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Omni Barton Creek Review
Let us be the first to tell you how incredible the Omni Barton Creek Resort is! This luxurious resort is located in Texas Hill Country just minutes from Downtown Austin. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway, a golf weekend, a staycation or anything else, the Omni Barton Creek won’t disappoint.
Our Verdict
Let us be the first to tell you how incredible the Omni Barton Creek Resort is! This luxurious resort is located in Texas Hill Country just minutes from Downtown Austin. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway, a golf weekend, a staycation or anything else, the Omni Barton Creek won’t disappoint.
The Omni Barton Creek just re-opened at the beginning of May 2019 after being closed for over a year. Needless to say The Omni Barton Creek didn’t just get a facelift but an entire transformation.
After the Omni Barton Creek re-opened, they invited us out to come stay. This review is an honest review and we aren’t being paid or told what to say.
OMNI BARTON CREEK
Where do we even begin? From the moment you walk in the front door, you will be blown away…not only by this property but by the staff.
As avid travelers and hotel experts, the service, the amenities, and the staff is not what we were expecting out of this 4-Star resort.
Omni Barton Creek sets the bar high by providing excellent service, outstanding dining venues, and luxury amenities. Some of the 5-Star resorts we have stayed at should take lessons from the Omni. Seriously!
OUR ROOM
During our stay at the Omni Barton Creek, we stayed in a Standard King Room with a view of the golf course.
Upon entering the room, we immediately noticed features such as a sliding barn door for the bathroom door and very tastefully appointed finishes.
From the lobby to the rooms, the resort makes great use of lots of natural materials with light warm wood tones.
The bathroom has the most perfect lighting, a huge walk in shower and separate toilet area.
DINING
For even the hardest to please, there is food for everyone at the Omni Barton Creek. With seven restaurants at the resort, there is everything from fine dining to seafood to Tex-Mex and beyond.
During our stay we enjoyed breakfast each day at Texas Spice. And let us tell you come hungry to breakfast. The breakfast buffet has everything from cereal to an assortment of fresh fruit to migas to charcuterie and all the typical American breakfast foods. Breakfast is either order off the menu or a buffet with made to order eggs.
Another hidden gem at the Omni Barton’s Creek is Bob’s Steak & Chophouse. For those who aren’t familiar, Bob’s, is an incredible steakhouse that started in Austin. We both love a good steak, and let’s just say we weren’t disappointed with Bob’s.
AMENITIES
The Omni Barton Creek is more than a place to sleep. With something for everyone, the resort features access to golf, an amazing spa, an infinity edge family pool, a relaxing adults only spa pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an indoor pool and a kids club.
Mokara Spa is located on the lobby level and sits at one end of the resort for guests relaxation and privacy. If you are looking to relax, Mokara is the perfect place for that.
Mokara has a great atmosphere with a very relaxing energy. If you are looking to get a massage, a pedicure, a manicure, a facial or any other treatment this is the place to do it. With over 2 dozen treatment rooms, there are plenty of appointments available.
Both the men’s and women’s locker rooms offer a sauna, steam room and a jacuzzi. We enjoyed the facilities during one day of our stay.
SERVICE
A great resort is nothing more than a place to be without excellent service. All of the staff we encountered at Omni Barton Creek were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and truly made you feel like you were at home.
Upon arriving at the Omni Barton Creek we were promptly greeted, assisted with check-in and escorted to our room. Everyone from the bell staff to the front desk to the restaurant staff were so warm and welcoming. The Omni Barton Creek is truly lucky to have each and every member of their staff! And again, we’ve been to much more expensive resorts that could learn a lot from the Omni Barton Creek.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
For us, this was our first stay at the Omni Barton Creek and it certainly won’t be our last. This will be a frequent staycation as it is so close to home.
Whether you live in Texas or not, the Omni Barton Creek should be on your places to visit. It makes a perfect weekend getaway for both families or a romantic couples retreat.
Its hard to have a luxury resort that caters to both families and adult getaways, but the Omni has the perfect space for both.
And when you book with Live Luxe Travel Co., you’ll get complimentary extras like a $100 resort credit, daily breakfast for two and a room upgrade at check-in.
The Driskill Hotel, in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt
The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas is part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection. While it is an independent and historical hotel, the great thing is that you can earn and redeem Hyatt points since the hotel is part of the Unbound Collection. Hyatt describes the Unbound Collection as a global collection of unique and independent stay experiences.
