Austin is known by its catchphrase: Keep Austin Weird. Also, as the best live-music city in the States. What you may not have heard though, is that the food scene is right up there too (it’s a haven for all sorts of food trucks and a ton of original eateries). We enjoyed a quick two-day visit and packed in the fun - the best hotel in the city and some great shopping all fueled by delicious Southern food.
You haven’t been to a Westin hotel until you’ve been to the Westin Austin Downtown - this is not your average Westin.
Comparable with any of the great luxury hotels in the States, the Westin Austin is trendy, luxurious, well-designed, and comfortable. Located centrally, with a beautiful rooftop pool (and bar - Azul) serving as the cherry on top, the 366-room hotel is the city’s premium accommodation option.
In tune with Austin’s music scene (if you’ll excuse the pun), the hotel’s design is centred on a contemporary music theme, and you’ll see homages to the guitar all through the building.
The Westin Austin Downtown is within walking distance of every city-centre attraction, and yet also serves as an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The rooms are madly spacious and calming in neutral tones, with modern shapes and beautiful views - ideal for room service (with deliciously healthy options) in bed, and lazing a day away in your robe, before a dip in the highest rooftop pool in the city and a chill-sesh around the firepit.
The Westin Austin Downtown’s award-winning in-house restaurant remains one of my all-time favorites across the United States (and, to be honest, we sampled a fair few delicious restaurants across price-brackets and styles).
Stella San Jac’s interiors are contemporary and infused with natural elements, acting as a backdrop to the ever-bustling bar and full tables.
The bar at which to see and be seen, Stella San Jac is an upscale environment that attracts the best creative and professional Austonians and visitors for their creative cocktails (try the chocolate chilli martini - its subtle flavour and slight heat changed my mind about dessert-themed drinks) and, on the food side, their Brussel sprouts, gulf shrimp, and famous #16 biscuits - some of the best in the land.
The food is relaxed American, Southern flavors with a twist of creativity and just enough mouth-watering Austin weirdness to make the dishes different to anything you’ve tried. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and well-versed in the balance of attentiveness and giving us our own space.
If you do nothing else in Austin, stay at the Westin and eat at Stella San Jac - unlike many hotels that could be anywhere in the world, the Westin Austin Downtown is firmly anchored in Austin, and proud of it. If this is the type of weird associated with Austin, then I’m all for it!