I have stayed at the Austin motel a couple of times. It is one of my favorite places to stay in Austin because it is near everything and yet still very affordable. It also has a very funky Austin vibe which I love. It has a great diner called Joann’s attached. So you can get a nice breakfast or a late night snack with great ease. It’s also located on South Congress near all the fun, restaurants, shops, and other attractions. On our last visit the room was very nice and clean and the bed was quite comfortable. Our only complaint was the pool was closed due to private parties both days we were there and we were not fully notified of this. However, they gave us access to the San Jose, which is just next-door and their pool is very nice as well. Overall I give this place five stars for fun, funky, and affordable. I will definitely be back!
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Family
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Location: 5
Rooms
The rooms are unique and eclectic, but in good shape in the beds were very comfortable.
Nearby activities
Tons of restaurants, bars, shops, and other things to see and do in very close proximity. We literally had too much to do.
Walkability
This hotel is as walkable as you can get in Austin or much less taxes… There are tons of restaurants in attractions as well as bars, and other things to see in walking distance.
Food & drinks
There is an abundance of food near there with many restaurants, and even a great coffee shop right next-door. They also have a lovely diner attached to the building.
Hotel highlights
Great value

The lobby gave me my first impression, nostalgically reminding me of how hotels used to be. The staff was extremely friendly and the lobby certainly looked like a motel lobby from the 60s and 70s. I half expected them to use the old impression machine when I handed them my credit card. (They didn't, of course.) We were given one old-style room key on a retro hotel key ring and told that we only get one, that if we were going to different places, we should leave the key with the front desk in case one person returns to the hotel before the other. But we were somewhat underwhelmed with the room. It had the feel of a run-down motel with a fresh coat of paint and retro-looking furniture. Many of the electrical plugs didn't work. It couldn't have been the breaker, because the top plug worked in at least two places, but the bottom one did not. The room itself was extremely small, and what one would expect of a cheap motel. Our problem is that we paid more than we would have at a Hyatt. Supposedly, we were getting a wedding party discount, but we still paid over $500 for two nights, far more than what the online pricing seems to be suggesting. The only thing going for the room, was that the bed was quite comfortable.
Travel group
Couple
Rooms: 2
Service: 5
Location: 4

My boyfriend and I came as guests of the pool bar from an online reservation. Everybody within the pool bar seem to be friends or employees of the business. The bartender upon arrival was immediately rude to my boyfriend, despite nothing having been said at all. He popped an attitude and continued with said attitude well into our service. Making sure that all of his friends and coworkers knew that he did not like my boyfriend. Let this be known that the entire population of the bar at that time with white folks, and my boyfriend was the only brown man in the bar. I’m not sure if this is racially charged, I am in Austin local and don’t want to believe that it is. But the treatment definitely felt as such. once we left, multiple of his friends cheered us leaving, I’m unsure why they were so immediately against him as we had said nothing other than ordering our drinks and being kind to him, as a bartender myself I am overly friendly with service staff. Once again I’m not sure if this is a racial event. But the service was terrible and Brent made sure to make my boyfriend feel like an outsider. I spoke with the management and I hope that this does not happen again, but if you are not white or local, make sure that you think hard about your visit.
Service: 1
Location: 5

Let me start with it's clean. It's not clean like my home but for a motel. It's old but fun and has a very sweet flair and character. No regrets on my choice. It's in my price range. We are staying in the original building facing the back, rm 205. The door looks like it was kicked in. They had to come and reattach the tp holder. Not our doing. It was half off at check in. I'm with my spouse but their was only one robe. Worst of all, the shower water only comes out luke warm. Probably not a good place to stay when it gets colder. On a positive note, there is a very good heating and cooling unit. Not like the wall ones below the window many motels have. Our room has a fridge but there is not a safe..as stated by Hotels.com. So not their fault. They have coffee at the front desk. They were out once and gave us a voucher for the coffee shop next door. They did bill my credit card $25 a day for incidentals which is still pending. Not sure what that's about. They said it would be returned at the end of our stay so we'll see on that. I love being in walking distance to everything. Also, it's been quiet at night.