The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas is part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection. While it is an independent and historical hotel, the great thing is that you can earn and redeem Hyatt points since the hotel is part of the Unbound Collection. Hyatt describes the Unbound Collection as a global collection of unique and independent stay experiences.
The Driskill
The Driskill was built in 1886. And it's the oldest operating hotel in Austin and one of the most famous hotels in Texas. From the minute you first step in the hotel lobby, you'll notice the dozens of columns brilliantly lining the lobby and the spotless marble floors. Needless to say this hotel is elegant, gorgeous and simply grand. While we love a new modern hotel, we absolutely love old historical properties. Needless to say, we were almost giddy about getting the opportunity to stay at The Driskill.
The Driskill Hotel has the perfect location in Downtown Austin. Located right in the middle of downtown on 6th Street, the hotel is conveniently located to all of the Downtown Restaurants, Bars and Attractions.
While the hotel is elegant and historical, it's also been rumored to be haunted. While we didn't notice anything unusual during our stay, there are at least three stories over the years that support the the theories of the historical property having spirits wandering the halls. For one, there's a story of a young girl who fell to her death down the grand staircase. And another about the two “suicide brides” who killed themselves in the same bathtub in the same room (room 525 to be exact) 20 years apart to the day. Who knows if these ghost stories have any truth to them. But our advice. Don't stay in room 525.
On our way to our room, we immediately noticed how long the the hallways are. And they remind you yet again that this hotel was built in another era.
The halls are lined with old paintings plus you'll find historical decor in common areas throughout the hotel.
Our Room
Conceived and built by Col. Jesse Driskill, the somewhat recently renovated (1996) Driskill Hotel features 189 guest rooms and suites.
We stayed in a King Room in the historical wing. While the room was on the smaller side (like you would expect from a hotel built in 1886), it was large enough and quite comfortable. The room was decorated with both elements of historical and Texan decor. The room was furnished with a king size bed, couch, closet, desk and two night stands.
The bathroom was again on the small side with a vanity and tile lined tub and shower.
The Driskill Hotel uses June Jacobs Spa Collection Toiletries, the same brand you'll find at most Grand Hyatt properties.
Overall the room met our expectations. It was comfortable, had updated technology including plenty of USB & regular outlets to recharge. And luckily for us, no signs of any paranormal activity.
Dining
The Driskill has several restaurants and a bar.
The main restaurant at The Driskill is The Driskill Grill. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to try The Driskill Grill as it is closed on Sundays. But the restaurant serves up a fine dining experience in an elegant space, serving à la carte and prix fixe tasting menus along with wine pairings.
We did enjoy dinner and a few cocktails at The Driskill Bar. The Driskill Bar serves up pub fare including burgers, salads and small bites. We shared an order of beer cheese loaded fries while sipping on some handcrafted cocktails.
For dinner we both had salads followed by a piece of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. Everything was delicious.
The 1886 Cafe & Bakery features a coffee counter with baked goods, plus serves up all-day American fare in a Victorian tearoom-style setting. Our breakfast at The 1886 Cafe & Bakery and both of our meals were delicious. And service was great too.
Amenities
The hotel has a fairly decent size gym with free weights and several treadmills, elliptical machines and bikes.
While the hotel doesn't have an actual spa, they do have massage rooms along with locker rooms. The men and women's locker rooms feature a steam room. The steam room did have a fairly pungent smell and we decided to skip using it.
Overall Impression
Needless to say, we loved our stay at The Driskill. It is luxurious, historical and even romantic. The service was great and the hotel offered a great home base for exploring Downtown Austin. We can't wait to return.
And for recommendations on things to do in Austin, be sure to check out our Weekend Wanderings, Austin Guide.
If you want to book a room at The Driskill, be sure to check out the Live Luxe Travel Co.. When you book your room at The Driskill with them, you'll not only earn Hyatt Points but get a room upgrade, free breakfast and a $100 food and beverage credit.
Weekend Wanderings: Austin Guide
From partying on 6th Street to canoeing the Colorado River, the city of Austin offers travelers plenty to do and see. Here's our Weekend Wanderings Austin Guide.
From partying on 6th Street to canoeing the Colorado River, the city of Austin offers travelers plenty to do and see. Here's our Weekend Wanderings Austin Guide.
Where To Stay
New hotels are popping up all over Austin. But here are a few of our favorite.
