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During my past travels to Austin, I have stayed in Airbnbs, hotels, and campgrounds, but something that the city is particularly known for is its boutique hotels. Boutique hotels are small, stylish hotels, usually in urban locations, which have distinctive personalities and offer intimate experiences. Many people love the vibe of boutique hotels because of the personalized service and opportunity to get to know a new place like a local resident. This is especially true if you are planning a romantic getaway with your partner or fun girls’ trip with friends to Austin.
To inspire your next fashionable stay in the city, here are some of the coolest boutique hotels to choose from in Austin, Texas.
Hotel Ella
Staying at Hotel Ella feels like being at a secluded retreat even though you are just minutes from the state capitol building. This boutique hotel offers nine large rooms in the original mansion and 38 rooms in a 1980s addition called the north wing. The hotel celebrates a local socialite and Renaissance woman. It has a modern comfort food restaurant and cocktail bar. There are many pieces of art around the hotel, plus a courtyard pool and veranda that overlooks the front lawn. In addition to having one of the coolest hotel pools in Austin, it also a fitness center.
Key Amenities:
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Comfort food restaurant and bar
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Outdoor pool and veranda
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Hotel artwork collection
Hotel Van Zandt
You can experience authentic Austin with a stay at the Hotel Van Zandt, which is in the heart of the Rainey Street District. There’s a rooftop pool at the hotel and live music nightly on the fourth floor of the hotel. One of the city’s most romantic hotels, you can relax under a cabana while sipping cocktails here and listening to the music of local songwriters. The café is great for grabbing a bite to eat from the early morning to late at night. There are package deals available that include stays in luxury suites plus dining credit, backstage music pass offers, and parking.
Key Amenities:
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Live music nightly
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Pool cabanas with cocktails
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Packages with music and dining perks
Hotel Saint Cecilia
With a history that dates back to 1888, the Hotel Saint Cecilia is a boutique hotel and one of the five remaining Victorian homes built along this part of the Colorado River. The hotel exudes the nostalgic, vintage vibes of the 1960s and 1970s and has a shop with cute home décor and wearables. In addition to studios and suites, there are also poolside bungalows available on this secluded hideaway just off of South Congress. There’s a 50-foot, heated lap pool at the hotel, as well as a vintage record-lending library, in-room mini-bars, and pet-friendly rooms. The lounge at the center of the property has indoor and outdoor seating for all-day dining, cocktails, and a pool menu.
Key Amenities:
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Poolside bungalows and vintage suites
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Lap pool with food and drink service
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Record collection and mini-bars
The Wayback
The Wayback is a boutique hotel in Austin with charming cottages that have fresh, natural, and vintage touches. It is also home to a café with a farm-to-table menu and options to dine in the restaurant, on the patio, or out on the lawn for a picnic. This hotel is located 15 minutes west of downtown to give you a real getaway vibe but still be close to attractions. You can lounge poolside to beat the Texas heat or make s’mores around the fire on a cool night. It’s an inviting space for travelers and a romantic spot for a honeymoon or anniversary.
Key Amenities:
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Farm-to-table café
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Pool and s’mores fire pit
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Event space available to rent
Kimber Modern
One of the top-rated boutique hotels in Austin is Kimber Modern. This attractive hotel is in the SoCo district and has a hip, vibrant vibe. It is a designer boutique hotel that is a secluded oasis and near downtown, so you’ll be close to restaurants and music. You can book an all-inclusive stay here to get complimentary wine at the beverage bar and other perks. The Kimber Modern offers off-street covered parking, a 24/7 beverage bar, and a multi-level courtyard with lounging areas and a 25-foot glass water feature.
Key Amenities:
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All-inclusive stay experience
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Multi-level courtyard with water feature
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24/7 beverage bar
Archer Hotel Austin
One of the best places to stay in Austin, The Archer Hotel is casually elegant and in a walkable, buzzy neighborhood. It is in the heart of Domain Northside, north Austin’s fashion and dining hub that is near the Rock Rose nightlife district. Some accommodation options come with fully stocked mini-bars, bathrobes and slippers, and canopy-draped beds. There’s a great bar in this boutique hotel that offers flavorful cuisine and drinks. The pool at the Archer is a laid-back oasis with cocktails, a 14-foot TV, and chill patio culture.
