3 Best Hotels in North Austin, Austin

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.

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.

Set back from the roar of I–35, this handsome five-floor hotel (formerly a Hyatt Hotel) is a step up from your usual off-ramp inn. The lobby has a convenient 24/7 café menu and grab-and-go market, serving Starbucks drinks, sandwiches, and beer and wine most of the day. Hot breakfasts are complimentary, with updated items like garden vegetable and egg-white skillet sandwiches. Spacious rooms have contemporary accents like screens separating the lounge area from the bedroom; all have pull-out sofas. The 42-inch flat-screen TVs have ports for laptops and swivel to allow for viewing in different rooms. Decent restaurants are nearby, but most of the city’s best spots are a drive away.