkways. Rooms are standard Hilton clean, spacious, and decorated with high-quality gold-and-cream fabrics, linens, and carpets. Bathrooms are large, with granite sinks.

One of the best-managed hotels in the city, the all-suites DoubleTree has a staff that anticipates your every need. Business travelers, sports teams, and families frequent the downtown high-rise. The Capitol—visible from many of the rooms, spectacularly so from upper-story balconies—is only a short walk away. Most of the classically decorated suites have one bedroom and a large, separate living area (with fold-out couch); some have two bedrooms, two baths, and three TVs. Each has a small kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. The on-site 15th Street Café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The East Austin Hotel provides another incredible access point to the burgeoning East Sixth Street district, teeming with delicious local restaurants, hip boutiques, and live music venues. Some of the 75 rooms have shared bathrooms for budget travelers, while others provide private, well-appointed rooms overlook the pool. The pool area hosts live music and parties on select weekends. The on-site restaurant, along with the rooftop and poolside bars, offers diverse menus throughout the day.

Location is everything at this central hotel, just south of Lady Bird Lake and the surrounding hike-and-bike trail, four blocks from the Convention Center, and within walking distance of most South Congress restaurants and attractions. Rooms overlook a centralized, interior atrium lobby, which can get noisy on weekends. The standard two-room suites are surprisingly spacious, with two TVs, microwave, and mini-refrigerator. Rates include a breakfast buffet and evening happy hour with cocktails and snacks. There is a small indoor pool and fitness room.

You get what you pay for in superior service and amenities at this elegant hotel on beautifully manicured grounds overlooking Lady Bird Lake. Rooms are average in size, but stylish—beds have goose-down pillows, L’Occitane bath products are provided, and iPhone docking stations are standard. Some rooms have small balconies, and upper-floor units enjoy impressive views, either of the lake or downtown Austin. Extras include a lending library of Texas literature and an outstanding on-site restaurant, Ciclo, which attracts discerning locals in addition to guests. The hotel has an attractive outdoor saltwater pool, indoor pool, and whirlpool, as well as a fitness center and full spa.

Native plants and old-growth trees surround this environmentally friendly lodging that feels more like an apartment complex than a budget hotel. A member of the Green Hotels Association, it's won a number of awards for sustainability. The outdoor pool, surrounded by landscaped greenery, is sanitized with a bleach-free salt generator, solar panels are affixed to the roof, and the breakfast buffet features organic, macrobiotic selections. Suites are roomy one-bedroom apartments with full kitchens; most have fireplaces.

This boutique hotel debuted amidst the rapidly gentrifying strip of East Cesar Chavez, and the neighborhood has continued to flourish around the restored 1920s bungalow, elevating its desirable indie locale. The exterior, with a front porch and hanging basket chairs, is quaintly retro, and interiors are sleek and sophisticated, with mid-century modern style and historic accents, like original long-leaf pine floors. Seven rooms, each slightly different, are split between the original bungalow and the second floor of an adjacent building, accessed by a communal courtyard. Popular shops and restaurants and the hive of East Sixth bars are within walking distance. You can also explore with complimentary bicycles. Full-property group rentals are available.

This 31-story hotel rises over one of downtown's quieter blocks, next to the historic Brush Square Park, but the Hilton is defined by its direct proximity to the Austin Convention Center. Fully equipped with meeting rooms, two restaurants, coffee shop, and business center, this is the conventioneers' hostelry. Standard rooms have two full beds or one king and a leather loveseat. The entire eighth floor is a 16,000-square-foot health club with an outdoor saltwater pool, steam room and sauna, and state-of-the-art gym with views of UT's stadium. The on-site Cannon + Belle restaurant, plus the casual Austin Taco Project, are both excellent eateries.

Convenience is the specialty of the only hotel on the grounds of the Austin–Bergstrom International Airport. The donut-shape building, originally built in the 1960s as a U.S. Air Force base, features a central atrium, with a dome soaring above three balconied floors and limestone pillars surrounding a lounge area and restaurant. Rooms overlook either the atrium or the outdoor pool. A 24-hour business center near the front desk allows guests to print airline boarding passes before checkout. Free shuttles run to and from airport terminals.