The San Jose is probably one of the nicest and certainly the most distinctive hotel in Austin. Austin is not awash in great hotels - lots of humdrum chains and older properties save for the Four Seasons - so the place is a breath of fresh air. It's well located on South Congress along an eclectic strip of shops (galleries, vintage furniture), restaurants, and clubs. It is adjacent to a popular coffee bar run by the hotel and just down the block from El Sol y la Luna, a popular Mexican restaurant.
I love the design - very well done, very Austin, very environmentally sensitive. The rooms are in a few buildings arranged around a courtyard that has a small pool (I mean SMALL) and an area with tables and chairs. The courtyard attracts a bit of a scene, not at all loud and very much reflective of the laid-back vibe for which Austin is justly known.
My gripes are two: the minimalism of the rooms and the price. I say this from someone who loves modern design and enjoys boutique hotels if they are comfortable, but this felt a little like a cell (and mine was a deluxe room). As you'll see from my pictures, room features include a poured cement floor, outdoor patio runners used as rugs, and a single wooden shelf that serves as a shelf in lieu of a dresser (there is a small drawer next to the open closet in the bathroom. There are sliding doors leading to a simple bathroom. My room also had a small private patio which was handsome but not really very useful.
If this was $89 a night I'd sing the hotel's praises. Since my roon was $189 a night, I won't. It's just way overpriced, and I say this as a New Yorker who is used to paying high prices for just about everything. The only thing that justifies this is the demand; it's obviously popular, especially with a younger crowd.
A few other random notes: There was also a bit of snootiness at the front desk. The parking lot is crowded; I often got the last parking space and it's a tight fit. They have great bathroom amenities (maybe this is why they charge so much). My deluxe room off to a corner was quiet, but I hear that rooms facing the courtyard or street can be loud.
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