I have been wanting to stay here since I was in high school! Can’t believe I waited this long, but it was honestly perfect. I got engaged and wanted to do something special with my new fiancé and was so thrilled to find I could book a room here same day! I was able to email mentioning our engagement and have a bottle of organic Prosecco left in our room for us! The room was so cute and retro with all of the modern conveniences. The staff was so friendly and helpful and we felt very safe and private. The king room with the pool view is so nice because it has a private table and chairs right out front. I’ve always loved this location because of its walkability on my favorite strip in Austin! The gift shop in the lobby is curated so well with amazing local goods and mementos, as well as a fridge with all the drinks you could want to try while here in Austin. We had a wonderful stay and look forward to coming here again in the future!
Trip type
Vacation
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

If you’re looking for a hotel with a real Austin feel, Austin Motel is the perfect place to stay. 〰️ The location on South Congress is within walking distance to sooo many wonderful restaurants and shops - not to mention the view of the capitol building from the street. 〰️ The pool is nice for a dip during the Texas heat (which is almost year-round, tbh). There’s also a pool bar whipping up tasty drinks, and events like 80’s themed water aerobics on a Sunday morning! 〰️ The hotel’s restaurant, Joann’s Fine Foods, has great food and a fun atmosphere. 〰️ The front desk is 24/7, super nice and very helpful. 〰️ The property itself is unique and spunky from the neon rainbow light display by the front desk to the gorgeous tile designs on the external building walls. 〰️ Austin Motel is one of the cheaper options for a hotel directly on South Congress. Plus it’s just so dang fun! The property is older and the rooms reflect that, but in a retro sort of way with all tile floors and a vintage feel.

Not worth the hype, prices of a nice hotel but is not a nice hotel. I thought it would be a modern hotel with vintage furnishings and feel, but it is in fact a flipped motel and felt like it- which would be fine but not for the price. Ripped carpet in my room, stains on the bedding, random tape on the ceiling, AC unit (not central air) was loud and ineffective, both me and my friend agreed that we were happy we were only staying 1 night so that we didn’t have to use the shower which seemed really old and dingy, not sure if it was original to the motel or just a little too authentic but there’s a reason there’s no pictures of the bathroom online. The vibe felt so off that we checked out and drove home at midnight instead of sleeping there. Not sure if being in a different type of room would be better, the room itself seemed clean but for how excited i was to stay here it did not live up to my expectations.
Rooms: 2
Location: 5

I think it was just ok. The best part is the location: right in the middle of Congress St with all its restaurants and bars and shops. We still Uber’d to restaurants downtown and on Lamar, though — so it’s not walkable to there. Yea, the vibe is pretty cool — with its retro feel and neon lights and cute pool. However, otherwise it just feels a bit outdated. We didn’t have the cool wallpaper in our room you see in all their photos. We actually didn’t even have a phone in our room, so at first were at a loss how to call the front desk. (What if your cell phone dies?) For $300/night, I was honestly hoping to maybe at least get some cute room photos. Not the case. Just felt a bit drab. We also had to lug our big suitcases in the heat up quite a few stairs to get to our room. Same on the way out. Again, whatever — I’m healthy, so 1st world problems. But for $300/night… I hear there’s some more luxurious options for half the price in the area.

WHAT A GREAT PLACE. So glad we decided to book our stay here. Really cool and fun rooms. Some probably dont because it is pricey but it is well worth the money. Great room, great staff, great accomidations, great location. Right around all the fun restruants and shops. This was well worth it. Also has Dog options for a small extra fee. Pool is cool. Parking is hard but in this area of Austin all parking is, and still doable. BOOK YOUR NEXT TRIP TO STAY HERE.
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Couple
Walkability
We didnt have to Uber a single time!
Food & drinks
Location next to all the bars and resturants. Joanns is great!
Hotel highlights
Romantic, Quiet, Kid-friendly, Great value

