8 new must-stay hotels in Texas

It’s a banner year in Texas for travelers, with impressive new hotels and resorts opening throughout the state. These 8 generating the most buzz include a beachfront haven, a golfer’s paradise, and stylish big-city retreats. 

Best for: Easygoing escapists and the young at heart

Go retro at this classic motor lodge that wraps around a swimming pool courtyard. Originally built in 1963, the 2-story property has been totally revamped—but the midcentury vibe remains. Pale woods and airy whites predominate in the hotel’s 61 rooms, where the bathroom tiles are pool-water blue.

Sip a Tom Collins in the cozy cocktail lounge or try “fine-ish” American cuisine at the on-site restaurant. You can also dine at the rooftop bar or poolside in the courtyard. A short walk across Seawall Boulevard takes you to the beach. Rates start at $250.

Some rooms have soaking tubs and walk-in showers, and some have vintage artwork and traditional European furniture. Two suites have private gardens.

Culinary standouts include a bistro serving high tea from 2 to 4 p.m. and a 20th-floor restaurant with skyline views. The latter’s terrace overlooks the rooftop infinity pool, a boho-chic hangout with Moroccan flavor. Rates start at $500.

Best for: Urban adventurers and free spirits

With eye-catching style and offbeat energy, this downtown hotel leans into Austin’s creative appeal. There’s plenty of imaginative artwork by Texas artists. Plus, the 246 rooms celebrate the city’s eccentric spirit with fun pops of color, guitar-amp nightstands, and vintage concert posters from the historic (and nearby) State and Paramount theatres.

Steve McHugh, one of San Antonio’s best chefs, left the Alamo City to lead the hotel’s Luminaire restaurant, which specializes in all-day charcuterie boards. Take in views of the skyline and surrounding hills at an outdoor terrace bar next to the 8th-floor lobby. Rates start in the mid-$200s.

Best for: The culturally minded and city slickers

Located downtown in Dallas’ vibrant Arts District, this 22-floor luxury hotel emphasizes art. More than 20 original pieces by regional artists are spread throughout the property. In the lobby, a large contemporary sculpture resembling a cotton-seed pod is a reminder of the important role the cotton trade played in the city’s early development.

The 267 rooms have a midcentury modern vibe, and many have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the city’s skyscrapers. An 11th-floor open-air cocktail lounge sits next to a pool with cozy cabanas. Margaret’s, the hotel’s signature restaurant, features a contemporary American menu that includes modern takes on Texas favorites. Rates start at $599.

There’s also plenty for guests to do when they’re not golfing. The 13 dining options include an upscale steakhouse and a casual eatery with an array of virtual simulations, some golf-related. Among its multiple retail outlets is a PGA store selling logo merchandise from all PGA championship tournaments. Four pools, a plush spa, and a large fitness center round out the amenities. Rates start at $305; greens fees extra.

Best for: Serenity seekers and nature lovers

Centered around a 42-foot shade tree, this Autograph Collection Hotel beside San Antonio’s Hemisfair Park will feature abundant greenery and landscaping. In addition to new construction, the property includes a trio of 19th-century buildings that are being converted into posh bungalow suites and a spa.

Spanish tiles add style to the 253 elegant accommodations (some with private patios). In the lobby, bronze finishes and wooden facets mingle with modern design for a look that’s refined and inviting. 

Few details are available for the hotel’s 2 restaurants, but one will be poolside. Scheduled to open this fall. Rates start at $300.

Best for: Cosmopolitan trendsetters and artsy types

On the edge of Buffalo Bayou Park west of downtown Houston, this hotel occupies the first 15 floors of a 36-story skyscraper. Like all Thompson properties (an upscale boutique brand from Hyatt), it will have a midcentury modern aesthetic: Think warm wooden tones and supple leather trim throughout. The hotel’s design feels forward-thinking, with curved architecture and rose-gold fixtures in its 172 rooms.

Be entertained in the property’s supper club–style restaurant and take in sweeping vistas from a casual café or the infinity pool (with a 1-acre deck) on the 7th floor. Scheduled to open this fall. Rates start at $349

Best for: Discerning sophisticates and bon vivants

This ultraluxe, 106-room boutique hotel brings one of the world’s top hospitality brands to Fort Worth’s heralded Cultural District, home to the Kimbell Art Museum. Aiming for similar global renown, the hotel will blend opulent comforts with Lone Star character—like an extravagant, barn-inspired spa.

Texas artifacts, regional artwork, and hints of Spanish architecture will speak to the Western way of life. The hotel’s gourmet restaurant faces pergola-studded gardens, and guests can relax in a rose-colored library or in a poolside cabana on the upstairs terrace. Scheduled to open late 2023. Rates not yet available.

Freelance writer Shilo Urban is based in Fort Worth.