Thompson Austin

Thirty-Two Floors Above Downtown, and No Weight Limit for the Dog

The corner of 5th Street and San Jacinto Boulevard sits right where downtown Austin's office towers meet its bars and music venues, and Thompson Austin is housed in a 32-storey tower there, one of the newer shapes in the skyline. The design is sleek and open, with hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the city in every room. The hotel shares its building with tommie, a smaller Hyatt brand run as a hotel within the hotel, but Thompson is the flagship: 229 rooms, a pool deck, a cantina, a diner, a cocktail lounge and a mezcal omakase counter.

Why It Works

Plenty of city hotels call themselves pet-friendly and then cap the dog at 25 pounds or charge a hefty cleaning fee. Thompson Austin does neither. Two pets of any size are welcome, dogs or cats, with no additional fee, and a pet agreement at check-in is all the paperwork. The staff also keep a list of pet-friendly places around town. That makes it one of the rare design-led downtown hotels where a Labrador or a Great Dane is as welcome as a lapdog, and it is exactly why it earned a place in our selection.

Why This Location

From the lobby, Sixth Street and its music bars are a block away, Congress Avenue and the State Capitol are a short walk west, and Lady Bird Lake lies a few blocks south, with the Ann and Roy Butler hike-and-bike trail circling the water for miles. That trail is the natural dog walk: shaded in parts, busy with local runners and their dogs, and the best way to see the city. On summer evenings, the bat colony that emerges from under the Congress Avenue Bridge is within walking distance too. Valet parking is available for guests arriving by car.

Fast Facts

• Vibe: sleek, urban, social, high-energy

• Rooms: 229 rooms, 14 suites and 17 Upper Stories residential-style suites with up to two bedrooms

• Best For: city breaks with a large dog, groups of friends, business travellers, live music fans

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: the no-fee policy for two pets of any size

• Dining: Arriba Abajo rooftop cantina, Fifth Street Diner, The Royale Room cocktail lounge, Sip and Savor mezcal omakase, The Coffee Bar, in-room dining by mobile order

• Amenities: two pets of any size at no extra charge, fourth-floor pool deck with cabanas and daybeds, 6,700-square-foot fitness centre with Studio Three classes, valet parking

• Attractions: Sixth Street, Lady Bird Lake and the Butler hike-and-bike trail, the Texas State Capitol, the Congress Avenue Bridge bats

Five Ways to Eat and Drink Without Leaving the Tower

The food and drink programme is broad for a single building. Arriba Abajo, the cantina on the fourth-floor pool level, serves fajitas, tacos and handcrafted cocktails. Fifth Street Diner handles comfort classics such as omelettes, burgers and brisket hash. The Royale Room is a seventies-inspired lounge built around martinis, Sip and Savor pairs a Japanese-inspired omakase with mezcal, and The Coffee Bar pours coffee, craft beer and natural wine. In-room dining can be ordered from a phone, useful on nights when the dog has walked enough.

Suites for Longer Stays

Beyond the standard rooms, 14 named suites, including the San Jacinto, Brazos and Thompson suites, add space, and the 17 Upper Stories suites, from studios to two bedrooms, are designed for residential-style stays. For travellers with a large dog or two animals, those extra square feet make a real difference over several nights.

Practical Notes for Pet Owners

Sign the pet agreement at check-in and ask the front desk for their list of dog-friendly patios and parks. Plan walks for early morning or evening in summer, when Austin pavements heat up fast. Service animals are welcome under a separate policy.