Key Amenities:
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Rooms with mini-bars and bathrobes
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Bar with happy hour for food and drinks
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Outdoor pool with cocktails
The LINE Austin
The LINE is a boutique hotel in downtown Austin that was once home to where a jazz club broadcast music on local radio in the 1960s. It is home to an acclaimed lakeside restaurant and outdoor lounge area with views of Lady Bird Lake. One of the city’s best taco shops is right inside the hotel, as well as a coffee shop and in-room delivery available. The LINE has a packed schedule of events, including happy hours, swim sessions, and artist studio events. It also has a saltwater infinity pool where you can enjoy poolside tacos and cocktails, in-room spa services, free bikes and stand-up paddleboards, Saturday yoga classes, and in-room spa services.
Key Amenities:
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Lakeside restaurant and taco shop
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Yoga, bikes, and paddleboards
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In-room spa services available
111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701, USA— +1 512-478-9611
Hotel San Jose
Hotel San Jose is a special place to stay when you are looking for a boutique vibe in Austin. It has a lovely courtyard hosting al fresco entertainment and community events. This is a place where you can listen to intimate lounge sessions, DJs, and international sounds on certain days of the week. Property amenities include a swimming pool, in-room mini-bars, and luxury bath products. You can even borrow a typewriter and a Polaroid camera to use at the hotel! For onsite dining and drinking, there’s a coffee shop that also serves food and beer, a courtyard lounge for cheese boards and signature micheladas, and room service available.
Key Amenities:
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Typewriters and Polaroids to borrow
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Outdoor pool and courtyard with events
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Two dining establishments and room service
Lone Star Court
Another boutique hotel option in Austin is the Lone Star Court, which is charming, relaxed, and located on four acres of beautiful grounds. The hotel offers complimentary bikes, fire pits, an outdoor swimming hole, and lawn games. There is live music every weekend at the Lone Star Court. Guests can dine at the Water Trough restaurant and use the fitness center. In total, the hotel has retro-inspired rooms, including three suites. The hotel gives guests access to free Wi-Fi and coffee. Stay here to take a step back in time for a fun, social outdoor area to mix and mingle.
Key Amenities:
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Live music on the weekends
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Free bikes, games, and a swimming hole
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Romance and pet packages available
Moxy Austin – University
The Moxy is a Marriott-brand boutique hotel with a cool vibe. It has outdoor backyard swings, an Instagrammable mural, and a trendy bar. The outdoor area is set up for fun and social time with a giant Jenga game, shuffleboard, and other games. You’ll receive a complimentary cocktail at check-in and can enjoy special treats for pets staying with you. There’s a 24-hour taco counter at Moxy, so you can indulge in some tasty food at any time. The hotel is across the street from the Austin Campus and is a fun place to relive your college days. There’s even a live DJ spinning in the lobby on the weekends.
Key Amenities:
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Outdoor area with games
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24-hour taco counter
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Live DJ spinning in the lobby on weekends
Origin Hotel Austin
For a mix of chic, funky, and luxurious, the Origin Hotel Austin is a great boutique hotel pick. This Wyndham-brand hotel is in the Mueller neighborhood and gives guests easy access to the 30-acre Lake Park, shopping, and dining. Blue Lacy is an onsite restaurant offering unique and nostalgic flavors. There is a fitness center at the hotel, which is also surrounded by jogging and biking trails. Other perks of staying here are pet-friendly rooms, an outdoor courtyard and fireplace, and complimentary bikes. For an extra fee, you can arrange for an in-room Peloton bike and yoga kit.
Key Amenities:
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Unique and nostalgic restaurant menu
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Fitness center, plus in-room Pelotons and yoga kits
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Pet-friendly rooms available
Aloft Austin Northwest
The Aloft Austin Northwest is a boutique hotel in a prime city location. It is near the Lakeline Mall, Austin Aquarium, and H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. At Aloft, guests can stop by the bar, play games in the lounge, and dine at the restaurant. It is a popular destination for both leisure and business travelers. During your stay, make use of the pool, hot tub, and fitness center. Pets are welcome for an extra fee, and complimentary onsite parking is available.
Key Amenities:
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Hotel bar, restaurant, and lounge
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Pool, hot tub, and fitness center
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Free parking and pets welcome
East Austin Hotel
The East Austin Hotel is a boutique hotel that’s five blocks from downtown and a mile from the Texas Capitol. It has mid-century, Scandinavian-inspired hotel rooms with shared bathrooms and also poolside suites to really treat yourself. Guests love the courtyard pool for its retro Palm Springs-like atmosphere. There is a seasonally inspired fare served in the onsite restaurant and also cocktails served at the rooftop bar and pool bar. Pets are allowed here for an extra fee.
Key Amenities:
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Retro courtyard pool with cocktails
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Seasonally inspired restaurant menu
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Room and suite types for varying budgets