Location was amazing, but I have to admit that it was extremely expensive for what you get. I paid $270 dollars for a Tuesday night for a basic king size bed room with my dog ($20 charge for dog). The shower was very outdated, the counters and furniture were super basic, and the bed was not super comfortable. No room service. No free breakfast. Overpriced gift shop. To be honest. This place is worth maybe $150 dollars per night just because of location. I won’t be staying here again. I’m a little disappointed. I found lots of nicer hotels nearby that are more expensive, but much nicer and worth the extra cost.
Travel group
Couple
Rooms: 2
Service: 4
Location: 5

We decided to make a quick overnight trip to Austin to go visit the drive-through Trail of Lights and while we were at it, stay at a new-to-us place. We absolutely loved the kitschy motel vibe with the absolutely weirdness to the decor. Austin Motel's Winter Wanderland Christmas tree forest was pretty awesome too. If you're looking for a place to stay on Congress - this is it! Front Desk service was great, everyone was kind. The bedding wasn't the most comfortable, but we still got a good night's sleep. Everything was super clean and tidy when we arrived.
Travel group
Family
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

The location and parking are prime for this area! The hotel itself is small but very clean and super cute. Great for a short stay! I’d recommend the bigger suites if you are staying for a few days or want to lounge at the hotel. This is walking distance to many restaurants, so the best part was leaving our car in the hotel lot for our entire stay!
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Couple
Rooms: 4
Service: 5
Location: 5
Rooms
Standard rooms are very small, suites are larger
Nearby activities
Shopping, restaurants, bars, lots to do
Walkability
Walkable area to food and shopping

For starters, the price point of this magnificent piece of Austin history is unbeatable. The location is perfect. Staff is super friendly. Now let’s get down to the serious stuff. Dude, the bed in our room was the most comfortable bed I’ve had in a hotel/motel. I from herniated discs and wake up in pain ever morning. Not during our stay! Pillows are excellent as well. Water pressure was like standing under the biggest waterfall. Until this weekend I hadn’t stayed here in twenty years. It’s definitely my top pick for lodging in Austin!
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

I really wanted to love this place, and for the most part, I did. What I don’t get is how they can justify outrageously high prices per night while offer little amenities. The room had the very basics — shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash. Nothing extra like lotion etc. They did have a mini bar in the rooms which is expensive but typical for that kind of thing. Our stay was pleasant enough and the bed was quite comfortable. We did see quite a few bugs in the room because there is a large gap under the front door, so make sure to cover it up if you’re wanting to avoid bugs.

This place is great. The beds are so comfortable as well as the pillows. The pool is amazing, love a actually deep pool. Hard to come by these days. Never have a problem with noise. They have a security guard walking around the property at night. Which I appreciate very much. So much with in walking distance or just a quick drive away. I left a gold ring behind and they found and returned that to me. So staff is very helpful and trustworthy. This is the place I stay every time I'm in Austin.
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

This place is amazing atmosphere —— the vibe ———- Amazing staff there was one particular staff member that was super cool he was very nice and very kind regarding a hangover I had I appreciate everything that he did to help me feel better——- thanks j ——- -I will always be coming back here it gives me the feel of Arizona the smell of New Mexico Santa Fe it’s just a beautiful place to hang out here in Austin thank you very much for making my stay Fourth of July amazing⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Snow ——-
Trip type
Vacation
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

Awesome 50's-style motel with retro vibe inside & outside. Rooms are small but clean and have neat furniture & beds, as well as colorful interesting wallpapered walls. Outdoor pool is clean, classic kidney-shaped with lots of chairs around for lounging. Attached restaurant, Joanne's Fine Foods, has wide assortment of delicious dishes, especially for breakfast, with inside & outside seating areas. Motel is located on a busy street with a lot of hip stores & restaurants within walking distance, as well as the legendary The Continental Club for live music.

Had an absolutely incredible experience at the Austin Motel. We checked in to celebrate our engagement and the staff were so kind and gracious! Our room was extremely cool, clean, and fun. The pool was our second home where we enjoyed some great local craft beers. The location of the motel can’t be beat: right next to great coffee, pizza, tacos, shopping and across the street from an amazing Honky Tonk bar the Continental Club. Really can’t say enough great things about the facility, but more importantly about the staff. Amazing.

