The Best Hotels in Austin, Texas

Group Therapy cocktail bar, on-site ZaSpa

Opened in 2019, this hotel offers all the modern conveniences today’s travelers crave with high-end touches throughout. The rooftop pool is the place to be, day or night, so reserving your weekend pool lounger ahead of time is a wise move. Order bottle service or the Audrey Hepburn Sleek-Rita cocktail from the Cabana Bar, which also serves up quick bites like crispy jalapeno calamari, hot chicken wraps, and seasonal fruit. Perfect Strangers, the lobby-level coffee shop, is a great spot for starting your day with a little people-watching, and the dining room, Group Therapy, has a wide selection of menu items (don’t miss the “Curious Traveler” starter of lamb lollipops, blue crab deviled eggs, and salmon bagelettes) for breakfast, brunch, and dinner. 

While the standard guest rooms are well-appointed, those seeking VIP treatment may wish to choose from one of four individually themed Concept Suites—one feels like a posh cabin in the forest, yet another is draped in rich velvets and mirrors for a romantic getaway. Another step up the guest room ladder takes you into a Magnificent Seven Suite, also themed in such designs as retro Palm Springs and beach bungalow. There’s even a Texas Hill Country suite that will instantly transport you to the nearby rural region. 

Live music in on-site restaurant, complimentary bicycles and lawn games, outdoor fire pits

From the moment you step onto the Lone Star Court property, you’re whisked away to a simpler time set on four beautifully landscaped acres of land. Each room in this “retro-ranch” themed property overlooks the common courtyard while rocking chairs on each “porch” offer an ideal view of all the action. Inside the guest rooms, you’ll find vibrantly colored touches, including couches, a full-size fridge stocked with Texas treats, braided rugs, a knotted wood pine armoire, a cowhide desk chair, Egyptian cotton linens, and barn-style bathroom doors. 

While it may be tough to pry yourself from the comfort of your room, one of the reasons this is among our top picks is that the property has much to offer beyond your four walls. There’s a swimming pool inspired by local Texas swimming holes, outdoor fire pits, a fitness center, a business center, dry-cleaning service, and complimentary bicycle rentals. Stop by the onsite Venezuelan food truck, Aurora, for empanadas and cachapas or the Southern sit-down eatery, The Water Trough (which also boasts a full bar, including the tantalizing Chill Cowboy cocktail, and live music every Friday and Saturday). Just a 15 minute drive from Austin proper, it's not difficult to spend a day in the hustle and bustle of the city while staying on this property.

Private movie theater and speakeasy, personal chef available upon request, vintage convertible Cadillac tour to Austin available

This property, which was once owned by a prominent business owner in Austin, was purchased and revamped by Jantzen Matzdorff, the reality TV star from TLC’s Flip That House in 2017. During the remodel, Matzdorff added many historical and cultural influences to honor the original owner’s ties to Mexico, including a 20-foot-tall mural depicting Mayan mythology painted by a well-known Mexican artist and vintage furniture from Monterrey, Mexico. 

There are five bedrooms and five full bathrooms, each uniquely and lavishly decorated. The common spaces shine, with a basement movie theater, a large pool, a full kitchen, a massive dining room table, and multiple seating areas throughout. There are also several “hidden” rooms including a speakeasy, which requires you to first pass through a jail cell door, and a confessional (hey, it helps to promote the city's motto, "Keep Austin Weird"). While sitting outside feels as though you’re in the country, you’re a quick 10-minute drive to downtown Austin.

Game room, zero-edge infinity pool, and rooftop sundeck

Located near the banks of Lake Lady Bird off the Colorado River, Club Wyndham Austin stands at the intersection of nature and the heart of all Austin has to offer: the Texas Capitol, LBJ Presidential Library, the University of Texas at Austin, multiple museums, parks, and all the 6th Street entertainment. This property serves families or small parties well, thanks to its two-bedroom suites (one bedroom and studios are available) and all the creature comforts of home: a washer and dryer, full kitchen, separate living and sleeping quarters, and a sleeper sofa. 

Of course, there are plenty of awesome amenities your family likely won’t find at home to help make your stay extra-special: a rooftop sundeck, zero-edge infinity pool, fitness center, barbecue areas for a grill-out, and a game room. The only tough part about staying at Austin, Texas, hotels as fun as this one will be convincing the kids it’s time to go home.

