Downtown Austin hotels on this list occupy the blocks between Cesar Chavez Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, I-35, and Lamar Boulevard, placing guests within walking distance of 6th Street, Congress Avenue, and the Palmer Events Center.
Five hotels made the cut, chosen for guest rating and confirmed Downtown Austin addresses.
What to expect from downtown Austin hotels
Downtown Austin packs a lot into a walkable grid. Congress Avenue runs north to south through the middle of it, connecting the Texas State Capitol at the north end to Lady Bird Lake at the south. Sixth Street, the city's main entertainment corridor, cuts east to west.
Most downtown hotels put you within a 10-minute walk of live music venues, restaurants on Rainey Street, and the Capitol grounds. The Austin Convention Center at 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. is closed through 2028 for demolition and rebuild, so convention traffic has shifted to the Palmer Events Center on Barton Springs Road. If your trip is tied to a conference, confirm the venue before booking.
CapMetro Route 20 Riverside connects downtown to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for $1.25 a ride ($1.50 from January 10, 2027), with buses running every 15 to 30 minutes, seven days a week. The stop is on the lower level of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, outside baggage claim at the neon guitar bus stop.
Downtown Austin hotels at a glance
| Hotel | Stars | Guest score | Pool | Rooftop bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JW Marriott Austin | 4 | 9.0 | Outdoor rooftop, heated | Yes, Edge Rooftop + Bar |
| Canopy By Hilton Austin Downtown | 4 | 9.2 | Outdoor rooftop | Yes, rooftop courtyard bar |
| Omni Austin Hotel Downtown | 4 | 9.0 | Heated rooftop | Yes, Cloud Bar |
| The Westin Austin Downtown | 4 | 9.0 | Rooftop, 20 floors up | Yes, Azul Rooftop Lounge |
| The Driskill, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt | 4 | 9.0 | None | None |
Getting around downtown Austin
- CapMetro Route 20 Riverside runs from downtown to Austin-Bergstrom Airport every 15 to 30 minutes for $1.25 a ride ($1.50 from January 10, 2027). Tap your contactless card directly on the bus.
- Fare capping means you pay at most $2.50 ($3 from January 10, 2027) for all local bus rides in a single service day (4am to 3:59am). After two paid rides, the rest of the day is free.
- The MetroRail Red Line (Route 550) runs from Leander to Downtown station. It does not serve the airport. For rail, use the Umo app or a CapMetro Reloadable Fare Card, not tap-to-pay.
- Sixth Street gets packed on Thursday to Saturday nights and police sometimes close it to cars, so plan rideshare pickups on a parallel street.
- The Austin Convention Center is closed through 2028. If your event is at the Palmer Events Center, it is at 900 Barton Springs Road, about a 15-minute walk south of Congress Avenue.
Which hotel fits your trip
For a special occasion or a business trip where the address matters, JW Marriott Austin on E. 2nd Street delivers a heated rooftop pool, a spa, and a rooftop bar above Congress Avenue, backed by a verified LEED Silver certification.
Travelers who want Austin's most storied address choose The Driskill on Brazos Street, a 1886 landmark with a 24-hour gym and valet parking, five blocks south of the Capitol.
Omni Austin Hotel Downtown on San Jacinto Boulevard suits groups and business travelers with a heated rooftop pool, a 24-hour gym with Peloton bikes, and an underground garage with valet parking.
For a pool 20 floors up, The Westin Austin Downtown puts its rooftop pool and Azul Rooftop Lounge 20 floors above 5th Street, with a 24-hour fitness studio on the same floor.
Canopy By Hilton Austin Downtown on W. 6th Street has the highest guest score on this list, a rooftop pool terrace, and EV charging on site.
The 5 best hotels in Downtown Austin
JW Marriott Austin
110 E 2nd St
9.0503 reviews
8 min walk to Downtown Station (MetroRail Red Line)On E. 2nd Street at Congress Avenue, with a heated rooftop pool, a spa, the Edge Rooftop bar and the only verified LEED certification on this list.
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Canopy By Hilton Austin Downtown
604 W 6th St
9.2416 reviews
5 min walk to 5th & Guadalupe (Republic Square) stop (MetroRapid 837, Route 4, Route 5)A 9.2 guest score on W. 6th Street, with a rooftop pool terrace, a courtyard bar and covered valet parking with in-and-out privileges.
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Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
700 San Jacinto Blvd
9.0976 reviews
8 min walk to Downtown Station (MetroRail Red Line)On San Jacinto Boulevard with valet parking in an underground garage, a heated rooftop pool and a 24-hour gym with Peloton bikes.
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The Westin Austin Downtown
310 East 5th Street
9.0578 reviews
4 min walk to Downtown Station (MetroRail Red Line)The rooftop pool and Azul Rooftop Lounge are 20 floors above E. 5th Street, with a 24-hour fitness studio on the same floor and valet-only parking.
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The Driskill, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
604 Brazos Street
9.0128 reviews
7 min walk to Downtown Station (MetroRail Red Line)Built in 1886, five blocks south of the Texas State Capitol, with a 9.0 guest score, valet parking on Brazos Street and a 24-hour gym.
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Frequently asked questions
Which downtown Austin hotel has a verified sustainability certification?＋
JW Marriott Austin at 110 E. 2nd Street holds a LEED Silver certification under NC v2009, awarded in 2016 with 51 points, verified through the USGBC project directory. No other hotel on this list has a confirmed active certification.
How do I get from downtown Austin hotels to the airport by bus?＋
CapMetro Route 20 Riverside runs between downtown and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport every 15 to 30 minutes, seven days a week, for $1.25 a ride ($1.50 from January 10, 2027). At the airport, the stop is on the lower level outside baggage claim at the neon guitar bus stop. Tap your contactless card directly on the bus to pay.
Is the Austin Convention Center open for events?＋
No. The Austin Convention Center at 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. closed in April 2025 for demolition and redevelopment. No events are scheduled there through December 2028. The Palmer Events Center at 900 Barton Springs Road remains open and bookable.
What is the hotel tax rate in downtown Austin?＋
The total hotel tax is 17 percent: 6 percent Texas state tax plus 11 percent City of Austin tax (9% occupancy plus 2% venue). Hotels with 100 or more rooms may also add a 2 percent Austin Tourism Public Improvement District fee on top of that, listed as a separate line item, not a tax.
Which downtown Austin hotels allow pets?＋
Four hotels on this list accept pets. The Driskill allows dogs up to 50 pounds (or two dogs up to 75 pounds combined) for a $150 non-refundable fee. The Westin Austin Downtown welcomes dogs up to 70 pounds with no additional pet fee, up to two per room. Canopy By Hilton Austin Downtown charges a $75 non-refundable fee with a 75-pound weight limit. Omni Austin Hotel Downtown takes pets under 25 pounds for a $125 non-refundable fee.
Does downtown Austin have a subway or metro rail?＋
Austin has no subway. The MetroRail Red Line (Route 550) runs from Leander to Downtown station, and that is the closest rail option to these hotels. For local bus travel, tap your contactless card on any CapMetro bus for $1.25 a ride ($1.50 from January 10, 2027), capped at $2.50 ($3 from that date) for the full service day after two paid rides.
