Cool, minimalist rooms with flat-screen TVs and iPod docks
High-end Malin+Goetz bath products
Outdoor pool in small, private courtyard
Popular outdoor lounge with heat lamps, serving snacks and drinks
Located in one of Austin's trendiest neighborhoods
Close to shops and restaurants on South Congress
Locally famous Jo's coffee shop is next door
Movies, music, Polaroid cameras, bikes, and even a typewriter available on loan
Free Wi-Fi
Dog-friendly (for low daily fee)
No fitness center
No spa, though guests can request in-room manicures, pedicures, and on-call massage services
Pool is tiny
Outdoor lounge can get noisy at 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-screen TVs, though noise can occasionally be a problem and the bathrooms could use some updating and cleaning. It's an excellent boutique pick overall, and is especially popular during the South by Southwest music festival.
Location
In the hip South Congress neighborhood, surrounded by bars, restaurants, and shops
Hotel San Jose resides in Austin's South Congress (SoCo) neighborhood. Known for vintage clothing boutiques and a lively music scene, SoCo is home to some of the state's most iconic music venues, including Emo's, the Moody Theatre, the Paramount Theatre, and the Continental Club. The hotel is near tons of funky clubs and restaurants, and is a short walk from Town Lake.The capital city of Texas and home to the University of Texas, Austin is a kooky mix of straight-laced business types and creative artists. The city gains attention each year with annual festivals, including Austin City Limits and SXSW (South by Southwest).- 16-minute drive or taxi-ride to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport