The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel

Hotels
Sonesta Hotels
9 (595 reviews)
701 Congress Avenue , Austin , us

Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Business center
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Close to downtown
Friendly staff
Cons:
Uncomfortable sofa bed
Poor service during busy times

Categories

Cleanliness
8.39
The room was not serviced on one occasion, thus impacting cleanliness.
Service
9.36
Some positive interactions from staff, but issues with phone support were mentioned.
Location
9.9
Great location, close to downtown and restaurants.
Room Quality
8.85
Room amenities were good but issues with the shower handle detracted from the experience.
Amenities
8.88
Amenities were present, but the breakfast wait was excessive.
Value for Money
8.84
Some guests felt the experience didn't match the high cost.
Food and Beverage
7.89
Breakfast quality noted as poor by some guests.
Overall Experience
9.86
Despite some issues, many guests were satisfied and would return.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-10 21:07

Property Description

Prime Location
Located steps away from Austin's State Capitol and other attractions, The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel offers convenience and easy access to the city's highlights.

Luxurious Amenities
Indulge in spacious guestrooms equipped with coffeemakers, and benefit from the expertise of our on-site concierge services for a personalized stay experience.

Leisure and Dining
Unwind at our 24-hour fitness facilities and indoor pool, or savor delicious meals at the on-site Roaring Fork restaurant, open for lunch and dinner.

Experience the best of Austin at The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel.

Important information:

You must show a valid photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all special requests cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability upon check-in. Additional charges may apply. When traveling with pets, please note that an extra charge of $100 per pet, per stay applies. A maximum of 2 pets per room is allowed

A Nightly Destination Fee of $19 + tax Includes: fitness center access, lobby coffee tea & cart, Wi-Fi, 2 in-room bottled waters, in-room coffee & tea, $10 daily beverage credit, free local calls, indoor pool.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: AUS

Location

Property Accessibility

Total Disability Score: 7.14
Public Area
  • Ramp: No
  • Entrance Leveled: No
  • Pet Friendly: No
Reception And Restaurant
  • Reception Hearing Accessible: No
  • Reception Wheelchair Accessible: No
  • Restaurant Wheelchair Accessible: No
Elevator
  • Elevator Audio Signals: No
  • Elevator Braille Numbers: No
  • Elevator Contrasting Buttons: No
  • Elevator Visual Signs: No
Show all accessibility features

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 595 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.39
Service: 9.36
Location: 9.9
Room Quality: 8.85
Amenities: 8.88
Value for Money: 8.84
Food and Beverage: 7.89
Overall Experience: 9.86
E
Ever family_with_children us
5
Pros:

Good location

Cons:

Pool is too small

2026-08-07 via Nuitee
L
Lisa solo_traveller us
10
Overall, it was a great experience
Pros:

The facility and the service is superb

Cons:

I would probably enjoy it more during the week

2026-08-06 via Nuitee
J
Jerickn couple us
7
Pros:

they did not include my room breakfast , the pool is super small

Cons:

clean rooms

2026-08-06 via Nuitee
F
Farrah couple us
10
Great staff wonderful facility
Pros:

Convenient venue , great atmosphere

Cons:

Not place to take the dog to the bathroom. Everything is cement.

2026-08-03 via Nuitee
L
Lena solo_traveller dk
10
2026-07-23 via Nuitee
R
Ronald couple us
9
Here for George Strait concert
Pros:

Historic feel

Cons:

Short staffed for Valet on this stay

2026-07-22 via Nuitee
L
Lisa couple us
5
2026-07-21 via Nuitee
N
Nozomi couple jp
8
2026-07-19 via Nuitee
M
Marissa Castillo solo_traveller us
3
Cons:

El elevador no funcionaba en el estacionamiento
El cobro de $12'99 por dos botellas de agua exagerado cuando eran las regulares no las que tenían un precio de $6
Mi experiencia en el desayuno 1 hr esperando el desayuno por cierto mi niña tiro el vaso de se bebida y no le cambiaron la bebida el empleado lo levantó del piso y se lo dio para que lo tomará totalmente decepcionante de mis peores experiencias en mis estancias una noche por $470
Fuera totalmente del valor y la atención ☹️☹️😡😡

2026-07-08 via Nuitee
M
Marcus solo_traveller gb
9
2026-07-02 via Nuitee
K
Kelley solo_traveller us
10
Overall great hotel
Pros:

Perfect for event we attended downtown

Cons:

Valet services were slow

2026-06-28 via Nuitee
J
Joanna solo_traveller gb
10
Pros:

A superb location right in the heart of Austin. The room was fabulously spacious, had a very comfortable large bed, with great toiletries provided. The staff were very helpful and friendly. I can't recommend it enough.

Cons:

Nothing at all

2026-06-23 via Nuitee
L
Lesley couple gb
9
Lovely hotel in a good location.
Pros:

Location is excellent. Friendly helpful staff. Very spacious room.

Cons:

Bar was closed on Sunday night

2026-06-23 via Nuitee
W
William couple ec
10
2026-06-22 via Nuitee
J
James solo_traveller us
10
2026-06-19 via Nuitee
M
Maria couple us
10
2026-06-19 via Nuitee
K
Kathleen couple us
10
Lovely, central stay in Austin!
Pros:

Great location just down from the Capitol and near a lot of very good restaurants. Very polite, helpful staff. We upgraded to a junior suite and were not disappointed. Very spacious with a large sitting area and two bathrooms. Wonderful water pressure in the shower. The bed and pillows were very comfortable.

2026-06-13 via Nuitee
T
Tim family_with_children us
10
Awesome for a relaxing few days.
Pros:

Clean, comfortable, and in a great location.

Cons:

Parking, but any hotel downtown, parking isn’t easy.

2026-05-30 via Nuitee
C
Craig couple gb
9
Smart, comfortable hotel in Downtown Austin
Pros:

This was my second time staying at the Royal Sonesta for SXSW music festival. Everything was great. I liked my room a lot, which was a generous size, nicely air conditioned and had a great bathroom. I would happily stay here again for SXSW or any time I'm in Austin.

2026-05-28 via Nuitee
S
Sami solo_traveller fr
10
2026-05-26 via Nuitee