While Texans have long been aware of Austin’s impressive food, live music, and natural beauty, the city’s recent tourism boom indicates that the rest of the nation is quickly catching on to the Lone Star capital’s appeal.

As a result, neighborhoods like Downtown Austin and West Campus have seen new hotels and boutique inns rising at a record pace in order to serve the wave of visitors arriving in Austin every year, and South Congress is no exception.

This funky neighborhood south of Lady Bird Lake is known for eclectic shopping, popular local eateries, and distinct hotels with strong historic and cultural links to the community. South Congress is a prime neighborhood for locals looking for a relaxing staycation. Also, prospective homebuyers looking to get a feel for the neighborhood may want to consider staying in one of these popular independent hotels.

Here are four popular independent South Congress hotels with fascinating local ties and luxe amenities that make them well worth a visit.

Hotel San José

In 1936, the Hotel San José began its life as an inexpensive “motor court” (also known as a motel). The motel continued its run through the 1950s and 1960s before falling into disrepair during the 1970s and 1980s. Luckily, a local hotelier saw the potential of the space and location and chose to completely revamp the Hotel San José in the 1990s, transforming it into an upscale and modern boutique inn complete with a bungalow aesthetic, 40 guest rooms, and swimming pool.

The Hotel San José’s location directly on South Congress Avenue offers guests easy access to the neighborhood’s bars, restaurants, and shops. Highlights within a two-block radius include trendy burger joint and beer pub Hopdoddy Burger Bar, indoor-outdoor cafe and local favorite Jo’s Coffee, brunch staple South Congress Cafe, and chic designer boutique ByGeorge. 

Austin Motel

Located on the same block as the Hotel San José and holding court on South Congress Avenue since 1938, the Austin Motel is instantly recognizable by its iconic neon sign, illuminating the neighborhood since the motel’s inception. While the motel has been in consistent operation since the 1930s, it experienced a revamp in 2016 courtesy of Liz Lambert, the visionary hotelier behind the Hotel San José.

The hotel’s newest iteration features 41 guest rooms, a 1,100-square-foot swimming pool, onsite parking facilities, the ability to board dogs with a small fee, 24/7 front-desk staff, and an adjacent “Bodega” equipped with beer, snacks, and luxe toiletries.

South Congress Hotel

When the South Congress Hotel opened in 2015, it did so to a torrent of controversy and pushback from the neighborhood. The site that now houses the hotel once hosted a much-beloved food truck park, and local South Congress residents felt that replacing the park with an upscale hotel catering to affluent out-of-towners would interfere with South Congress’s creative, relaxed energy.

However, the South Congress Hotel has managed to seamlessly integrate with its surroundings, thanks to its unobtrusive white facade that blends with the existing South Congress architecture. The hotel’s lobby area offers free WiFi and plenty of table space for locals and guests alike to gather in a social atmosphere. And the hotel also hosts an impressive suite of eateries like all-day restaurant Café No Sé. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s luxurious amenities such as a rooftop pool, 24/7 concierge service, and onsite personal shopping service.

Hotel Saint Cecilia

Another South Congress hotel from the mind of Liz Lambert, the Hotel Saint Cecilia can be found one block off of the main drag, giving it a peaceful, secluded vibe while still allowing guests the convenience of being close to South Congress Avenue. The hotel occupies a Victorian manor house dating back to 1888, when it was occupied by a descendent of Davy Crockett. 

In 2008, Lambert and her team renovated the property and introduced Hotel Saint Cecilia as a luxurious homage to the bohemian rock ‘n roll culture of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The hotel includes five suites and six private bungalows, and all guests can partake of the amenities like a library of vintage LPs, spa minibars with premium Santa Maria Novella products, 24/7 concierge service, a lap pool with a surrounding arbor lounge, and a dog-friendly hotel policy.