The Most Luxurious Hotels to Book in Texas

Vacation in style at one of the most luxurious hotels in Texas like the Post Oak Hotel in Houston
Vacation in style at one of the most luxurious hotels in Texas like the Post Oak Hotel in Houston | Courtesy of the Post Oak Hotel / Booking.com
Sarah Karney

If you want to go big during your next trip to the Lone Star State, or are just looking for an indulgent staycation, check in at one of these top luxury hotels in Texas – bookable with Culture Trip – that all offer much more than room and board.

1. Hotel Vin, for terrific on-site dining in Dallas

Chain Hotel

Stylish restaurant with curved wood and leather banquettes, decorative ceilings and visible wine cellar at Hotel Vin, Dallas
Courtesy of Hotel Vin / Booking.com

In a suburban Dallas region more known for massive malls and conference hotels, Hotel Vin’s boutique sensibilities present a welcome change from the cookie-cutter usual. Sitting on Main Street in historic Grapevine – just off the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport’s northwest corner – the Vin’s wine-themed style is centrally situated for easy access to everything DFW-Metroplex related. Custom-designed furnishings dabble between mid-century modern and Texas flair in the 120 rooms and suites, while Euro-Mediterranean-centric dishes like ricotta ravioli with nduja or halibut with smoked trout roe and pistachio gremolata are certainly more palette-tempting than the Rainforest Café at Grapevine Mills. Sleep differently.

2. The Lancaster Hotel, for a stay in a characterful historical building in Houston

Hotel

Upscale lounge with designer furnishings, soft lighting and original artworks at the Lancaster Hotel in Houston, Texas
Courtesy of the Lancaster Hotel / Booking.com

This historical 1920s-era boutique hotel in the heart of Houston’s Theater District melds contemporary flourishes with 100 years of history. From the street, its classically derived architectural style, complete with Italian Renaissance detailing, stands as a neighborhood icon; inside, an art collection of over 200 works by noted contemporary Texas artists and rooms awash in light and soothing earth tones with archetypal touches like Carrara marble, Frette bedding and towels and Bulgari bath amenities ensure elegance and sophistication. Together, it feels at once like a living museum and a modern Texas hotel – a textbook twosome in the hospitality game.

3. Mokara Hotel & Spa, for proximity to the River Walk in San Antonio

Resort, Hotel

Luxury room with metal four-poster bed and arched windows revealing balcony at Mokara Hotel and Spa, San Antonio
Courtesy of Mokara Hotel and Spa / Booking.com
This relaxing retreat sits along San Antonio’s charming River Walk – the people-watching alone from its tranquil riverside terrace is worth the price of admission – and offers a matchless level of luxury in the Alamo City. Hand-forged iron four-poster beds and oversized soaking tubs are highlights among the 99 rooms, and both the rooftop pool with city views and the exclusive in-house spa are idyllic escapes from the tourist bustle around the environs of the hotel. Locally sourced seafood served in a romantic riverside setting at Ostra is another reason discerning travelers are lured in here.

5. Four Seasons Hotel Austin, for proximity to great dining and nightlife in Austin

Hotel

View of the river and city from the Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Austin / Booking.com
Overlooking South Central Austin’s idyllic Lady Bird Lake (aka Town Lake), this Texas-inspired Four Seasons subscribes to the luxury hotel chain’s more modern motif, with clean-lined, mid-century-modern-esque furnishings with lake or city views. It’s well-positioned for the best of Austin: laid-back Rainey Street and 2nd Street’s upscale bars and restaurants are barely a horseshoe’s toss away; the funky boutiques of South Congress are a mile and some change south of the hotel. As one does in Austin, even the spa keeps things local – Texas-grown sage and local river stones are called on in some signature treatments.

6. South Congress Hotel, for excellent dining in Austin

Hotel

Hip outdoor pool area with blue-cushioned lounge chairs and stylish round sun shades at South Congress Hotel, Austin
Courtesy of South Congress Hotel / Expedia.com
South Congress Hotel, located in one of the trendiest spots in Austin, fits the location perfectly with its cleanly designed guest rooms and suites, restaurants, pool and even a boutique that offers you your own personal shopper. Stop by the hotel even if you’re not planning to stay. All three restaurants and the lobby bar offer an excellent dining experience, especially Central Standard, an upscale American spot, with more than 100 wine labels to choose from.

7. Hotel Emma, for a stay in a former brewery in San Antonio

Hotel

Lobby area of repurposed former brewery with high ceilings and exposed infrastructure at Hotel Emma, San Antonio
Courtesy of Hotel Emma / Expedia
Hotel Emma feels like home, but only if you are hugely wealthy, with great taste to boot. There is great attention to detail, from the industrial, repurposed chandeliers to the luxurious Persian rugs, leather couches and throw blankets. The building was originally a brewery in 1894 and was once the tallest building in San Antonio; the lofty ceilings and exposed infrastructure invite cathedral comparisons. The suites combine Southwestern, vintage and other design styles, and some come with their own fireplace, wet bar and terrace.

8. The Houstonian, for a superb spa in Houston

Hotel

Indoor pool area with lounge chairs and floor-to-ceiling window at Trellis Spa at the Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa
Courtesy of he Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa / Expedia
The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa is a woodland retreat unlike anything else in Houston. The property feels like “old money,” with dark wood paneling and stone walls, ostentatious fireplaces and dark hues throughout, but you come here because of the traditional luxury it provides. It has a variety of restaurants to suit different occasions and tastes, an expansive fitness class schedule and, most notably, a 17,000sqft (1,580sqm) spa with 20 treatment rooms and a relaxation pool.

9. The St. Anthony Hotel, for rubbing shoulders with A-listers in San Antonio

Hotel

Sumptuous lobby with columns, antique piano, ornate chandeliers and green carpeting at St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio
Courtesy of St. Anthony Hotel / Expedia
The St. Anthony Hotel sits in the heart of San Antonio and attracts high-profile guests, including royalty and A-list celebrities. It offers classy, elegant decor, a heated rooftop pool with private cabanas, a full-service concierge, six dining venues and enormous crystal chandeliers throughout the space. It’s an especially impressive choice if you’re looking to celebrate an important event, and comes complete with city views from the open-air Sky Terrace.

10. The Joule Hotel, for on-site shopping in Dallas

Hotel

Grand neo-Gothic and modern exterior of the Joule hotel in Dallas, Texas
Courtesy of the Joule / Expedia
The Joule Hotel is a neo-Gothic, art-filled hotel in downtown Dallas, complete with 161 rooms and suites designed with both comfort and style in mind. You can also check out one of the four penthouses to take your experience to the next level. There is a variety of food and drink offerings inside, such as the subterranean Midnight Rambler craft cocktail bar or Americano, a colorful Italian bistro, influenced by mid-century Italian films. You really don’t need to leave at all while you’re here – there are even three unique boutiques inside, and the bookshop will ship your purchases home for you.

Kevin Raub contributed additional reporting to this article.
Fancy discovering more stylish hotels? Check out our guide to the most beautiful boutique hotels to book in Texas, bookable with Culture Trip.

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