The 11 best hotels in Austin for the perfect stay in the Texas capital

For big sports games and festivals, Fairmont Austin is the place to be (the hotel is often an official sponsor for events, which means there’s usually an activation to experience without leaving the property). The 37-story hotel is home to Garrison, a restaurant that's famous for steak, while a rooftop lounge, Rules & Regs, hosts legendary drag brunches during Pride. Fairmont Spa Austin is one of downtown's largest, making it a stellar choice for a post-celebration detox with nine treatment rooms, solariums, a saline soaking pool, eucalyptus steam grottos, and dry heat saunas.

Mood? Boujie excellence.
Location perks? Super close to the Austin Convention Center and with surrounding lake views.
Budget range? Decently priced.

The stunning Hotel Van Zandt is located in the heart of Rainey Street – formerly a strip of sleepy bungalows that morphed into the city’s premier bar-hopping district. With one of the most impressive lobbies around (the light fixtures alone, made from trombone bells, are a sight to behold), it’s also home to a popular restaurant and bar, Geraldine's, which offers incredible views of Lady Bird Lake. It’s an undeniably hip place to be seen, but an even hipper place to stay; Van Zandt's 319 rooms’ dark woods and patinated bronze fixtures are a touch swanky, and soaking tubs overlooking the cityscape take it over the top.

Mood? Industrial chic. 
Location perks? In the heart of the Rainey Street Historic District. 
Budget range? A great deal.

A mixture of Texas and Tuscany vibes, Hotel Viata will have you thinking you're on holiday abroad, miles away from Austin. Just a few minutes from downtown, the hotel is perfect for escaping the bustle of the town and treating yourself to some R&R using the onsite spa and then feasting on Italian food at the hotel's restaurant. Choose to stay in comfortable rooms with everything you'll need for your trip, or treat yourself to one of the suites they have on offer, with balconies and views to die for. 

Mood? Celebrity living.
Location perks? Ideal for local hiking and a round of golf.
Budget range? Very well priced.

For a step back in time, look no further than The Driskill. Built in 1886, the influence of its original developer (a cattle baron, naturally) isn’t lost in the current interiors, replete with hide-upholstered couches and longhorn busts that hang in the bar. You may have heard ghost stories about this place, but fear not: rooms exude an old-school southern elegance that’s anything but spooky (think vintage crown molding, calming desert gold, tan linens, and pearly white accents). The hotel’s afternoon tea experience is often sold out months in advance, so be sure to book ahead for the fanciest finger sandwiches downtown.

Mood? Grand on grand.
Location perks? Super central.
Budget range? A great price.

This 1960s jazz club turned hotshot boutique hotel is one of Downtown’s greatest stays for a number of reasons. The location by Lady Bird Lake (literally, steps to) makes it one of the most scenic hotels, not least if you have a lakeside room or suite. Even better, it’s next to Congress Avenue Bridge so you can see the bats fly without waiting out in the heat. Its historic heritage can be felt throughout, making it a particular romantic stay with modern members’ house touches. Think crescent sofas, bulb chandeliers, and bathrooms with Cowshed amenities. And finally, it’s got some of the most exciting amenities along the river, including Veracruz tacos, Arlo Grey (Kristen Kish’s beautiful restaurant), and P6 (an open-air rooftop bar perfect for sunsets). 

Mood? Miami vibes.
Location perks? In the heart of Austin.
Budget range? On the pricier side. 

This East Austin hotel has got its style credentials firmly in check. If you prefer to stay somewhere with a bit of a boutique feel, then this one might well appeal to you. The rooms are a blend of minimalistic contemporary with some more artsy flourishes, such as heavily patterned wallpaper on feature walls and some idiosyncratic art. Get your daily dose of wellbeing by sucking down a smoothie at Natuur, their fresh living café before happily undoing it all with an evening spent in the rooftop Gin Bar, a monument to all things heady and botanical.

Mood? Young, fun and anything but fusty.
Location perks? Just 2kms between you and Festival Beach.
Budget range? Variable with some bargains to be found.

