The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel

9.0

Wonderful

887 Guest reviews

9.0

Wonderful

887 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness9.4/10

Service9.4/10

Comfort9.0/10

Condition9.0/10

Amenities8.8/10

Great, unique hotel

Convenient to my meeting near the Capitol. Valet parking too expensive.

Great location

Fabulous!

When we stated that we were married earlier that evening to person at the desk not only congratulated us but gave us a room upgrade! Very thoughtful and much appreciated! The room was fabulous!

Repeat Guest

Great Staff, Excellent Service!

the wash towels did not look clean . they looked weathered and old.

Nicely renovated older hotel with a very good restaurant in the building.

Clean and great location. Service for breakfast was poor and understaffed.

We had a wonderful stay

The staff was extremely courteous and professional. Check in was smooth.

Great location. Nice staff that went the extra mile on my birthday.

Location is all this property has going for it (and they know it!). Front desk staff is not helpful. I did not receive the type of room I booked (although they charged me for it). They tried to change the bed type and since that did not work I was put in a room which smelled like cigarettes. No apologies, just a drop off of new keys for another room. Cable did not work, tub was painted and chipped. Not what I expected. Would not return.

Great stay. Staff super nice. Bedroom really comfortable.

Very accessible and very friendly staff!

Nice older hotel

Good location downtown close to lots of bars and restaurants. Would definitely stay here again.

Good hotel, good people, good location don't park

Good hotel, good people, good location. Unreal valet parking rates. unjustifiable

Easy access to Paramount Theater. Breakfast restaurant was good! Front desk was very accommodating.

Location location

Stayed here for the weekend and decided this hotel due to location, mostly for siteseeing and events at Pros: Walkable area for the closeby attractions. Though definitely need transportation if you want to go anywhere else farther out of downtown. The hotel is definitely on the century old side. So don't expect modern. Check in was a breeze and valet/front desk staff were friendly. Ended with a room in the high floor on level 14. Noise level was okay. You can hear minimal street noise, minimal hall way noise unless someone is really loud then you can definitely hear that. So not totally soundproof. Had adequate necessities. Bed was comfortable and clean. Roomy for 2 ppl. Bathroom: extra vanity space was nice. Soap,lotion, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner available. Extra towels, blow dryer. The shower water pressure fantastic, hot water works. Tv works, complimentary items available as described. Cons: Bathroom cleaniness could of been improved. ( Seemed like whoever was assigned housekeeping on Jan 18th slacked it and didn't fully sanitize the toilet or mopped the floor). As far as cosmetic issues the ceiling needs work. Definitely peeling noted from moisture. Poor patch work. Hopefully y'all can fix that. Valet: it is on the pricey side $55 per night with extra fees. A lot of panhandlers present during the day and night near the sidewalk areas. We where mostly out and about so can't comment much on the gym, pool or the WiFi. But they are there.

Very clean, excellent service, right downtown, close to dinning and attractions

Hotel was ok. Area was sketchy with lots of homeless.

Very nice bar/lounge on second floor

Great location and beautiful hotel

The services was great, especially valet guys! Thanks so much, melis and Jim (golfing in the cold) !!

Not sure I will ever stay here again. Internet went down multiple times and the heat during the cold weather front that came thru. The staff were friendly but $55 to do valet and so many surcharges. Two days and $220 price to stay for a room. Yes it’s historic hotel but hot tub was not clean when on. Tub had cracks in it. Did enjoy being downtown but doubt I will stay here again.

Great hotel right next to Paramount & State theaters.

Staff was above expectation

Relaxing stay

Our stay was amazing! We were right in the middle of everything and could basically walk everywhere we went. Great view of the Paramount hotel too. The staff was friendly and our room was clean. Would definitely stay here again!

Nice property in the heart of Austin. Close to capitol campus, UT Austin, 6th Street, Rainey Street, and the river walk.

The staff was really helpful and accommodating. Customer service is a high priority for the hotel. The facilities were well maintained and nicely decorated. The daily $ 55.00 parking charge was rather expensive though. The hot tub was luke warm at best. It needed to be hotter.

Quiet and charming with helpful friendly staff. Right in downtown and just a block from 6th street and plenty of shopping spots and fun stores. This’ll be the place I stay whenever I stay in Austin with my soon to be wife. Bridal Suite is highly recommended

Great location, friendly staff, food & drinks were excellent at the Roaring Fork.

Would certainly stay here again

Great location as it is close to everything. Walking distance to most attractions, which is key. Parking is expensive, but you will find that anywhere in Austin. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Room was very good, but nothing exceptional. Ours was clean, well kept, had a coffee maker, fridge (but no microwave), and pretty much all you need w no frills. Would stay again. Did not try the bar or restaurant, cause there are better options just steps away. But we did heard good things about the in-house options. I also like that there is a snack bar right as you check in. Oh, also - the pool is great for laps . . . so long as nobody else is in there. Nice gym which is 24 hours.

