Read on for our favorite hotels in the land where everything is bigger (and weirder). 

These hotels are the top recommendations from the Safarist community and have been personally vetted and endorsed by our team of hospitality experts.

Austin Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels

Downtown is landmarks central. There’s everything from the terra cotta-hued Texas State Capitol (which is even bigger than the United States Capitol, because, you know, Texas) and the Paramount Theater, a revival-style entertainment center with a blazing marquee, to the statue of the city’s patron saint, Willie Nelson, marking the entrance to ACL Live at the Moody Theater.

The first stop for a powerhouse weekend of fun, downtown Austin is where you’ll find bustling activity day and night. From the most romantic restaurants to eclectic sightseeing tours, the downtown core is compact enough for walking yet has no shortage of must-dos.

[Austin's] main LGBTIQ+ scene is concentrated downtown on West 4th Street. This makes it incredibly fun and easy to bar hop from place to place throughout the night...Ubers line up along the curb, friends hug before heading inside, and groups meander from club to club, giving the sidewalks a life of their own.

Downtown Austin

These hotels stand out for value, hospitality, and/or design but are generally under the radar.

Hotel ZaZa Austin

The Carpenter Hotel

Austin

The LINE Austin

Hotel Van Zandt

Hotel Ella

South Congress Hotel

These hotels have been recommended by industry-leaders including but not limited to Condé Nast, Goop, Travel + Leisure, and more, and have been featured in "Best of Lists" by travel experts we trust.