Cool, little retro motel. Great location. The service was really good, they were very attentive and accommodating. Cool pool. Parking can be a little tight if the motel is close to max capacity, but I am sure they could help with that. Giving it 4/5 because there are other options for close to same price around the same location which I would rather stay at next time. We also thought it was a little disappointing to buy wine/champagne at the front desk but they didn’t have any wine glasses or flutes to drink.

The wallpaper and colors in the room were great! The bathrooms were cozy. The pillows on the bed were very soft. I feel like the decor is the main selling point, otherwise the place feels very minimalist. There is no phone in the room or microwave. Under the door, there is a 1/2 inch opening between the door and the floor. It was fairly annoying, as a dog next door barked into the opening every time they walked by. I kept wondering if bugs were going to be crawling in- some weatherstripping would really help.

The experience at this hotel could be completely different based on the location of your room. There is a one story building and a two story building. You do not want to be on the ground floor of the two story building. The nice family staying above us sounded like a herd of elephants every time they moved. Also the beds are not for anyone with mobility problems. Location and neighborhood were great.
Travel group
Family
Rooms: 3
Service: 5
Location: 5

Austin Grunge Motel! This is fine if you are in your twenties, consider yourself “Woke” and are looking for a place to stay for a drunken weekend. The walls are very thin and the guest very loud. The girl that checked made is very obvious that having to type my name into the computer was a real inconvenience. Also NO PARKING EVEN though I was guaranteed a spot. It was two blocks down on the street.
Trip type
Business
Rooms: 2
Service: 2
Location: 3

Absolutely enjoyed this place to the fullest. It is right by Jo’s, so we went there each more to snag a breakfast taco and coffee. Joann’s is attached to this place, and it is just delicious. The pool was a pretty decent size, and the room was very clean and retro! When we are back in town, we are headed here again. Don’t let the word “motel” fool you! P.S. They have a bar by the pool too.
Trip type
Vacation
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

This hotel is a nice find! Close to great restaurants, bars and stores. Very clean, everything you need, cool room decor. Free parking sealed the deal for me. A bit if a walk to 6th and Rainier Sts, but there are rentable fun scooters everywhere. A true Austin vibe at this motel. Well worth the $. I'll be back.
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Family
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5
Hotel highlights
Quiet, Great value

My opinion, this place is not worth the price. The rooms are very beat up the door lock kept sticking. They should spend the 50$ to change out the hardware at least. It’s a motel that charges 5 star hotel prices. Pool is nice abs staff is friendly. Location is excellent which is probably why they charge so much oh and it’s austin so…
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 1
Service: 4
Location: 5

Super cute motel with a retro vibe! The Austin Motel is way different than the normal places we stay. This place seems to live by the old Austin motto of “Keep Austin Weird.” We really enjoyed how close it was to everything on South Congress, the motif, and the parking was great. The staff was very nice and the Christmas decor was a delightfully kitschy touch. 5 stars for fun and good vibes. Will stay here again for sure!

This place is unbelievable. Will definitely be back! Staff is friendly and helpful, lobby/gift shop is fun with great decor, the property is well taken care of with chic decor. The room was very clean and the beds were SO COMFORTABLE. We also loved the courtyard bar with a live DJ and great, freshly made cocktails. The pool/pool deck was great too. Fun atmosphere and a heated pool. Can’t wait to stay here again!

I’ve been to the Austin Motel twice. Love how they can be flexible with check-in times. Just call them in advance and ask. The pool is a treat. I’ve been to a Free Brittany Crossroads movie night there. Fabulousness It’s near lots of shops and tasty places to eat. IMO, South Congress is more interesting than middle of downtown Austin. If you’re looking for a fun, hip, boutique hotel, book Austin Motel!

