W Austin
This is now my first choice for lodging whenever I'm in Austin. The location is great - right along the Lake with easy access to the running trail, Congress Avenue restaurants and the bars and restaurants along West 4th, 5th and 6th streets. The hotel itself offers a number of great spaces to relax and unwind, from the outdoor bar and pool, to the different bars and lobby area. I've had great rooms every time I've stayed there, from an amazing suite, to a good sized regular room on my last trip. To top it off, the staff is uniformly friendly and attentive, from the welcome desk, to the servers and the room attendants.