The 6 Best Hotels in Austin

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Austin is known for its incredible music, delicious restaurants and food trucks, and vibrant tech scene. A liberal outpost in a conservative state, Austin is an exciting, weird city that I have yet to see someone not love. It’s a perfect city for weekend getaways, especially if you love BBQ and the outdoors.

I love the city so much I actually moved there for over 8 years before returning to New York City.

Austin is a lively, fun city, with a lot of unique things to see and do. Plus, nothing is more than 20 minutes away from anywhere else, so you won’t be spending ages getting around like in huge metropolises.

That said, not all hotels in the city are made equal. So, to help you pick the best place to stay during your trip, here’s my list of the best hotels in Austin:

1. East Austin Hotel

East Austin is an energetic area that’s a great place to stay if you like dining out (some of my favorite spots are Fukomoto, Via 313, and Counter Cafe). This boutique property has 75 rooms with a minimalist Scandinavian design featuring soft pastel colors and wooden accents throughout. Amenities include Casper mattresses, plush robes, in-room coffeemakers, and vintage décor. There’s also a small outdoor pool complete with a poolside cocktail bar, as well as a rooftop bar and restaurant. Plus, it’s right on lively East Sixth Street, which is a great place to go out to both eat and drink.

2. Hotel Indigo

This hotel is in Downtown Austin, an area you’ll want to stay in if you want to be close to most of the city’s attractions. It’s also just a stone’s throw away from Stubb’s, a world-famous music venue (try to see a show there if you can). Indigo is a stylish and creatively designed hotel with a rooftop swimming pool and bar, as well as a 24-hour fitness center. The colorful and spacious rooms feature comfortable beds, a work desk, flat-screen TV with premium channels, and luxury bath products in the sizable showers.

3. Austin Motel

Originally from the 1930s, the landmark Austin Motel has been renovated into this fun property in South Congress, an area crammed with boutique shops, top restaurants and food trucks, and a bustling nightlife scene. Austin Motel is just as cool as the area, boasting a pool complete with a bar (with adults-only swim time during summer evenings) and a funky retro design throughout that I really liked. The colorful rooms are on the smaller side (it is still a motel, after all), but all have plush bathrobes, Bluetooth speakers, a mini bar, and fair trade Alaffia bath products. Most rooms have desks too. Plus, there’s free on-site parking, which isn’t common for hotels in Austin.

4. The Carpenter Hotel

One of the few hotels in the middle of the Zilker neighborhood, this area has lots of interesting things to see and do, including the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and the Barton Springs Pool. The Carpenter Hotel is a tranquil, open-air boutique property with a relaxing outdoor pool and patio. Staying here feels like a little retreat from the city. The comfortable rooms have a beautiful minimalist industrial design with a lot of light-wood touches, blackout shutters, and private terraces. I really like the attention to sustainability throughout, with eco-friendly bath products and local goodies in the mini bar too.

5. Embassy Suites by Hilton

Anchored on the border where Zilker Park and the (Texan) Colorado River meet, stay here to be close to many of Austin’s green spaces. You can walk to the Greenbelt from here and you’ll be near the lake too. Embassy Suites offers good-sized rooms with city views, an indoor pool, and a fitness center. The free hot breakfast buffet (complete with an omelet station) is fantastic and there’s also a nightly happy hour with complimentary drinks, which I thought was a nice touch. It’s a solid and affordable midrange choice if you’d like to stay in a quieter area.

6. Arrive

This four-star hotel features super-spacious and light-filled guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, incredibly comfy beds, desks, Bluetooth speakers, high-end bath products, and a bottled water-stocked fridge. The bathrooms and showers are huge, and some rooms even have balconies (so be sure to ask for one at check-in). There’s also a courtyard restaurant and bar, a Goan-inspired eatery, and a gin-focused rooftop bar. Arrive is also right on East Sixth, home to some of the best bars in the city (my favorites include Whislers, Lazarus, Lolo Wine, and Lucky Duck).

One of my favorite cities in the entire country, Austin is a perfect destination for a weekend getaway. There’s tons of delicious food, plentiful live music, and all kinds of outdoor activities to keep you busy. But matter what you’re here to see and do, choosing one of the above hotels will ensure that you have a great stay in the Texan capital.