The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel

Hotels
•
Sonesta Hotels
9 (557 reviews)
701 Congress Avenue , Austin , us

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Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Electric bicycle charging station
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Terrace
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
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.

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

Property Policies

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 6 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and charges are applicable.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 55 per day.

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 557 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
G
Gernot • couple • at
10
Unser Lieblingshotel in Austin
Pros:

Zentral gelegen, freundliches Personal, sehr gutes Frühstück mit großer Auswahl, große gemütliche Zimmer, alles funktioniert.

2026-01-27 • via Nuitee
C
Claudia • couple • us
8
Great location and service.
Pros:

Location

Cons:

It’s an older property which has its charm but rooms could be upgraded a bit

2026-01-22 • via Nuitee
L
Lauren • family_with_children • au
8
Great value and location for the price
Pros:

Great location to Sundance square. Breakfast was great and rooms clean and pool wad open until late which kids enjoyed.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
N
Nathan • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-01-15 • via Nuitee
B
Brandi • couple • us
10
2026-01-15 • via Nuitee
F
Felix • couple • us
10
2026-01-09 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • us
7
Cons:

The hot tub was cold. And the shower in the room never did turn hot

2026-01-08 • via Nuitee
S
soobert • Couples • Oregon
10
Great hotel, amazing price
Pros:

One of the top ten hotels I've stayed in, ever. We got the king upgrade for just a few $ more. The super-friendly staff helped us check in quickly and gave us all the details. The fitness center is brand new and open 24/7. The hot tub and pool were legit. All room fixtures looked new. Room decorations were quirky in a good way. I took two or three showers daily just because it felt so nice. 6th Street and the river are a short walk south. Capitol visible to your north. Location has plenty of nearby overnight street parking. Oh, and the bartender did a great job. This hotel was one of our four-day getaway's highlights.

2026-01-06 • via Tripadvisor
S
Sergio • couple • us
8
2026-01-06 • via Nuitee
S
Stéphanie • solo_traveller • fr
7
2026-01-05 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • us
10
2026-01-02 • via Nuitee
M
Mario • family_with_children • us
10
Pros:

Staff and the upgrade of my room to a suite

Cons:

All good

2025-12-31 • via Nuitee
E
Eric • couple • us
10
2025-12-29 • via Nuitee
A
Alexander • family_with_children • at
9
2025-12-23 • via Nuitee
S
Sylvia • couple • us
10
Beautiful historic venue with plenty of walking distance attractions!
Pros:

We were attending a show at the Paramount. Perfect location/ just around the corner.

Cons:

No nearby opportunities for self parking.

2025-12-20 • via Nuitee
A
Alexander • couple • de
9
2025-12-20 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • couple • us
9
2025-12-18 • via Nuitee
I
Ileana • couple • us
9
Excellent location, comfortable rooms, fancy bar area and delicious food.
Pros:

The breakfast was OUT OF THIS WORLD! Delicious!! The indoor pool and hot tub were a plus!

Cons:

Maybe they were short staffed that day because it took a while to help us with our food and the service was slow.

2025-12-15 • via Nuitee
B
Ben • couple • gb
6
2025-12-13 • via Nuitee
C
captjO5668OM • Family
6
A bit tired
Pros:

The Stephen F Austin Hotel is in a great location. It has amazing history and is a local institution. However, it is a bit tired and is due for a refresh. The rooms are clean but very dated and worn. Worn furniture, curtains, and switches that did not work were some of the obvious items.

That said, the staff was very friendly and helpful. However, in a competitive market like Austin, there is no reason Sonesta has not updated this.

The best thing the Stephen F has going for it is the balcony off of the second floor bar. One of the best locations for a cocktail overlooking Congress and to view the capital.

I will be going back to Austin several times over the next few months. I have made reservations elsewhere.

My recommendation is to have a cocktail and look at the history but stay elsewhere.

My please to Sonesta to update this property and make it the gem it once was and should still be.

2025-12-12 • via Tripadvisor