Aloft/Element Downtown Austin: The newly built dual-brand Aloft/Element Downtown Austin has a near perfect location right in the heart of Downtown Austin off Congress Ave. You'll find modern loft style inspired rooms in both sides of the dual-brand property. The hotels feature Caroline, a restaurant and bar with outdoor, street-level dining along with a bakery & coffeehouse. Plus the hip gathering spot on the 2nd floor, the open-air bar Upstairs at Caroline.
The Driskill: The Driskill, part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection, is located right in the heart of Austin on 6th street. The historical and Romanesque-style building opened in 1886 and is the oldest operating hotel in Austin. The luxury and historical hotel has 189 guest rooms including 14 suites, each one with a unique story. Grab breakfast or lunch at the Zagat-rated 1886 Café and Bakery. Then sip cocktails complemented by entertainment at the Driskill Bar and dine at the Driskill Grill—once frequented by Lyndon B. Johnson.
Fairmont Austin: The newest and largest hotel in Austin just opened near the Austin Convention Center. The modern yet luxurious hotel has over 1,000 guestrooms. The hotel also has 5 restaurants and bars, along with a rooftop pool and 140,000 sq ft of meeting space. The on-site spa has a salon, a gym and a hot tub.
Where To Eat
Torchy's Tacos: You'll hear people brag about Torchy's Tacos. The Torchy's motto is damn good tacos. Well Torchy's definitely lives up to the hype. In fact we ate there twice it was so good. And the tacos were in fact some of the best damn tacos we've ever tasted.
Franklin Barbecue: Franklin Barbecue truly might be the best BBQ joint in the United States. The meat is so tender that it just falls off your fork. But be warned. Long lines form early for brisket, pulled pork & other smoked meats at this lunch-only spot. So be prepared to wait.....and wait....and wait. But it's worth it!
Forthright Cafe: Sunday Brunch is one of the most important meals of the week. And Forthright does brunch right. From their oversized mimosas to the extremely delicious Chicken Benedict, Forthright won't leave you disappointed. Do yourself a favor though and grab a reservation. Otherwise you'll likely be waiting a while as this popular brunch spot fills up pretty quick.
Where To Get Coffee
Lucky Lab Coffee: Lucky Lab Coffee has a couple locations in Austin. And you definitely need to put this coffee joint on your list. Not only for the seasonal favorites like the rosemary sweet cream latte, but their homemade toaster pastries are out of this world good.
Caffé Medici: Caffé Medici is Austin's original specialty coffee shop. And not much has changed as the local coffee shop now has several locations across the Austin area and serves up reliably good espresso drinks.
Bennu Coffee: Cold Brew lovers rejoice. You won't find much better Cold Brew in Austin or for that matter anywhere than at Bennu Coffee. In fact the owner is so serious about cold brew, he has a whole company dedicated to it: Chameleon. Bennu is open 24 hours a day for laptop hobos in need of coffee and quiet.
Where To Go For Dessert
: This East Sixth Street Gelato shop, located in a hip, retro space, takes Italian culture seriously. And the Gelato they scoop us is incredible. You'll find Gelateria Gemelli serving up flavors such as pistachio, brown-butter vanilla, cardamom orange and peanut butter maple.
: The famous Portland Donut shop has taken up shop in Austin. And the 24 hour a day donut shop serves up off-the-wall flavors with irreverent names such as Old Dirty Bastard (Oreos and peanut butter on a vanilla yeast donut) and has plenty of vegan options.
What To Do
: Covert Park at Mount Bonnell is 5.1 acre historic linear park with a prominent overlook that is one of the most visited sites in Austin. Climb the 775-foot
-high outcrop at Mount Bonnell along the eastern shore of Lake Austin for incredible views of the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River.
: There are multiple greenbelts in Austin, but the Barton Creek Greenbelt is definitely the locals favorite. Located in south-central Austin, the
Barton
Creek Greenbelt contains 12.68 miles of gorgeous trails, with the main trail spanning about 7 miles. You'll find plenty of opportunities to hike, bike, canoe and even swim along the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
Conclusion
We can't wait to return to Austin to add to our Austin Guide. But needless to say, you won't run out of things to do in Austin and you definitely won't out of places to eat and drink. Austin has a great nightlife, an incredible food scene and plenty of opportunities to be active outdoors. And if you decide to book a trip to Austin,
And if you need help finding flights to Austin or booking a hotel, be sure to let us know. We can help you get the best rates at Austin Hotels including the Driskill. And we can get you extra perks including free breakfast, room upgrades and food and beverage credits.
