4 Best Hotels in Central Austin and the University of Texas, Austin

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.

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.

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.