The best luxury hotels in Austin

With its unique blend of Cali cool, Texas charm, and Manhattan swank, Austin Proper has all the ingredients for a chic downtown stay. You’ll find it sitting tall and pretty in the Second Street District, with an always-happening ground-floor patio restaurant called The Peacock, and an equally turned-up poolside rooftop lounge, La Piscina. All 244 rooms and suites (as well as the social spaces) are outfitted by renowned designer Kelly Wearstler, who beautifully layers textures and patterns in earthy tones and adorns vintage furnishings with local art, Round Top antiques, and sumptuous amenities such as Wearstler x Parachute Home custom robes. They’re perfectly lit too, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows which take advantage of Austin’s almost year-round sunshine.

The mood? Effortlessly cool. 

Location perks? You're right next to Shoal Beach, which is the perfect excuse to grab one of the hotel's free bikes.

Budget range? A luxurious two-night stay.

Time Out tip: For the ultimate in Texan pampering, try Verbena Spa’s Tequila: The Proper Way, a detoxifying massage and meditation using the healing oils of agave and tequila. 

You'll find this luxury bad boy tucked away on the banks of Lady Bird Lake, and surrounded by bike trails, meaning you'll never be short of an adventure. As for the 294 rooms and suites, they're your wingman for a good night's sleep. Were talking Snooz white noise machines, accompanied by gorgeous views out onto the lake or facing the city, depending on the room. To make your stay as smooth as butter, you'll also have access to an in-house car service and twice-daily housekeeping, so you can kick back and enjoy. 

The mood? Modern and clean. 

Location perks? Let's see, there's a heated saltwater pool, spa, lawn hammocks, and chimineas with complimentary winter s’mores kits to name a few. 

Budget range? Certainly not shy on price.

Time Out tip: The hotel restaurant, Ciclo, is a Modern Texan kitchen infused with Latin flavors. It is an excellent choice all day, but be sure to book ahead for weekend brunch, widely known as the best brunch in Austin.

As the official sponsor of many major sports games and festivals, Fairmont Austin is the place to be if you are in town for the biggies. Go down their super luxe route by booking one of the Fairmont Gold guest rooms and suites. This is a hotel within a hotel situation here, as they’re all on four private floors, with separate concierge, check-in desk and upgraded room amenities, and access to special experiences. The best part? Y’all get access to the Gold Lounge, which is as glam as it sounds. The VIP boudoir is where golden guests mingle beneath fine art and plush furnishings, skyline views like an observatory, and tuck into complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, evening canapés, and late-night desserts. There’s also a beverage center and honor bar. Warning: you may not want to leave.

The mood? There's luxury and then there's Fairmont. 

Location perks? Take advantage of the wide variety of on-site dining options with in-room dining. 

Budget range? Affordable starting prices. 

How about something a little more intimate and secluded like the Lake Austin Spa Resort that only has 40 rooms to its name? It sits on the shores of Lake Austin and is just a 30-minute drive from downtown, making it the perfect excuse for a weekend pick-me-up out in nature. Re-center with Tai Chi, meditation, yoga, cooking demos, and sundown wine cruises. Or if you prefer, you could skip straight to the hotel's world-class spa. 

The mood? Serene lake adventure. 

Location perks? The resort has also thrown speakers and artists in the mix for those in need of inspiration and good vibes. 

Budget range? In the mid-high range. 

The acclaimed Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt is located in the heart of Rainey Street, formerly a strip of sleep bungalows that has morphed into the city’s premiere bar-hopping district. With one of the most impressive lobbies in town (the light fixtures made from trombone bells are truly stunning), a restaurant with views of Lady Bird Lake, and live music throughout the week, it’s an undeniably hip place to be seen, but an even hipper place to stay. If you’re looking to mingle, make a beeline for the complimentary social hour every day between 5 and 6, or join the vinyl party at Geraldine’s Record Society every Sunday night. Rooms are decked with dark woods, patinated bronze fixtures add intrigue, and soaker tubs overlooking the cityscape make your stay that much more special.

The mood? Cozy and sleek. 

Location perks? The in-room massage is where it's at.
 
Budget range? Moderately priced. 

The JW is Austin’s most business-friendly hotel, with entire floors of meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art AV capabilities (and an all-important Starbucks via the lobby), but still plenty of amenities for unwinding, like a rooftop pool adorned with an outline of Texas on the bottom, and spa. Of the 1,012 elegant rooms, choose Executive if you want the best of CEO luxe. Here you’ll gain access to their exclusive Executive Lounge which includes all your business essentials, nooks to catch up in, and of course delicious nibbles that include breakfast, snacks, hors d’oeuvres and an evening honor bar.

The mood? Cozy and slick.

Location perks? Generously-sized rooms and Italian Steakhouse? God-tier. 

Budget range? An affordable weekend well spent.

Austin’s status as the festival capital of the world has allowed boutique lodgings to flourish, but the Driskill was around long before the boom of badge holders. The rooms exude old-school Texas elegance; think vintage crown molding, calming desert gold and tan linens, and pearly white accents. The Pampered Pet program makes this one of the most dog-friendly hotels in town unless your canine is particularly sensitive to the spirit world—legend has it that the halls are haunted by two ghostly brides who took their lives on their wedding nights 20 years apart, but in the same room.

The mood? Old-world, lavish. 

Location perks? Enjoy live music performed down at the bar every night of the week. P.S. We hear some of the artists have a Grammy under their belt. 

Budget range? Cheap and cheerful. 

W Austine lives just opposite the Moody Theatre (home of ACL Live) and has a bit of a reputation on its shoulders for being the place to party. Evenings spent at the Living Room Bar and the rooftop pool are in the legendary category. Poolside DJ sets only skim the surface of what you can expect during your stay. The rooms are just as stunning with their twiggy floor lamps, suede sofas, and ultra-high-end sound systems are no joke. When it's time to mellow out all those revelrous vibes, you've got the full-service spa and gourmet farm-to-table dining at TRACE to look forward to.

The mood? Modern chic. 
Location perks? Enjoy the South Congress shopping district and the Frank Erwin Centre just five minutes away.  
Budget range? Decent for a couple of nights. 

Brought to you by the hospitality group behind downtown Mexican go-to La Condesa and Thai favorite Sway, South Congress Hotel consists of 83 rooms of understated luxury, but rest assured that a stay at this South Austin hipster hangout offers much more than just slumber. Between the restaurants (light kale salads at Café No Sé, and pricey omakase from Otoko), coffee shop (Mañana), lobby bar with live DJs, and retail from vintage cycling experts Revival Cycles, it’s worth blocking off a weekend just to explore the grounds. Doggo are welcome too at no extra charge, so there's no need to stress over finding a sitter.  

The mood? Boho minimalist. 

Location perks? The Lobby bar is the meeting place for locals and visitors to mingle and enjoy, as is the rooftop pool.
 
Budget range? Not too shabby for a few nights.  

Meet Austin's smorgasbord version of Italy. Situated in Texas Hill Country, Hotel Viata is the perfect destination for a little slice of weekend luxury. The secluded Villa has 194 vintage Tuscan-style rooms and suites with balconies overlooking the pool, an award-winning Italian restaurant, a bar featuring live jazz music, and more. Adorned with beautiful gardens and courtyards, along with a pool bar for lounging and enjoying cocktails. While it's no Tuscany, it's 

The mood? A Mediterranean summer. 

Location perks? Nearby, activities include hiking trails and a golfing range. 

Budget range? A super affordable getaway.