Perfect

Great weekend stay except for one thing

The hotel was beautiful and the staff was terrific. From the valet to front desk to the bar and restaurant, everyone was pleasant, courteous and professional. The room was spacious, clean and nicely decorated. We had a great stay except for one thing - on Saturday morning of our weekend stay, I was looking forward to sleeping in for the first time in weeks but we were woken up by housekeeping. Not knocking on our door (we had the DND sign up), but from how loud they were down the hall - slamming doors, talking loudly constantly and even yelling to each other from one room to another. Went on for 45min until they finished on the floor.

Great christmas experience

Service was excellent, both friendly and efficient. The room was clean comfortable with excellent amenities. We visited the bar which was cozy and beautifully decorated for Christmas.

We came to town for my husband’s 50th birthday and the staff was amazing. They truly made us feel like we were in our home away from home!

Great Location, Dining Options and the Staff was first Class!

My favorite thing about this property was our room had personality. It was a white on white sterile room. The furniture was eclectic and comfortable there was color and personality, like you were staying with friends instead of in a hotel. The bathroom was roomy and had TWO lighted mirrors.

Nice location, room was just ok. Parking cost was insane, and never got the room credit Expedia claimed we would get. Emailed the hote about it and got no response..

Excellent, swimming pool and hot tub were nice. Roaring Fork restaurant was delicious!

Clean and quiet stay with plenty of cooperation from the staff. The indoor pool and hot tub were a nice plus.

I enjoy dining at Roaring Fork, which is located on the property.

Nice Stay

Nice stay with helpful team of employees. Valet parking is expensive @ $55 but very fast and helpful. There is a city parking garage next door on 7th .. likely where they were parking my car so i could have saved some money had I noticed it earlier! Nice service, great location, and clean.

The location is fantastic. The pan handlers were abundant.

Wonderful place! Friendly staff and great service!

Great location, great service, and excellent rooms.

hotel staff was awesome. easy walk to 6th district, wonderful food options near by.

It was a really nice hotel.

everything was perfect!! looking forward to staying again!

…

Parking for 55 bucks

$55 parking is enough to not come back but overall we enjoyed the room. Great steakhouse and 2nd floor bar/balcony was super nice.

Very nice front desk,

Great stay. Right in the center of downtown. Food and service was amazing. Shower drain was slow but aside from that great stay

Everything went smoothly

Austin getaway

Fabulous location very walkable! Great staff too !

Gorgeous property with lots of old world charm. Super friendly staff who gave me an early check in and wonderful room Upgrade. Couldn’t be better.

Very nice rooms, clean, friendly staff, convenient location.

Hotel a la carte.

Overall the hotel was clean, And quite nice but everything was charged on an individual basis. If you wanted a refrigerator it would be $10 to have it sent to the room, no microwave in the room. I had to go down to the lobby to use theirs. Also, the worst of all was parking was not included. Although they do have a parking lot connected to the hotel, you had to pay $55 a night for valet parking. $55 for something I could have done at a parking garage that was connected to the hotel. I hate when hotels advertise a great price and then charge you an outrageous fee for parking and don't tell you that up front.

Great location - rooms spacious. A bit dated but otherwise great stay

Customer service

Elegant and comfortable

We loved the design and comfort of the room (newly refurbished). Location was great and convenient for walking around the Quarter.

Lovely stay downtown Austin

Staff was very pleasant and friendly! Comfy beds and spacious rooms! This happens a lot in Austin, so it’s not just this hotel by paying $60 for an overnight parking is just a buzz kill. So we had to search for another parking option, but otherwise it was a very lovely stay! The bar/patio on the second floor was lovely and bartenders really know their craft :) There are plenty of coffee shops, restaurants and bars walking distance so it is a very convenient location if you are planning to do things around there.

The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel is awesome and I would recommend it anyone!

We really like staying at this hotel. Love the historical feel and its conveniences.

I enjoyed the style & history of the hotel. The room was a great size and well laid out.

Unfortunately the hot water was being repaired the weekend I was there so the hot water was turned off from ~11 PM on Friday and Sunday night according to the notice; this was incredibly inconvenient. I also found it surprising that even in the upgraded king rooms that there was no mini fridge, coffee machine/amenities. Overall it was a good stay, good staff and comfortable bed, but just a few inconveniences.

Beautiful hotel

Pleasantly surprised! This was a convenience stay as I was attending a Paramount Theatre performance that turned out to be a hidden gem. Professional staff from end to end. I’ll be back😀😎

Warm Friendly and Helpful

Front desk staff was warm and friendly and eager to help.

I've stayed at the hotel many times over the years—as an Intercontinental and now as a Royal Sonesta. It's a vintage 100-year-old place with a great location, a fantastic restaurant, and a 2nd-floor balcony bar. If you like old-school classics, it's a great option in Austin.

