The Extremely Austin Hotels of South Congress

The boutique hotels of South Congress are what we think when we think Austin hospitality.

The boutique hotels in Austin’s bustling, quirky, honky-tonk South Congress neighborhood do exactly what the city motto begs: they keep Austin weird. In this case, weird stands not necessarily for the bizarre, but for unabashed personality. Some of these hotels have red, puffy car-vinyl bed frames or trees growing through their upper decks. Others are less ecstatic with their design choices. None are the least bit replicable.Many of these properties owe their charm to the Bunkhouse Group, the Austin-based hotel brand widely credited with kickstarting the boutique hotel revolution here in the 1990s. Their influence is unmistakable, but in recent years, new arrivals have broadened the landscape, each offering a distinct take on Austin’s creative, independent spirit.The hotels below aren’t just essential because they’re in Austin’s most must-visit neighborhood—although that’s certainly part of their appeal. Each one, in its own way, is a little tribute to the spirit of the city.

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Frame Hotel - Treehouse

South CongressThis is the hotel for which a host of travel cliches—an oasis of calm, a hidden gem, a secluded treasure—were invented. Rooms are set on a second-floor wooden deck through which grows a live oak tree. An intimate place that’s meant to feel like staying at your coolest friend’s house, it’s so cozy and homey that guests sometimes make their beds upon check-out.

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