30 Best Hotels in Austin, Texas

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On the shores of Lady Bird Lake in between the Congress and South First Street Bridges, this hotel provides great views and convenient downtown access thanks to its prime location. The huge, skylit lobby opens into a central atrium rising 17 stories. Request a high-floor room to ensure views of Lady Bird Lake and Austin’s skyline. Business meetings, wedding parties, and seasonal events at the nearby Auditorium Shores keep this location busy (and loud) year-round.

Always a trusted brand, the JW Marriott is a one-stop shop for modern business travelers. Guests are within walking distance of the convention center, Lady Bird Lake, the hike-and-bike trail, and dozens of downtown's best restaurants and bars. Thousands of square feet of meeting space, three on-site restaurants, and rooftop lounges are ideal for groups who don't need to explore beyond the central business district.

The expansive Domain shopping district is known for its high-end retail and upscale dining, so it’s refreshing that the area has this boutique hotel, inspired by retro motor courts, that's more affordable and approachable than its competitors. Centered on an outdoor pool and courtyard, rooms feature trendy “retro-ranch” interiors, with stylish throwbacks like full-size Smeg refrigerators alongside Lone Star accents such as sliding barn doors to the bathroom. An on-site food truck offers an all-day menu, and the Watering Trough bar and café provides daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, plus live music is hosted regularly.

The Loren at Lady Bird Lake offers one of the most unique vantage points of downtown—with a panoramic view of the city skyline from the lake's less-populated southern shore. It's steps away from the hike-and-bike trail, and many guest rooms directly overlook the Lamar pedestrian bridge, which  always teems with activity. Special occasions are celebrated here, from long anniversary staycations to prom dates taking photos on the stunning rooftop patio at the NIDO restaurant. World-class art, from the hotel's striking architectural design to large-scale sculptures and decor carefully curated throughout the property, elevates the entire experience. The city is right at your fingertips here, and a helpful 24-hour concierge can help arrange any kind of downtown or Lady Bird Lake excursion, from paddle-board rentals to boat tours. 

This 89-room boutique hotel, strategically tucked away on Music Lane, feels a world away from the immediately adjacent South Congress Avenue, thanks to its brilliant architectural and landscape design that highlights intuitive privacy and proximity to nature. Four buildings, interconnected by elevated walkways and courtyards surrounding a lovely outdoor pool and lounge, compose this treehouse-esque complex that boasts views (from certain rooms), plush beds and amenities, and access to the excellent on-site Summer House restaurant.

Your introduction to this bustling, business-oriented hotel is a soaring, granite-and-glass atrium lobby. From atrium-view rooms you can spy on diners and scurrying businesspeople below. Exterior rooms have balconies and city vistas (on upper floors). The decor, simple but modern, neither inspires nor offends. The rooftop pool offers beautiful downtown views but fills up fast on weekends. The central downtown location can mean loud Sixth Street overflow for lower-level rooms. At breakfast, the eggs are cage-free and the bagels are shipped in from New York. Service is professional, if on the cool side.

Families, group travelers, golf aficionados, and business professionals flock to this resort just a short drive west of Austin to disconnect and unwind on 4,000 pristine acres of rolling Hill Country terrain. Among the top resort amenities are four championship golf courses, two pools, 11 tennis courts, a full spa with salon services, and a huge fitness center. Omni acquired the property in recent years, with ongoing plans to update the outdated guestrooms and interiors. Standard rooms are spacious, with one king- or two queen-size beds, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. Many have panoramic Hill Country views.

The first Autograph Collection property in Austin, the Otis features clean, chic, and modern rooms and on-site dining options that are unmatched for the west campus area. The Acre 41 restaurant is a contemporary steakhouse, with additional menus for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, while the rooftop Otopia bar offers raw-bar selections, and a walk-up window at the Burger Bar rounds out your on-the-go needs. All guest rooms have vinyl record players, and most have views of downtown or UT campus.

A charming bastion of historic hospitality sits just off UT campus, amid the otherwise lackluster surroundings of student apartments and frat houses. The B&B operates two guesthouses on neighboring lots, but we recommend the original two-story Victorian house with wraparound porches. All rooms, furnished with antiques and vintage elements, have the same amenities and private bathrooms; most with tubs. Breakfasts, served either buffet-style or made-to-order, are delicious and the staff doubles as a knowledge resource for restaurant recommendations or directions to nearby attractions, like Pease Park or the Capitol. Downtown is a short drive away.

Locally known as the “Stephen F.,” this 1924 hotel relies on its landmark location on Congress Avenue, next door to the equally historic Paramount Theatre, to maintain its downtown appeal. But the "four star" standards of its glory days have reportedly been left in the past. Rooms are bland and in strong need of updating. It's still convenient for downtown theatergoers, and the hotel bar's popular terrace overlooks Congress Avenue and the Capitol.

This Westin location in the Domain shopping district offers the dependability of an established brand with a slightly more sophisticated sheen. The lobby and main floor lounges are light-filled and modern and usually bustling with business travelers and happy-hour crowds of Domain shoppers, who frequent the gourmet on-site restaurant, Urban, which is extremely satisfying, albeit pricey. Rooms and suites are spacious, with comfy beds complete with pillowtop mattresses and down pillows.