The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel

Hotels
Sonesta Hotels
9 (579 reviews)
701 Congress Avenue , Austin , us

Children allowed
Pets 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

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 579 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
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
A
Akkerhuys couple gb
10
2026-05-25 via Nuitee
G
Garza solo_traveller us
10
2026-05-25 via Nuitee
K
Kelley extended_group us
10
Perfect hotel for Austin events
Pros:

Great service, big rooms,
great location,

Cons:

Valet parking was super slow

2026-05-19 via Nuitee
J
james couple us
10
Very comfortable, good amenities, excellent staff
Pros:

Everything was first rate !

Cons:

Nothing

2026-04-27 via Nuitee
R
Robert couple us
10
A lovely downtown hotel in Austin!
Pros:

Nice touch to get $15/day for drinks and snacks. Room very large and bed extremely comfortable. Location very good - right in the heart of Austin.

Cons:

Wish that breakfast was included.

2026-04-25 via Nuitee
N
Nerman solo_traveller at
10
2026-04-16 via Nuitee
K
Krista solo_traveller us
7
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Outlets for charges and parking too expensive

2026-04-13 via Nuitee
K
Kahlie solo_traveller us
10
2026-04-12 via Nuitee
H
Hector couple us
8
2026-04-07 via Nuitee
T
Todd couple us
10
Perfect
Pros:

Beautiful accommodations in great downtown location.

2026-04-04 via Nuitee
T
Tomasz solo_traveller pl
10
2026-04-02 via Nuitee