On-site bar

Budget-conscious travelers should opt to stay at the Firehouse Hostel in downtown Austin—one of the best hotels in Austin for soaking in a bit of history. This international hostel-meets-craft cocktail bar offers a cool, unique ambiance and plenty of fun amenities—all at half the price of most other lodgings in town (rates start at $27). Firehouse is located inside of Austin’s oldest fire station, right across from the historic Driskill Hotel; it’s within walking distance of the Capitol, the bars on Sixth Street, and several great eateries and shops. 

Accommodations here are simple yet sparkling clean: Take your pick of several dorm and suite options, all of which are outfitted with air conditioning, fresh towels, in-room lockers, and comfy bedding. There’s a complimentary breakfast served every morning, as well as a fully equipped kitchen. In hip Austin fashion, the hostel itself is accessed through a hidden bookshelf in the lobby of the Firehouse Lounge, where guests can also gather for handcrafted cocktails and live music in the evenings. Reception is open 24 hours, and popular attractions like Jester King Brewery and Pedernales Falls State Park are less than an hour away. 

Mokara Spa with private rooftop pool, 72 holes of championship-style golf, 10 professional tennis courts

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the acreage at the Omni Barton Creek—4,000 acres to be exact, located a quick 15 minute drive from downtown Austin. And this sprawling property needs all that space because it offers such a wide variety of activities. Golfers can keep busy for days with 72 holes spread over four championship-style courses. Each week, there are 30 fitness classes to choose from in the 33,000-square-foot fitness center, including yoga and weight training. The Mokara Spa offers 20 treatment rooms (try the CBD massage or facial), indoor whirlpools, steam rooms and sauna, and a private rooftop pool for the ultimate relaxation. When you’re ready to stretch your legs, there’s a one-mile nature trail complete with bubbling creeks and wildlife spotting. And there’s plenty to keep the kids busy too, from a miniature golf course and a splash pad to summertime poolside movies and an inflatable waterslide on the lawn. 

Choosing a suite means even more room to spread out, with separate living and sleeping areas, a dining table, and multiple balconies overlooking the golf courses. Turn-down service, blackout curtains, and hypoallergenic beds ensure a comfortable stay. 

Water taxi available to/from downtown Austin, cottages with private hot tubs and meditation gardens, complimentary room service

This sprawling, woodsy resort and spa sits on a gorgeous strip of Lake Austin shoreline, spread across 19 lush acres. As a four-star, French country-style property that offers a plethora of posh amenities and classy touches, Lake Austin Spa Resort guests have access to a wide range of daily fitness classes and wellness programs. The activities schedule is always jam-packed with such offerings as yoga, Pilates, AquaFit, nature hikes, and meditation and mindfulness seminars, in addition to activities like sunset wine tastings and chef-led cooking classes. The cuisine is excellent (and nutritious), as you might imagine: A sample menu for dinner included blackened local redfish, pan-seared striped bass, black pepper homemade spaghetti, and an heirloom tomato and cucumber salad. 

Rooms at the Lake Austin Spa Resort are decked out with plush fabrics, original artwork, deep soaking tubs, and signature Lavender Fields amenities, in addition to a Keurig coffee maker, DVD, and cable TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more; most rooms have incredible lake views. A stay at this resort is a total splurge, but it’s well worth it. 

Tiki bar, rooftop pool

With today’s remote work environment, there’s plenty of flexibility to work from wherever your heart desires—and the 31 stories of Austin Marriott Downtown’s stylish tower make for a stunning office space that will no doubt put your home office or cubicle to shame. Guest rooms start on level seven to maximize views of the city’s skyline, Lady Bird Lake, the University of Texas campus, and even Texas Hill Country off in the distance. The hotel’s design draws inspiration from local materials, making use of sturdy limestone and Texas Cedar.  

When you’re not working, Marriott makes it easy to shift into more relaxing gear with a two-level lobby bar and a 24/7 fitness center. Zanzibar is a lush rooftop terrace and pool oasis that feels as though you’ve stepped into a tropical jungle—so it’s only fitting to order a Mai Tai or Bird of Paradise while you chill in a poolside chaise lounge or cabana. The food menu also features an island vibe, complete with Jerk chicken wings, a sushi burrito, and a Kahuna burger. Loaf + Vine is an urban grocer perfect for grab-and-go options and coffee, and The Lobbyist is a popular spot to meet coworkers for drinks in a grand, two-story lounge setting.