The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel

Austin, Texas

Virgin rating

Lobby
One Bedroom Suite
One Bedroom Suite
Roaring Fork
Preferred Room
Lobby
One Bedroom Suite
One Bedroom Suite
Roaring Fork
Preferred Room

The hotel

If you’ve got a passion for music and art, then this is the hotel for you. Situated centrally in the Live Music Capital of the World, with an art deco feel to the hotel, the Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta is an iconic building that has been a staple of the Austin skyline for almost a century. The artistic creativity isn’t doesn’t stop with the beautiful décor, but extends to the handcrafted cocktails and innovative cuisine. Featuring the only outdoor dining terrace on Congress Avenue, you can enjoy breakfast whilst looking out into the city as the dawn breaks, or enjoy a sundowner at the end of a busy day, all with the fresh air on your face. The hotel is within steps of Austin’s State Capitol building and within easy reach of other attractions including Sixth Street, where you’ll never be short of live music to entertain you late into the night. 

Amenities

  • Bar
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Hot tub
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Swimming Pool
  • Valet parking

Where is it

On Congress Avenue, in the heart of Austin, steps from Austin's State Capitol building. Transfer time from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: Approx. 15 mins.

Hotel information

190 beautifully appointed rooms and suites with sophisticated décor, all featuring complimentary WiFi, cable TV, coffee/tea making facilities, bath robe, hairdryer, and mini bar*.

Deluxe rooms with either 1 king-size bed, 1 queen-size bed or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults. 


Preferred rooms are larger in size, featuring a seating area with sofa bed, lounge chair and table, and either 1 king-size bed or 1 queen-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

One Bedroom Suite featuring a separate living area with sofa bed, and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 adults.


In-room dining services are temporarily suspended. Restaurant and Bar are operating with a limited menu and adjusted hours. Grab n Go in the Lobby is available 24 hours a day. 

The Mezzanine (serving breakfast on an outdoor terrace, with grab ‘n’ go options also available). Roaring Fork (Old-west inspired cuisine, serving lunch and dinner). Stephen F’s Bar (with outdoor terrace, open Thurs-Sat). 

Indoor swimming pool and hot tub. Fitness centre. Austin Jogging routes.

Complimentary WiFi. Room Service (temporarily suspended). Valet parking from $49 plus tax per day (payable locally, fee subject to change). 

*Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1152)
  • Very good (337)
  • Average (103)
  • Poor (52)
  • Terrible (30)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Overall maintenance

Mar 27, 2024 eliasll81 Monterrey, Mexico

Overall maintenance is terrible. Rooms are very small. Indoor pool with no restrooms, jacuzzi not clean. Valet parking $60 too expensive for what you get as overall experience. Hotel has great location but other than that nothing special.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great location

Mar 17, 2024 GikoKadampa New Jersey

Location, location, location. The beds were comfy, the room was well appointed and clean. The location is central to everything in downtown Austin and it's especially convenient if your'e attending SXSW. Everything was a short walk and we never needed a car. If we needed to walk more than 20 minutes, we rented a scooter.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating New ownership has ruined this property. Do not stay here!

Feb 15, 2024 rdizzle2020 Los Angeles, California

If you are traveling to Austin I would advise you to stay anywhere else, and there are a lot of options. As a point of reference, I stayed at this property when it was the Intercontinental over thirty times for about four nights each time (you can do the math), and it was my go to hotel in Austin. Although there were some issues now and then, I… Read more
If you are traveling to Austin I would advise you to stay anywhere else, and there are a lot of options. As a point of reference, I stayed at this property when it was the Intercontinental over thirty times for about four nights each time (you can do the math), and it was my go to hotel in Austin. Although there were some issues now and then, I really liked the hotel and looked forward to staying there when work brought me to Austin. However, that is no longer the case. I will not be returning to this hotel ever again. I don’t know exactly when Sonesta bought the property, but they have clearly been cutting costs and it shows. The concierge in the lobby is gone, replaced by a random assortment of snacks and pet products. The staff I interacted with seemed barely, if at all, trained. The elevators looked worn down and it also appeared as if they decided to stop cleaning them. But the room was the worst part. First of all, most of the amenities have been removed. No bathrobe, no slippers (and we all know how dirty hotel room floors can be). The upscale toiletries they used to offer are now mostly gone, and what’s left has been replaced by cheap generic products. I’m all for reducing single use plastic items, but what they did provide was not even close to the level of hotel they claim to be. But the absolute deciding factor was the condition of the room. It was filthy. Spots and blotches on the glass surfaces, peeling and stained wallpaper, chipped paint and damaged walls, dirty and grimy light switches, there was dust and what I believe to be mold on the bathroom mirror and black stains on the shower curtain, and threadbare, worn out furniture. It was gross. I arrived late and didn’t notice everything until the next morning, but it was horrifying. They have also decided to hang some truly hideous artwork in the lobby featuring a hippo in royal garb. I know this is part of their marketing campaign, but whoever thought of this should be fired twice. There are quite a few better options in this price range, but don’t let the branding fool you. It is no longer an upscale hotel, and I would not stay here if it was half the price. If you have a few extra bucks, I would recommend the Van Zandt or the South Congress Hotel, both are excellent hotels with very good service. If you want something a little more budget friendly I found both the Indigo and Holiday Inn to be clean and comfortable. I have not written a review in over four years, but I had to revive my account to document the terrible experience. There are quite a few very good hotel options in and around downtown Austin, but this is no longer one of them. Do yourself a favor and stay anywhere else. I had already booked three rooms here for five nights in April, but i am following my own advice and finding a better option. I hope you do as well. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great location..

Dec 9, 2023 helenswithenbank Farnham, United Kingdom

We arrived with a lot of cases and no one came to help us. Fetched our own trolley and took our luggage into the hotel. Check in was friendly but no porters to take your luggage up so you do it yourself. Just found it a bit strange. Food at the Fork was excellent and so was the service. Bed super comfortable and room great size. Food location!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Royale Sonesta

Nov 14, 2023 Tony M Boston, Massachusetts

Hotel was clean and the staff were excellent. I was there for a conference and had materials sent and the staff were super helpful in helping me find everything that I needed. Good location and easy to get around the city. I would stay here again.