500 E 4th St, Austin, Texas, United States | (618) 248-8274
Located in downtown Austin, close to the convention center
Contemporary guest rooms with mini-fridges and coffeemakers
Multiple restaurants and bars, including Starbucks
Large fitness center with saunas and steam rooms
Full-service spa with a range of body treatments and salon services
Heated outdoor saltwater pool and whirlpool with seasonal bar service
Well-equipped business center with multiple computers and printers
Event space for functions of up to 3,400 people
Room, concierge, and valet dry cleaning/laundry services
On-site garage with valet and self-parking options
Free standard Wi-Fi throughout
Pets are welcome with a surcharge (a con for some)
Guest room decor is a bit lackluster
Elevator wait time can be lengthy
Some guests say the pool gets crowded (it's small)
Premium Wi-Fi costs extra (free for Hilton Honors members)
Located across the street from the Austin Convention Center, the four-pearl Hilton Austin is one of the city's major hotels for convention attendees. As such, the 801-room property has 80,000 square feet of event space and buzzes with activity year-round. It’s built for the crowds, with a spacious lobby that was renovated in 2016, and multiple restaurants and bars, including a Starbucks. Other highlights include a full-service spa, outdoor pool, and a large fitness center. Decor in its contemporary guest rooms is a tad ho-hum, but amenities are a plus, with coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and upscale Peter Thomas Roth bath products. Travelers looking for a step up can consider W Austin, but it isn't as close to the convention center.
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Scene
Attractive lobby filled with convention attendees on the go
When large conventions are in town, this hotel is particularly crowded, with lines for the elevators forming at times and the lobby, restaurants, and bars packed with people. The lobby features clusters of modern furniture, back-lit walls panels done in vibrant colors, and long tables made of rough-hewn wood for impromptu meetings or individual work. While there are some leisure travelers staying here, the majority of guests are business travelers.
Location
Downtown, across the street from the Austin Convention Center
The Hilton is centrally located in downtown Austin, across the street from the Austin Convention Center and just one block (a three-minute walk) from the city’s raucous Sixth Street Entertainment District. More entertainment options await at the Warehouse and Second Street Districts, both of which can be reached in about 10 minutes on foot. A Downtown MetroRail stop is only a two-minute walk from the hotel, too. The University of Texas at Austin campus is an 11-minute drive or about 20 minutes via public transportation, and the Texas Capitol complex is a 16-minute walk or 20 minutes by public transit. Expect trips to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to take approximately 25 minutes by car, or 35 minutes by public transit.
Rooms
Contemporary and comfortable but lackluster, with coffeemakers and mini-fridges
Guest rooms have modern decor that features upscale touches like white granite countertops on designer-quality, two-tone wood furniture, but the overall look is a bit staid. Grayish-brown carpeting with a pale blue pattern complements the gray upholstered armchairs and ottomans. While there are colorful photographs on walls, they do little to add life to the spaces. Still, units are comfortable and roomy. Standard Kings and Double Queens include desks with leather office chairs, and Larger Deluxe Parlor rooms with sleeper sofas and conference tables are available. Executive rooms are located on the top two floors (25 and 26), and there are 25 Suites. Bathrooms are just average in size, but feature handsome, light-brown tiling around the shower/tub combos that have rainfall showerheads. All come with a generous supply of high-end Peter Thomas Roth bath products. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, safes, robes, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and free basic Wi-Fi (premium-speed is only free for Hilton Honors members). Some units offer sweeping city skyline views, while others simply overlook downtown streets. Depending on room location, ambient noise can be heard from the busy streets.
Features
Multiple restaurants, spa and fitness center, plus a year-round outdoor pool
This high-rise conference hotel is chock full of amenities, including multiple places to eat and drink. Cannon & Belle has an open kitchen and serves breakfast (fee), lunch, and dinner, and Austin Taco Project churns out tacos stuffed with cuisine from around the world. There's also a Starbucks on-site. Salads and sandwiches are on the menu at the seasonal Skyline Bar, which provides drink service to guests at the small, heated outdoor saltwater pool, open year-round on the eighth-floor patio. Some past guests have complained that the pool can get crowded. It's part of Skyline Spa and Health Club, where a range of body treatments and salon services is available at the full-service spa, and there's an outstanding selection of cardio and strength-training equipment at the gym. Also, locker rooms each have a sauna and steam room. The hotel’s massive inventory of event space can host functions for up to 3,400 people. Other business facilities include multiple guest computers and printers and a full-service UPS store. Basic Wi-Fi is free, but premium Wi-Fi is free only to certain Hilton Honors members. Guests staying in Executive Rooms get lounge access, which includes a free continental breakfast, evening appetizers, and soft drinks. The garage offers valet and self-parking (expect to pay city prices). Valet dry cleaning and laundry are among the concierge services, the hotel offers room service, and pets are welcome with a surcharge.