This new addition to South Congress is a Texas-sized, boutique-accented hotel that feels more home away from home than anywhere else in town. The fact that it only features suites (80 to be exact) says it all—you’ll have plenty of space within its Patrice Rios-designed interiors. Each accommodation has all the residential comforts you and your crew could want, like kitchens, dining spaces, living rooms, and even washers and dryers in select units. The hotel perks are plentiful, including a breezy 5,000 square feet hangout that’s peppered with oak trees and complete with a heated outdoor swimming pool. Head to the on-site coffee and cocktail bar Simona’s, where cool cats and tech wizards "WFH" on the lower-key end of SoCo.

Mood? Home from home.
Location perks? Super close to the airport and the Capitol Building.
Budget range? Mid-range.

When Heywood Hotel opened in 2012, Cesar Chavez St. was beginning its transformation into one of the city’s most happening neighborhoods. Now that it’s a hotbed of retail and upscale restaurants, Heywood serves as a meeting point between the past and present—the 1925 bungalow, outfitted with seven suites, are marked by timeless interior touches like longleaf pine floors and cathedral ceilings that mingle with modern, locally-made furnishings (think handcrafted bed-frames and throw pillows designed by Austin artists). The famed taco truck, Veracruz All Natural, is just down the street—make a pitstop on one of Heywood’s complimentary bicycles.

Mood? Eclectic design. 
Location perks? A 6-minute drive from the Texas Capitol.
Budget range? Very affordable. 

Austin Proper channels Cali vibes straight into downtown’s Second Street District with an on-point ground floor patio restaurant (The Peacock) and an equally turned up rooftop lounge (La Piscina). This sleek hotel has 244 rooms and suites detailed by interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Though compact, they make the most of their limited downtown space; interiors feature distressed hardwoods, floor-to-ceiling windows, and mirrored bathrooms. You’re reminded of your fashionable choice each time you lather up with Aesop amenities, slip on a custom robe (a collab from Wearstler and Parachute Home), or simply strut down the stunning lobby runway. Look out for new-age wellness events, DJ nights, and holiday dinners.

Mood? Gorgeous decor.
Location perks? Just over 500m from Shoal Beach. Bliss.
Budget range? Spenny.

There are so many Hilton-branded hotels in Austin, that you have to be really careful not to get it wrong. This one on W 17th Street is by far the best. Opened in 2021, it’s more boutique than you’d expect from an inn. Rooms are chic and cleverly designed in dark woods and noir frames, with particularly close attention to lighting whether sensory or beverage overhead. Behind a mirrored barn door, a bathroom with copious amounts of counter and shelf space makes laying out your toiletries a neat possibility. They’ll join Neutrogena amenities. Smart TV, fridge, Keurig and a microwave are also included (you can heat up meals from their on-site mini grocery store). That’s if you have not already opted to dine at Analog Bar, or had a delicious breakfast buffet on floor two—starting at just $10. The downtown slash UT location means the hotel is perfectly situated not only to explore the capitol and Moody Center, but also for viewing them from the 17th-floor Apex Rooftop.

Mood? Uber modern.
Location perks? Close to the beach and the city center.
Budget range? Super cheap.

Austin’s ZaZa is a theatrical boutique in the Warehouse District. There are 159 guestrooms, but the most sought-after bookings are certainly one of the hotel’s Magnificient Seven Suites; set on an exclusive floor, each suite is individually designed and inspired by different themes like Hill Country, the Seaside, and the Orient Express. Even if you aren’t staying in the suites, the experience oozes with art and design while the amenities take it up a notch. Head to the restaurant and bar, Group Therapy, where Texas-sized pours can be enjoyed overlooking Republic Square, or take a seat at Perfect Strangers for breakfast and coffee service—then sit back and relax at the ground-floor ZaSpa.

Mood? Boutique chic.
Location perks? Close to Shoal Beach and Downtown Austin.
Budget range? Mid-range to higher end.