Hyatt Regency Austin

There's nothing surprising about this Hyatt Regency, but it delivers on what travelers expect of the upscale brand with a 17-story sky-lit atrium that makes the public spaces feel bright and airy. Glass elevators give guests spectacular views as they ascend from ground level, where support columns are decorated to resemble tree trunks. Gold sectional couches are positioned in front of a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows that cascade light into the space. Butterscotch leather armchairs and salmon-colored sofas and chairs sit atop colorful orange carpet with bright-yellow sunburst patterns. An oval island lobby bar is adjacent to the seating. This is a large hotel with a massive inventory of event space, so it gets a lot of foot traffic. That said, the big, open-plan lobby handles the crowds well, and noise isn’t an issue. 

The Hyatt Regency has an excellent location on the Colorado River (Lady Bird Lake), just south of downtown Austin’s central business district. The views of the lake and city skyline from the hotel are outstanding. Adjacent to the hotel is lovely Butler Park, where the Long Center for the Performing Arts hosts many concerts and other events (it’s a seven-minute walk). Just behind the hotel is the Butler hike/bike trail, which runs along the river for several scenic miles. Getting to the center of downtown requires a 10-minute walk across Lady Bird Lake via the South Congress Street Bridge, home to a world-famous colony of bats. The Austin Convention Center and the heart of the Sixth Street Entertainment District are about 15 minutes on foot. ACL Live at the Moody Theater is a 12-minute walk. The wildly popular swimming hole at Barton Springs in Zilker Park is a 12-minute drive, as is the Zilker Botanical Garden. Trips to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport take approximately 30 minutes by car, or 35 minutes by public transportation. There's a bus stop a few minutes away from the hotel on foot.

Rooms at the Hyatt received a complete makeover in mid-2016 and are bright, pleasant, and contemporary, decorated in soft neutrals including light-beige, white, and chartreuse. The rooms are generally quiet, and many of them offer excellent views of the lake and downtown skyline. All are spacious enough to include two armchairs (Double Queens) or day bed-style sofas (Kings), as well as small oval tables. Light-wood paneling frames the wall-mounted, 55-inch flat-screen TVs. Lucite lamps add a bit of glamor to the desks, but it's the striking, black-and-white, music-theme artwork that makes the rooms hip and fashion-forward. Standard amenities include coffeemakers, mini-fridges with free bottled waters, electronic safes large enough for laptops, cordless phones, and iHome alarm clocks. Bathrooms are a bit small, but are nonetheless bright and upscale, with large mirrors framed by fluorescent lighting and wood vanities with white ceramic counters. Some have walk-in showers with clear glass doors, while others have shower/tub combos. KenetMD toiletries are provided. 

This Hyatt Regency acts as a host for major events, with over 45,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom on the 17th floor. However, there's also plenty of leisure space, including an unheated outdoor pool that overlooks the city skyline and Lady Bird Lake. There's also a whirlpool and plenty of tables and chairs. The 24/7 fitness center is big and well equipped with Life Fitness cardio and weight-training equipment, free weights, and yoga mats. Just outside the hotel, a concession area rents boats for paddling on Lady Bird Lake. Evening boat cruises also depart from here to witness the nightly spectacle of over a million bats taking flight for the evening from the South Congress Bridge. Three dining options are available. SWB-Southwest Bistro that serves breakfast and lunch, while Marker 10 serves casual dinners, sushi, and small plates along with craft cocktails and great views both inside and outside. A full-service Starbucks is in the lobby, as is a convenience store selling sundries, snacks, and drinks. Concierge services include valet dry cleaning and laundry, as well as currency exchange, and an ATM is on the premises. An on-site guest laundry room is available as well. Valet and self-parking options are available in the hotel’s 700-space garage, but both options are expensive. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and there's a 24/7 business center that has two PCs and printers. Pets are welcome for a fee, though some restrictions apply.