It's like being in a retro 70's movie! It totally sets the tone for how awesome Austin is. The staff was amazing and so helpful for giving us customized ideas of what to do for what we wanted. Highly recommend! Great location and not too far to walk to downtown or to see the bridges with bats.
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Couple
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

This lovely quirky motel is such a pleasure to stay at.I love the big old school pool.Love the funky interiors.Love the free parking.Love the coffee bar in the lobby in the am.The restaurant attached to it is Joanne's.Very delicious food.The location can't be beat.All around fabulous!
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Couple
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

A highly recommended stay with your favorite gal pal! Everything about this hotel is super cute from the pool, the (24/7) boutique shop, and rooms! (All rooms have their own cute and quirky wallpaper and bright colored furnishings.) The location of this hotel is right off Congress with a lot of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and shops all within walking distance as well.

This place is an absolute gem. The room I got had the best bed and I didn’t want to leave it. I love kiss print wallpaper and the whole theming of the place. I am sad I wasn’t able to see the rainbow lights. But maybe next time!
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Solo
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5
Hotel highlights
Great value

Just a fun place to stay with a great pool, poolside bar, and right in the middle of everything on S. Congress!
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Family
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5
Noteworthy details
Cost of parking included with your room. At least an additional $50 at most other hotels.

Overpriced unfortunately. You’re paying for the location and brand and not the experience. So much potential, so little delivered. Room has the barest minimum. The 1.5 inch gap under the door was the perfect entrance for little critters and TONS of light from the parking lot. We had to get extra towels just to fill the gap.

I was charged 150.00 for a lost key, I understand a charge but 150.00 to replace a key! My 185.00 stay turned into 445.00 changed me hotel and city tax for the key replacement, will never stay here again. I guess they need to make up lost revenue.
Travel group
Solo
Rooms: 4
Service: 5
Location: 3

It had been a few years...my wife and I hadn't stayed hear since new managment took over about 5 years ago. It's a great redo with retro upgrades and a new outside bar extension to Joanne's restaurant and bar next door. So glad much of the old motor court elements remain...still the coolest place to stay in south Austin!

Best location in Austin if you like South Congress! The Austin Motel was a fun little kitsch stay. The staff was very friendly and we were even upgraded for free on arrival. The room itself was quirky with Mexican tile and a lived in feel, but comfortable. Bed was a little firm. Easy to see why it's an Austin staple.

Awesome place. Has a retro feel. The beds are Casper mattresses and pillows, which are super comfortable. Very convenient location. Reasonably priced. Amazing pool. The pool has a towel service and a bar. Very clean. Loved it! Right next to some great restaurants, takeout, and night life. Definitely recommend.

Definitely cute, and you can't beat the location. Could benefit from some mini fridges to stash the room beers that can be purchased in the lobby. Otherwise, the pillows and memory foam beds were top notch, and the shower products were awesome. Each room has slightly different decor that is fun and colorful.

Great location and friendly staff. However, the room wasn't very clean. Our socks were dirty from walking around in the room right away, towels had hair on them, pillow cases has hair and make up or something that looked like makeup. Extra blanket had hair on it, and it just wasn't over all clean.

Get the red corn pancakes. Blueberry. Worth the trip alone. People like the chicken fried steak, and it's good, but not special in any way that sets it apart from other high quality versions at other establishments. Location on S. Congress makes for great weekend spot. Service was friendly.

The crew at the Austin Motel is truly magnificent. I'll be a customer for life because of the care and hospitality Helenah and rest of the team has shown me. If you're thinking of visiting Austin, the Austin Motel is the BEST place to be!
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

There were multiple issues with our room but that could've all been overlooked if the staff had been kind. As a service industry vet, I could never imagine talking to a customer the way the staff talked to us. While the motel is beautiful, there is nothing welcoming about this space. More

I love this retro restored hotel ~ great location and such a fun atmosphere. I must shout out to Helena the desk clerk who was so friendly. Highly recommend ~ it won’t disappoint.
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Friends
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

Couldn’t have asked for a better staycation! Such a convenient and awesome location. Great pool, fun atmosphere and all very pandemic friendly with the motel layout. Fun takeout from Joann’s and Jo’s and walking down South Congress made for a delightful weekend getaway.

