9 Stylish Boutique Hotels in Austin for $500/Night or Less

1. Travaasa Austin, about $375/night

Travaasa Austin is an upscale spa resort set on a
hilltop of a gorgeous nature preserve with forested canyons, about half an hour
from downtown Austin. Its 72 rooms are housed in seven buildings and
offer private balconies with beautiful canyon or garden views. Hiking trails,
an infinity-edge pool enclosed by a wooden deck, and a luxurious spa are
just some of the amenities here, and there’s a restaurant serving organic, local
fare, with many of the ingredients used sourced from the hotel’s own farm. The serene atmosphere is
furthered by the over-16 policy.

2. Heywood Hotel, about $285/night

This seven-room hotel, situated in an intimate
Craftsman-style house in the up-and-coming East
Austin area, lives up to its “unique boutique” billing. Rooms all have distinct, trendy decor
with pops of color and smart details such as black make-up towels and
eco-friendly, big-bottle toiletries. Free perks include parking, Wi-Fi, and
bikes loans, and rooms come stocked with large flat-screen TVs, French presses,
and minibars with fair prices. But the
hotel’s size means limited service hours, and virtually no amenities.

3. Hotel Ella, about $345/night

Over a century old, this former private residence has
old-money Texas written all over it — but, while rates aren’t cheap, they
certainly aren’t the priciest you’ll find for the level of luxury here. The 47
rooms come with free Wi-Fi, cozy robes, large flat-screen TVs, and twice-daily
housekeeping service. There’s also a tasty on-site bar and restaurant, as well
as a classic parlor bar.

4. La Villa Vista, about $175/night

Overlooking Lake Travis, this bed-and-breakfast has just
five suites, each with a different destination-based theme. Aside from free
breakfast and a lovely small pool, amenities are few — but the property
largely attracts couples and wedding parties looking for a relaxing getaway.

5. Lake Austin Spa Resort, about $500/night

The
luxurious, 40-room Lake Austin Spa Resort is an all-inclusive destination spa
and wellness retreat on 19 lakeside acres. Guests can paddleboard, kayak, canoe,
hike, or relax by the lake at this bucolic property in Texas Hill Country. In
addition, there are fitness classes, wellness lectures, yoga, three swimming
pools, and over a hundred spa and salon treatment options. The restaurant
serves gourmet spa cuisine using produce and herbs grown at the resort’s
organic garden. Guest rooms are clean and bright, although small, with private
patios and beautiful, spacious bathrooms. 

Note: There is a two-night
minimum here.

6. Lone Star Court, about $230/night

Lone Star
Court is a mid-range, rustic-chic hotel located in the up-market shopping and
residential district of The Domain. Though it is a 123-room property, its
retro-style (with accents like colorful rocking chairs and repurposed wood) and
chill environment it a boutique feel. Free Wi-Fi and breakfast add to the
value, while bikes to borrow, outdoor fire pits, and live music are totally
Austin.

7. Kimber Modern, about $310/night

This stylish boutique hotel in South Austin has
only five guest rooms,
and caters to guests looking for a truly private and relaxing hideaway. An
outdoor courtyard is shaded by tall trees and
features a sleek water feature and hammocks. Just off the courtyard is the
hotel’s common area,
where guests will find cool mid-century modern seating, a trendy Apple iMac
computer and printer, and a full kitchen.
The bright and airy rooms all have platform beds with
comfy bedding, iPod docks, LCD TVs, and white decor. Suites have spacious
bathrooms with freestanding tubs, and each room has a mini-fridge.

8. Hotel Saint Cecilia, about $500/night

Stylish Hotel St. Cecilia, with just 14 rooms, is
a boutique hotel in the truest sense of the word. It features a sexy lounge (complete with patio seating),
spacious grounds,
and uber chic rooms that meld with Austin’s weird
vibe and cool music scene via distinct decorative touches and amenities. The
centerpiece is an historic Victorian home fronting spacious, sylvan grounds and harboring five of the
hotel’s beautiful suites.
The long, narrow pool offers a classy place to beat
the Austin heat. Plus, it’s located in one of Austin’s coolest neighborhoods,
close to downtown shopping, historic sites, and entertainment.

9. Hotel San Jose, about $285/night

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, but this
intimate “bungalow-style” boutique hotel might be the exception. The
40-room property, originally built as a motel in 1939, incorporates a stylish,
minimalist design and sits at the center of Austin’s SoCo neighborhood, a
trendy area known for great music. The hotel reflects its hipster surroundings
by offering lots of cool stuff on loan: an excellent music library (both CDs
and pre-filled iPods), a video collection, Polaroid cameras, bicycles, and even
a Remington typewriter. There’s a small swimming pool, an outdoor lounge
serving drinks and snacks, and the locally famous Jo’s Coffee next door.
Urban-chic rooms have modern wooden platform beds,
polished concrete floors, paisley bedspreads and flat-screenTVs.

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