24 Best Hotels in Austin, Texas

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 campus-area hotel. Plush standard rooms feature courtyard, city, or UT Tower views, plus added comforts like flatscreen TVs and pillow-top mattresses. Presidential suites have large balconies with commanding views of the Capitol. There is a heated outdoor pool and 24-hour fitness center, but guests can purchase $10 daily passes to access several UT recreational facilities (all within walking distance), like Gregory Gym and the Texas Swimming Center. On-site dining includes the four-star Carillon Grill, plus a casual sports bar and breakfast café. A courtyard art gallery showcases rotating exhibits of artwork by UT faculty and alumni.

What used to be a fading 1938 motor court is now a beloved, quintessentially Austin motel that sits pretty in the heart of South Congress’s famed stretch of trendy restaurants, clubs, and shops. It's a favorite with hipsters and artsy folk, who hang by the classic, kidney-shape pool. 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.

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 in the heart of Clarksville, just west of downtown. It’s a historic and quiet neighborhood, just a short drive from nearby hubs like the Whole Foods headquarters and West Sixth Street 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 restaurants, shops, and a neighborhood park are within walking distance.

Tucked away just south of downtown and Lady Bird Lake, this addition to the local Bunkhouse Hospitality group comes with a hip look that attracts some of the city's chicest travelers. Each room boasts a small terrace, some overlooking the outdoor pool and lounge area where live music and special events are hosted every week. Carpenter's Hall, the full-service café, offers everything from espresso, kolaches, and breakfast tacos on-the-go to a great brunch, lunch, dinner, and cocktail menu. 

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.

More hotels are slowly arriving in the otherwise rapidly developing hub of east Austin, and a highlight is the East Austin Hotel, which provides unbeatable access to the East Sixth Street District, which is swarming with delicious local restaurants, hip boutiques, and live music venues. Some of the 75 rooms overlook the cute courtyard pool, and the three on-site dining options, rooftop bar, and poolside bar have various menus available throughout the day.  

This 31-story hotel rises over one of downtown's quieter blocks, next to small Brush Square Park (home to the O. Henry House), but the Hilton is defined by its proximity to the Austin Convention Center. Only two blocks away, 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 is an excellent option for dinner or brunch. 

Convenience is the specialty of the only hotel on the grounds of Austin–Bergstrom International Airport. The doughnut-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. 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 and an Airport Flyer bus services downtown.

Business and some short-term leisure travelers patronize this five-story hotel in suburban, shopaholic northwest Austin. Set just off I–35’s access road, the hotel is surprisingly quiet, with ample parking. Rooms are clean and contemporary and have mini-refrigerators, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Hearty breakfasts, with made-to-order omelets, are served in the lobby lounge and on the outdoor patio. A full bar is popular most nights, and dinner service draws mixed reviews. The Domain shopping center (featuring fabulous dining options) is a short drive away.

This uber-hip, bungalow-style boutique hotel, located in the midst of the South Congress Avenue action, 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 pretty, and the courtyard lounge serves bar snacks, beer, wine, and select cocktails, like their signature champassions (champagne and passionfruit juice with raspberries). Jo's Coffee occupies the same lot. and several first-rate eateries are a short stroll away.

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. The huge, skylit lobby opens into a central atrium rising 17 stories. Rooms have 32-inch flat-screen TVs and iPhone docking stations. 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 the Hyatt hopping 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 local restaurants and bars. And thousands of square feet of meeting space, on-site restaurants, and rooftop lounges are ideal for groups who don't need to explore beyond the central business district.  

Popular with groups, from bachelorette parties to corporate weekenders, this Rainey Street hot spot has become a downtown mainstay since opening in 2015. An early newcomer in the Austin hotel boom, the massive luxury operation offers live music–inspired decor, on-site entertainment, and, of course, close proximity to downtown's best bars and venues. Bike rentals are available, and a 24-hour concierge provides expert recommendations for navigating around the city. Weekend crowds are unavoidable, and advance reservations are imperative during annual events like SXSW.

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.

The enormous, skylighted lobby and atrium of this hotel—connected to the Arboretum shopping center—is a cavernous gathering place, befit for the conventioneer clientele. Rooms are modern, with most opening onto the atrium. Exterior-facing rooms on upper floors are quieter, with views of the surrounding 95-acre parkland and downtown in the distance. A patio bar, the Knotty Deck, features bites like brisket-stuffed jalapeños, local beers, and signature cocktails like lavender lemon drops. You can’t get any closer to the Arboretum’s flagship and specialty shops—and the Domain is a short drive away.

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.

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. The lobby is highlighted by vaulted ceilings, decorative columns, and chandeliers. 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. The semi-casual 1886 Café & Bakery is worth a visit as is the elegant bar, which attracts business travelers and savvy downtown revelers with its frequent live piano music. Some floors are reportedly haunted.

Renovated from its rundown mid-century status into a newly reinstated player in downtown Austin's burgeoning hotel scene, the LINE's major appeal is its prime location overlooking Lady Bird Lake. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame beautiful views of the lake (or surrounding cityscape) and the on-site restaurant, Arlo Grey (led by Top Chef 10 winner Kristen Kish), and infinity pool are also stunningly scenic. The location epitomizes the convenience of Austin's central business district, but the atmosphere skews more toward partiers and live music lovers and away from buttoned-up corporate appeal.

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 area. The Acre 41 restaurant has a tasty menu of Spanish tapas and a lovely cocktail list, the rooftop Otopia bar also offers raw-bar selections, and a walk-up burger window rounds out your on-the-go needs. 

Locally known as the “Stephen F.,” this 1924 hotel has modernized guest rooms while still retaining the landmark’s historic charms. The location can’t be beat: smack in the middle of Congress Avenue, next door to the Paramount Theater, one block from Sixth Street and four blocks from the Capitol. Rooms, underscored by rich reds and hardwoods, feature understated Texas homages, like Lone Star emblems and cowskin throw pillows—all in all a bit bland apart from the stately bathrooms with marble vanities. Unwind on the hotel bar’s popular terrace, overlooking Congress Avenue and the Capitol. Roaring Fork, the in-house restaurant, specializes in wood-fired steaks and upscale American fare.