Between its rise as America’s new Silicon Valley, its pulsing live music scene, and its unbeatable barbecue, it’s no wonder that Austin has grown more than almost any U.S. city in the past decade. Millions of travelers visit Austin each year, and the hotel scene has kept pace, with over 400 unique properties to choose from. Our Inspectors narrowed that selection down to just over two dozen superlative hotels.
Sort the full selection by price and distinction, here. Our guide below digs into the features that define Austin's hotel scene.
Where to Stay:.
- South Congress (SoCo): The city's most iconic district has some of our favorite stays, hotels as eccentric and personality-forward as SoCo itself.
- Downtown: Befitting the business district, a crop of luxury boutiques that feel more grown-up, though they're not without their own personality.
- And beyond: a great mix of styles and vibes, with less tourists.
What to Look For:
- Music perks: hotels offer live performances and other musical tie-ins, particularly during South by Southwest (March) and Austin City Limits (October).
- Restaurants: Four of our Austin hotels also feature MICHELIN-selected restaurants.
- Privacy: Most Austin hotels are thriving community hubs. These are our picks for a quieter vibe.
Quick reads:
- Arrive Austin: Austin’s Most Affordable MICHELIN Key Hotel.
- Inspector Diaries: Commodore Perry Estate, The Best Hotel in Austin.
The Hotels of South Congress Keeping Austin Weird
Quirky, artsy, and alfresco: these hotels aren’t just essential Austin because they’re in the city’s most must-visit neighborhood—although that’s certainly part of their appeal. Each one, in its own way, is a little tribute to the spirit of Austin—the wonderful, whimsical, and weird. See more here.
The Grown-Up Boutiques of Downtown Austin
Sometimes you’re just looking for an upscale hotel with a pool, a bar, and a gym. These deliver, with an air of refined boutique luxury on top of the basics. See more here.
The Very Best Hotel in Austin
Only one hotel in Austin earned more than One Key in our inaugural reveal of top honors in Texas. Head here to read about one Inspector’s visit to the Two-Key Commodore Perry Estate, a city hotel that feels like nothing else in Central Austin.
The Austin Hotels with Music in Their Bones
Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. These hotels offer their own concerts, exclusive perks, and musical tie-ins. Sound good? See more here.
MICHELIN Hotels with MICHELIN Restaurants
In 2024, the MICHELIN Guide launched its Austin restaurant selection. Three of its picks are in MICHELIN-selected hotels—Lutie’s in Commodore Perry Estate, Maie Day in the South Congress Hotel, and Garrison in the Fairmont Austin—combining top-notch stays with destination-worthy restaurants.
Privacy Please: Austin’s Exclusive, Guests-Only Retreats
Most of Austin’s best hotels welcome all comers to their bars, restaurants, and concerts. Not these. From the quietest, humblest havens to the swankiest, most brag-worthy hideouts, these Austin hotels require an invite to enter. See more here.
Great Hotels in Austin’s ‘Other’ Neighborhoods
You’ll find roughly half of our hotels in Austin in the city’s most popular neighborhoods: South Congress and Downtown. But in a city as rapidly expanding as this one, you can’t limit your search to just two areas. Explore these hotels in Zilker, East Austin, and the Campus District. See more here.
Top Image: The iconic neon sign at One MICHELIN Key hotel Saint Cecilia.
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