The Ultimate Luxury Traveler’s Guide to Austin

Itineraries

Where to Stay:

Downtown:

Four Seasons channels the coolness of Austin into its typical high-end style - with local art, Texas-inspired spa treatments, to-die-for Margs and Espresso Martinis (as well as Tuna Nachos if you’ve got the nibbles), lawn games, miles of lakeside trails, and view of Lady Bird Lake from the hotel rooms. The Proper Hotel offers an artful immersion into Austin’s culture. There are four unique settings for dining and drink, and a 5th-floor pool deck offering small-batch tequilas and more views of Lady Bird Lake. Hotel Saint Cecilia is a boutique hotel that honors the patron saint of music and poetry and takes inspiration from the era of the late 1960s and early 1970s when rock ‘n roll and beat poetry challenged conventions. Its most renowned feature is the 50-foot heated lap pool which is open 24/7 - and only open to guests of its 14 rooms, just like the rest of the grounds. Commodore Perry feels like a secluded country estate but is really a 10-acre walled oasis in the heart of Austin - very close to the UT football stadium - with cascading gardens and a beautiful courtyard, and typical charming Southern hospitality. South Congress Hotel has a trendy, elegant style, three restaurants, two bars, the locally-famed Mañana coffee shop, a rooftop pool, two boutiques and a motorcycle shop. They like to think of themselves as a microcosm of Austin - and we’d have to agree.

Hill Country:

Miraval Resort and Spa is perched high among the hills that overlook Lake Travis and puts an Austin-inspired spin on a wellness retreat. You can craft an itinerary around a single intention and stay in a spa-inspired room with breathtaking views, while you attend daily workshops, classes, lectures and wellness activities. Is the yoga barn calling your name? If not, maybe one of the two pools, or the 60+ spa services is. Everything is curated to help you reach your goals. This resort is all about modern aesthetic and has beautiful infinity pools for swimming in. Lake Austin Spa Resort on the other hand is lower in the hills, right on the lake - so, guests can go straight from an Adirondack chair on the dock to jumping into the lake, and is more classic Austin (think wildflowers and Austin Stone). It is rated as the #1 Destination Spa Resort in North America and the #2 Destination Spa Resort in the World by Condé Nast Traveler for a reason. The resort boasts simplicity and serene natural surroundings, the perfect environment to unwind and restore your sense of wellness.

What to See:

Austin is a very outdoorsy city, and classic activities include lots of being outside (making it important to choose a good time of year to go). One of the must-do activities in Austin is Stand-up Paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake. You can easily rent a paddleboard from Texas Rowing Center and either take a leisurely paddle a little down the lake, or for those more adventurous clients, you can paddle all the way downtown for spectacular views of the city. Zilker Park and Barton Springs are a fun rustic way of getting out and enjoying the weather on a beautiful day. A very lowkey activity, people bring their own snacks, games and picnic blankets and find a spot to plop themselves down and while away the day.

Moving away from active outdoor activities, shopping in South Congress is a must-do. Even for those who aren’t all that into shopping, the murals along South Congress Avenue are iconic. Also, Allen’s is a classic boot and hat store – even if you aren’t interested in buying anything, stepping into the leather smell of the store and seeing the thousands of boots is the icing on the cake of your Austin Experience. For those who are into shopping, there are lots of little souvenir and boutique stores to stop by along the way.

Austin is full of nightlife for clients who wish to partake. The East Side and Rainey are great spots to go and let loose, away from the rowdy college kids. The Parlor and Half Step are fun stops on Rainey Street, and Kitty Cohen’s is a more sophisticated option on the East Side. The White Horse is a classic where clients can go to experience a real honky-tonk vibe. Central Machine Works Brewery is great for music and drinks.

Where to Eat:

Breakfast Tacos and coffee are like a religion in Austin, and we’re here to make sure you get the best. Veracruz Tacos is our top choice for breakfast tacos in the city of Austin (order the Migas, you can thank us later). And, on the coffee front, we’d be hard-pressed to say there’s a better option than Merit - which, lucky for you, there are several locations around the city.

Uchi and Uchiko are sister restaurants that can’t be missed. High-end Asian cuisine reminiscent of Nobu, the menu has something for everyone that loves sushi, fish or Wagyu.

Loro is another must-eat. With long wait times and no reservations, many are tempted to give up on this restaurant. We recommend going on the earlier side, around 5 pm, and your wait time will probably be around 45 minutes. You can grab a drink from the outdoor bar-stand in the waiting area and browse the menu while you wait. Once you are seated it will all be worth it. Each dish is bursting with flavors of Asian-smokehouse-meets-Texas-bbq (a personal favorite is the Oak Smoked Salmon). The drinks are equally as impressive, with the Singapore Sling having a special yuzu-take on the original.

Visitors to Texas have to experience the BBQ, a regional favorite, and the best options include La Barbecue and Franklin’s. La Barbecue has recently moved from a simple BBQ counter to a permanent restaurant location, and offers up some of the best Central Texas BBQ, with the owner creating her own salty and savory rubs that nix the sweet flavors. Franklin’s is a cult-favorite spot that is open for lunch only, and in pre-covid times had an average wait time of 3-4 hours. Today, you can order pick-up and collect it in the parking lot on the same day - giving you more time to enjoy the city while still getting a taste of Franklin’s.

When to Go:

Austin gets hot with a capital H in the summer, so we’d say if you’re looking to enjoy the outdoorsy fun that Austin has to offer, avoid the months of June to October. While we’re at it, we also recommend avoiding May because it’s the rainiest month of the year in Austin. The most beautiful time of year is March/April and November, on the shoulder seasons you’ll miss out on the heat and rain and enjoy the perfect weather for being out in nature and having a great time.