The Best Hotels to Book in Downtown Austin
With world-famous music venues, buzzing bars and some of the best restaurant concepts in the country, downtown Austin is the center of the city’s vibrant nightlife. It’s also home to landmarks such as the iconic Texas State Capitol. Stay close to all of the city charms at the best hotels in downtown Austin, bookable on Culture Trip.
1. Four Seasons Hotel Austin, for lakeside elegance
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2. The Cat Noir Hotel Austin, for cool cat lovers
Boutique Hotel
Ever stayed at a hotel because of a cat? Well, it’s the owner Shelly’s attention that appeals to guests of the Cat Noir, which refers to the hotel cat Louie. One of the best places to stay in downtown Austin, this three-floor boutique hotel has an inviting rooftop patio for soaking up the Texan sun. While all 14 rooms feature ink-blue feature walls and modern art, it’s the Signature room with a Juliet balcony that offers East Austin views. Don’t miss Uncle Nicky’s crispy piadina – every bite as authentic as in Italy.
3. Carpenter Hotel Austin, for open-air relaxation
Boutique Hotel
Formerly the Local Union 1266 site near Zilker Park’s green expanses, this Austin hotel feels secluded amid trees and plants in vintage pots. The brains behind this open-air hotel featuring terracotta masonry have incorporated Austin’s stay-weird mentality – from the pool open to guests and outsiders to the lobby’s industrial design and vintage stadium speakers. Oh, and the restaurant honors the German heritage with crispy chicken schnitzel on the menu. Cool and quirky rooms have concrete floors and ceilings, colorfully striped textiles and brick tile-balustraded balconies. Beds are heaven.
5. Fairmont Austin, for luxury landmark living
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The city’s largest hotel towers over the east corner of downtown at the southern tip of Austin’s Red River Cultural District. Blue accents in rooms and suites nod to the Texan sky with views over the State Capitol and Lady Bird Lake. Foodies and fun-seekers will love the hotel’s location, a short walk from the best food trucks, nightlife and outdoor experiences the city has to offer. After a day pounding the pavements sightseeing, head to the Fairmont’s bar for an old fashioned cocktail, or make your way toward the food court with its array of dining options.
6. The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel, for historic hospitality
Independent Hotel, Hotel
Built in 1924, this was the city’s first high-rise hotel on historic Congress Avenue. With an Art Deco facade and a lavish early 20th-century interior, you’ll sleep well in a variety of rooms and suites that are homey and handsome with comfy chairs to sink into and warm feature walls. Escape the Texan heat in the indoor pool that resembles a Turkish bathhouse before sampling prime cuts at the high-end Roaring Fork restaurant. Now you can take in a play at the historic Paramount Theatre or enjoy the short walk to the Texas State Capitol.
7. Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt, for a hip Austin hangout
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
Set on the edge of the lively Rainey Street Historic District, the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt encourages you to cut loose from the moment you check in with a local beer. If you get a taste for the nectar, the bar offers a curated collection of craft beers, and Austin musicians always occupy the stage. But the Kimpton also takes care of your health, with yoga mats placed in your dark blue and bronze room and a rooftop pool with underwater speakers surrounding you with special playlists. Whenever hunger comes, remember room service from the hotel’s classy restaurant, Geraldine’s, is available 24 hours a day.
8. The LINE Austin, for modernist mid-century vibes
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With a beautiful pool deck for handcrafted cocktails, a history filled with music, a view of Lady Bird Lake that is second to none, a restaurant led by a Top Chef winner and a pets-stay-free policy, the LINE Austin flaunts the essence of the city in a classy way. Once a jazz club that broadcast its shows live on local radio in the 1960s, now you can stay in rooms lined with artwork from local artists in arguably the best area of downtown. With so much to admire, from the dangling plants to the local landscape-inspired furniture, don’t forget to take a brief walk south to the famed South Congress Bridge or exit down into the city’s popular hike-and-bike trail for a trip around the lake.
9. The Driskill, for traditional Austin elegance
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10. W Austin, for hip and urban relaxation
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Philipp Meier contributed additional reporting to this article.
Traveling with the kids? Discover our guide to the best family-friendly hotels in Austin, or if you’re looking for budget-friendly hotels in Downtown Austin, check out our pick of the best cheap hotels in Downtown Austin, Texas, now bookable via Culture Trip.
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