Absolutely loved staying here! We have always wanted to stay at the Austin Motel and finally got to. Very cute decorations, beautiful patio area and pool and just an absolute pleasure.
Trip type
Vacation
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

I am SUPER DISAPPOINTED by the fact that we cannot use the pool because of a private event. And they just send you an email the same morning like it means nothing for your stay. Honestly, I wouldn't have booked this hotel without a pool... I DO NOT RECOMMEND.

Literally the coolest place we’ve ever stayed! Location can’t be beat. Decor was fun and thoughtful. Super clean rooms and facilities. We enjoyed having brunch at the attached restaurant and shopping in the bodega. Most fun hotel we’ve ever experienced.

really great! Each room has unique decorations which makes each time you stay there completely different. The surrounding area is really great to walk around and explore. The rates are also extreme good, so i would recommend it to out of towners.

Great staycation location, perfect stay. Great staff, great vibe, and I really enjoyed having a room overlooking the pool. Even meet their local celebrity, the property cat.Too bad it rained that day. Definitely planning a second staycation soon.

This place is right out of the 1960's. Great value for the location just south of the river across from downtown Austin. Tons of bars and restaurants to walk to from this facility. The people here are hip, cool and go along with keep Austin

The hotel is a little run down, but quaint. Biggest issue here is lack of follow through with CoVid protocol. They are not wiping surfaces, or enforcing social distancing. There is no access to hand sanitizer or wipes.The courtyard seating

When my mom comes to visit, I recommend the Austin Motel. She enjoys the location best of all, right here in the center of the hippest zip: 78704. My favorite part is the people who work in the lobby. Clearly they're happy being there. One

We're staying here tonight and have been really disappointed with this motel. We've stayed at other converted divey motels that have been turned into similar style properties and had great experiences, but this motel has just put on a coat

This is just a great little relaxed hotel and such a reasonable price, right in the heart of Austin. If you stay 3 days, it is around $120 a night, and you are within blocks of so many great restaurants, coffee bars, and shopping! Even if

Day-Pool Use review only. They’ve increased their day pass usage to an eye watering $40/3 hour block. We happily paid it considering the likelihood of COVID related procedures. Unfortunately, there were no actual procedures in place to

Really cool.. Laid back. Very nice staff.... We had a pool suite for a couple of days and it was great. Everything in walking distance.. my favorite place to stay in Austin
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

Great place to stay! Comfy rooms and beds. Great staff!
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Family
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5
Hotel highlights
Luxury, Quiet, Kid-friendly

Stayed 2 nights with our family. Rooms were uniquely put together. Clean and spacious. Pool is cool too. Good vibes and great location. We will be coming back.
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Location: 5

They don't provide food service in the pool. And parking was elsewhere. Maybe if you spent the night it would be better? Hope I never have to.....
Travel group
Friends
Service: 3
Location: 5

The coolest motel I’ve ever stayed in! The staff were super friendly, room was clean with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and soap provided. The aesthetic of the place is what tops it off for me though! More

Great location staff were friendly and helpful. The downside was the room, tiny and overpriced
Trip type
Vacation
Travel group
Couple
Rooms: 1
Service: 5
Location: 5

Get the rooms in the old building up front. They are charming and cool. The back rooms are teetering on the edge of dive motel and can be gross.
Rooms: 3
Service: 5
Location: 5

Super cute quaint relaxing little pool - incredibly genuine and welcoming staff - clean & curated - highly recommend!!
Trip type
Vacation
Service: 5
Location: 5

The name describes it correctly: just a motel! Fun but cheap decoration, cold shower for 4 days, leak in the bathroom, terrible air quality and circulation.

Really cool-looking place! I love the '50s/'60s ambiance, both in the rooms and in the restaurant. Very clean, too, which means a lot in today's world.

Cute spot in a great area but it's a motel with dazzle lol.
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Location: 5

Awesome everything. Rooms deserve a fresh remodel or tear down and remodel. Good service
Rooms:…
More

Adorable, friendly right in the middle of Congress!! Such a vibe!
Location: 5

Great location. Easy parking. Friendly staff. Nice little pool. Rooms were kitschy.