Driskill Hotel (The Driskill)

The Driskill Hotel is a lovely Romanesque-style building in the heart of downtown Austin. Guided group tours of the area include a stop here, along with entertaining and insightful information about the history of this grand hotel, built by cattle baron Jesse Driskill. Over the years many ghost stories have arisen, leading locals to believe that the hotel is haunted. After your city tour, return to the Driskill for a drink or bite to eat and see if you agree.

• The Driskill Hotel is worth a peek from every first-time visitor to Austin.

• On-site dining options include the Driskill Grill for upscale dinners and the 1886 Cafe & Bakery, which serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The Driskill Bar serves drinks with live music every day.

• Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

• The Driskill is pet-friendly.

• Monthly local craft beer dinners and Victorian afternoon teas are popular, so book in advance.

• The hotel is accessible to wheelchair users.

The Driskill is located in downtown Austin—the only hotel on famed 6th Street—just off of I-35. It’s a short walk from the MetroRail’s Downtown station and other area points of interest, such as the Texas Capitol and Lady Bird Lake.

A visit to the Driskill Hotel is ideal any time of year, but you might want to avoid the massive crowds associated with the city’s most popular festivals, Austin City Limits (ACL) in the fall and South by Southwest (SXSW) in the spring.

The suites at the Driskill are some of the most opulent and unique accommodations in the area, fulfilling Jesse Driskill’s dream that the hotel would be the finest of its kind south of St. Louis. The 1,200-square-foot (111.5-square-meter) Cattle Baron’s Suite features two bedrooms, an 8-seat dining room, and living room in a building that is alleged to be among the most haunted hotels in the US.