Exe

The people make this place great!

Great stay. Good location. Service was attentive and crisp. As the bellman as he offloaded my bag in the room, he asked how long I was staying. When I mentioned that I needed to leave at 7 am the next day, he offered to come get my bags. Not only did he do so, but he had my car waiting out front. Special shout out to Rodney Hartfeld, the Rooms Director, who was very proactive and accommodating when there was a slight delay in my check-in process. This is now my go-to place in Austin.

It was fine. Small, dated rooms. Not much space in the bar. Pool is indoors. Good location, but high priced for what it is.

Nice hotel in a good location. Bell staff was especially friendly and helpful.

Great staff, good rooms

Great location! Everything just a walk away

Geraldo made my stay perfect! What a great attitude and hard worker! You should give him a promotion and raise!!!

Overpriced and very small rooms. Save yourself the trouble and stay across the street.

The hotel looks so nice when arriving. However it goes downhill quickly. The room was dirty, like smears on the light switches and hair in the shower. You have to request housekeeping daily and specify clean towels, coffee replacement, etc. If you just request clean towels this does not include facecloths and a bath mat. The area is unsafe. I was traveling alone with my teenager and it felt unsafe around the hotel. Every time we were waiting for an Uber outside the hotel we were approached by homeless asking for money or food and not once did the hotel staff step in to help. Bring ear plugs as you hear everything. Very limited food in the hotel and around the hotel. I wish I had trusted some of the other reviews. This was not a cheap hotel and I spent the whole time regretting my choice.

Great hotel, upper scale and in the heart of downtown. Easy to get around. The attached restaurant is great, highly recommend. Definitely stay here again.

Good, convenient location. Staff very accommodating.

Went for the start of race week. Nearly all the staff and other amenities were wonderful, but one or two arrogant and probably racist employees (including the *hotel manager***) spoiled it. I had planned to maybe stay the weekend after moving over from the Driskill (which was wonderful), but they first charged me late fee of $125 for checking out after 2pm, which was fine. When I stayed in the room (I was busy) until 3:45p they called and said if I wasn’t out by 4p I would be charged a full day. I said how much and the manager said well this the busiest night of race weekend (it wasn’t that was Saturday) so it would be $1000 for same room probably the smallest in the place, for which I paid $770 the previous night (Thursday). So I think about it I’m willing to pay but the manager says you know what (it’s now about 5:30p) why don’t you just leave. I said I was waiting for my girlfriend to come pick me up, she was coming from Houston. He says why don’t you call an Uber I say yes I could but I’m not in a hurry I’d to stay another hour or so I still have drink coupons I never used. He says I want you out or I will call the police !! I say go ahead !!! The is my first time to Austin and I tell him I think this town is like Disneyland for idiots !!!!

The character of the hotel first stood out. But during my stay the staff and service made it stand out even more!

I liked the old historical atmosphere mixed with elegant dining options. Although there are a lot of people walking in the city streets making it full of life and activity, there is a large amount of people who are homeless in the area.

Excellent location, we were able to walk to all the venues, museums, entertainment, etc. that we desired. The staff were very knowledgeable and accommodating.

We had an amazing stay!!

Great location and Staff was amazing. Rooms were well sized and clean. Had a couple of issues on check-in (safe and sink issues) that were addressed immediately. Very satisfied.

Not bad but noted worth the price (cold water)

Older building and bathroom. Had to take two cold showers as water never heated up after waiting 5 minutes then another 5 throughout the shower. Next morning hot water came right on. They blamed it on the an old building but seems more like a hot water capacity issue.

Excellent property

Great location, easy walk to most things.

Valet was fast and friendly! Front desk was amazing and upgraded us to a corner suite. We will definitely stay again.

Can't wait to stay again!

Perfect location and beautiful hotel. We were able to walk to ghost tour (highly recommend), art galleries, Comedy Mothership, restaurants, groceries, tourist attractions, and bars. Loved the terrace for morning coffee and evening cocktails, as well as dinner at the Roaring Fork. Can't wait to stay again!

Stayed for ACL

It was a great spot to stay for ACL and had a lot of cafes and stores to stop by quickly to grab a bite. I stayed here due to it being close to the free shuttles downtown. I just wish the prices weren't so high because of ACL.

Great staff and location. Rooms were clean and quiet.

Perfect hotel for a weekend away with my husband. Friendly staff, good accommodations for the price and very walkable to establishments of interest.

Excellent hotel in the heart of downtown Austin. Easy to get to everything!

We loved our stay! The Bar on the second floor and Fuller restaurant were amazing. We only got to stay for one night but we are already planning a weekend to come back just to stay here!

Great hotel! Staff was helpful and nice! Room was clean, updated, and quiet. No complaints really. Valet was great too!

Adequate