Although it’s mostly known for its laid-back style, Austin has much to offer by way of luxury and comfort. If you are willing to spend some extra cash during your visit, a stay at one of the city’s most exclusive hotels is always an option.
With its industrial design, the Van Zandt is the most Austin-centric luxury hotel in the city. The hotel stands just off Rainey Street, which is lined with bars and live music venues. The Van Zandt’s key offerings include a pool, which sits among the city’s skyline, and on-site restaurant Geraldine’s.
The Driskill is Austin’s oldest operating hotel and one of its most indulgent. Located right in the heart of the city along Sixth Street, the towering, early-20th-century architecture stands out beautifully. The Driskill has a variety of room options, but all provide elegant stays. The bakery, which serves a range of first-class pastries, may be one of the best-kept secrets of Sixth Street. Head to the backroom for the hotel bar and restaurant, where you can catch local musicians perform stripped-down sets every night.
Hotel Ella is housed in one of the city’s most historic properties. Guests are free to enjoy this old mansion at their leisure – relaxing on the second-story wraparound porch or dining on bistro-style food at Goodall’s Kitchen. The hotel also makes a pretty good cocktail at its on-site lounge, the Parlor Bar.
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The InterContinental Stephen F Austin is known across the city as Austin’s first high-rise hotel. Constructed in 1924 with an Art Deco style and early-20th-century interior design, the hotel is on Congress Avenue, a very short walk away from the Texas State Capitol. On-site amenities include a range of hotel rooms, a pool reminiscent of a Turkish bathhouse and a fancy ground-floor restaurant in the Roaring Fork.
Want to be in the center of the city but not in the craziness of it all? The Four Season Hotel, located at the south end of Downtown Austin, is the perfect location. The hotel sits between the bustling downtown and the serene Lady Bird Lake, which can be seen from any of the south-facing rooms. The main amenity, besides regular Four Seasons luxury, is the backyard, complete with hammocks and lounge chairs that look out onto the lake. Everything downtown is within walking distance, including the South Congress Bridge – the perfect place to watch the sunset.
The JW Marriott Austin’s focal offering is its location, as it sits in the center of downtown and within walking distance of everything the city has to offer. The hike-and-bike trail along Lady Bird Lake is just south, while the historic Texas State Capitol is about a 10-minute walk north. The hotel also offers some of the best Italian food in the city at its on-site restaurant Osteria Pronto.
When the Fairmont Austin opened in 2018, it was a big deal. This was partly due to its size – its 1,408 rooms made it the city’s largest hotel – but also because Fairmont group is renowned for its classy, luxurious accommodations. The towering hotel sits at the southern tip of the Red River Cultural District, where most of the city’s live music venues are located. As expected, the Fairmont offers guests a lavish stay, with its bar serving Cristal champagne by the glass.
The W Austin is everything you expect from a W hotel: luxurious and located right in the middle of the city. The tower’s ground floor is connected to The Moody Theater, where the world-famous music TV and radio show Austin City Limits is recorded. The pool deck hosts some of the city’s best parties and the ground floor puts you right on the Second Street District, where the Austin’s newest and chicest shops and restaurants are located.
