The DRISKILL HOTEL
Stay in a Living Museum

The grand ol' lady of Texas historic hotels. Photo/©2006 Larry D. Moore

Driskill Hotel :: $$$-$$$$
604 Brazos St.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-5911; (800) 252-9367; www.driskillhotel.com

This is more than just another luxury hotel. Built in 1886 and painstakingly restored to its original grandeur in 1997 and 1998. The Driskill Hotel is a shinning, living monument to a bygone era.

The lobby is stunning. Stained glass skylights, sparkling marble floor, period antiques and real Texas art. The Driskill boasts 189 rooms, offers luxurious suites, fitness center and a complete array of business amenities. Pets are accepted with restrictions and a pet fee.

Located on Sixth Street, you should be aware that's ground zero for party central Austin. Revelers party outside the hotel until the wee hours of the morning. Many of the revelers stay here and bring the party from the street to their room. Noise is a genuine concern.

Another real drawback is the parking. An inconvenient struggle if there ever was one.

I have stayed here three times with mixed results. My husband and I disagree on the Driskill. He loves it because, “the staff leaves you alone and there's always a party goin' on.”

I have difficulty recommending the Driskill Hotel for the same reasons my husband adores it…

The rooms can make all the difference. Unfortunately, they are the most inconsistent of all Austin downtown hotels. Small and cramped to spacious, luxurious, pampered comfort. I suggest you get a complete description of your room before reserving and avoid street side rooms if noise annoys you.

The Driskill Hotel Bar. ACVB Photo

This hotel is a living museum, death by chocolate eye candy for the architectural connoisseur or anyone interested in Texas history. A must.

Almost as expensive as the Four Seasons Hotel, you may want to just visit the Driskill Hotel and stay at the Four Seasons or Stephan F. Austin Hotel.

I recommend you stay at this hotel if you're like my husband. You want to be as close to the party as possible because getting back to your room blind drunk just involves staggering a few feet in a straight line.

When I think of my experiences with historic hotels or Austin luxury hotels in general, I'm usually disappointed. Granted I always expect perfection for luxury accommodations so my expectation may be too high. Historic hotels will have parking problems and small rooms. Luxury hotels succeed or fall flat based on staff attentiveness and service more than any other factor.

So I recommend the Driskill Hotel based on my first visit where I enjoyed a magical and relaxing fall weekend at this landmark downtown Austin hotel. What made it perfect was all of Austin was in Dallas for the OU game. We had the hotel to ourselves. Got an upgraded room for a little more. Never moved the car. We strolled empty streets and had the city to ourselves.

I hope your stay at the Driskill Hotel reflects my first visit… not my last two!

One more observation. Like many historic hotels, there is a resident ghost. The “Houston Bride” killed herself in room 29 after being jilted at the church alter. She has been seen walking the corridors in her flowing white wedding gown carrying wedding presents. Her presence, real or not adds an air of authenticity to the ambiance and history.

If I saw the Houston Bride myself, I would give the Driskill Hotel a recommendation without caveat. Unfortunately, I did not see her.

Originally a Cattle Baron's hotel, this is the Cattle Baron's room.

The Crystal Meeting Room.

The elegant Driskill Ballroom.

LOCATION: About 8 miles from Austin Bergstrom International Airport. On the corner of 6th and Brazos Streets, one block east of Congress Ave.

FROM THE AIRPORT: Turn left (west) on Hwy. 71. Take the ramp on the left to Bastrop Hwy./TX-71 W. Exit Bastrop Hwy/US-183 N. Follow US-183 N to Airport Blvd./TX-111-LOOP, exit toward 1st-5th-7th St/TX-343-LOOP. Stay left at the fork and continue towards E 1st St. (Cesar Chavez). Follow signs for 1st-5th Street and merge onto E 1st St.(Cesar Chavez). Turn right at Red River St. Turn left on 6th St. Turn right at Brazos St.

HOTEL FACILITIES:

• 24 hour fitness center
• Massage services
• Nightly sweet treats served outside the 1886 Café & Bakery from 9pm - 10pm
• 24-hour concierge service
• 24-hour room service
• Complimentary shoe shine
• Daily newspaper delivery
• One-day laundry and dry cleaning service
• Safety deposit boxes

Guests have 24/7 access to the Executive Business Center including: Dell workstations, color laser printers, fax machines, office supplies, copiers, secretarial services.

DINING: The Driskill Grill is considered by some to be one of the best restaurants in Austin. Their executive chef prepares an ever-changing array of innovative and impeccably prepared food in elegant surroundings.

1886 Café & Bakery is well-known as "Austin's Original Socializing Parlor" and features contemporary, Southern dining for breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night meals and full-bar service. The 1886 also offers a complete line of homemade pastries and desserts with service until midnight Friday and Saturday. Rated by Zagat Survey 2007 as Austin's Best New American Cuisine.

ROOMS: 189 guestrooms and suites distributed between the Historic Wing, with soaring ceilings, elaborate woodwork and balconies, and the Traditional Wing, built in 1929 and featuring classic styling and colors of the Texas Hill Country.

All luxury hotel accommodations include:

• Original art, oil paintings, and precious antiques
• Ornate beds designed exclusively for The Driskill
• Elegant draperies
• Complimentary, wireless or high-speed Internet access
• Cable television and in-room movies
• Plush terry robes
• Luxurious bed and bath linens
• Molten Brown of London bath amenities
• Mini-bar
• Safety deposit box/in-room safes
• Nightly turn-down service

MEETING/CONVENTION SPACE: They can host conventions, executive meetings, corporate retreats or special milestone celebrations with their more than 18,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and event facilities.

State-of-the-art, audio-visual equipment and computer capabilities.

Also a premier wedding site in Austin. "2007 Best of Wedding Pick" by The Knot. You can create a personalized menu, select your cake and reserve guestrooms.

The Driskill is a full-service hotel adept at handling every aspect of your event. From menu selection and dance floors to centerpieces and personalized menu cards. Check their web site for more pictures, menus and contact information.

HOTEL LINK: This opens a new window for Driskill Hotel.

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN HOTELS & MOTELS::Austin Motel::Doubletree Club::Embassy Suites::Four Seasons::Hilton::Hilton Garden Inn::Hotel San Jose::Hyatt Regency::InterContinental Stephen F. Austin::Mansion At Judges Hill::Omni Hotel::Radisson Hotel::Sheraton

IH-35 CORRIDOR HOTELS & MOTELS::Doubletree::Drury Inn::Embassy Suites::Habitat Suites::Holiday Inn Town Lake::Hyatt Place::Marriott::Omni Hotel Southpark::Wyndham Garden

ARBORETUM HOTELS & MOTELS::Candlewood Suites Arboretum::Comfort Suites::Courtyard::Embassy Suites::Hampton Inn::Hilton Garden Inn::Homewood Suites::Hyatt Place::Renaissance

AIRPORT HOTELS & MOTELS::Best Western Hotel & Suites::Comfort Suites::Courtyard by Marriott::Hampton Inn & Suites::Hawthorn Suites::Hilton Austin Airport::Holiday Inn Express::La Quinta Inn & Suites

Leave DRISKILL HOTEL and go to AUSTIN HOTELS.

Click here to go to Austin, Texas HOME.