A Trip to Austin with Fairmont

Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Austin and attend Austin City Limits with Fairmont Hotels! I was so excited because Austin has easily become one of my favorite cities because of their food, art, and music. Known for its eclectic live-music scene and renowned as the “live music capital of the world,” Austin has this really cool vibe that I fell in love with. It was actually my second time visiting the city, but my first time attending the festival! I’ve heard so many great things so I was looking forward to checking it out for myself. Keep scrolling to read about my experience + a few of my favorite spots in this beautiful city!

 The Fairmont Austin is a stunning 37-story tower located in Downtown Austin! Newly opened in 2018, it offers a variety of restaurants, luxurious amenities, and state-of-the-art meeting facilities! It’s also only a few minutes away from all the restaurants, shops and happenings, which made it so easy for us to explore the city.

Upon arrival to the hotel, checking in was such a breeze. Our room had such an incredible view of the city, considering it is one of the few highest buildings in Austin! It was really the best thing to wake up to. The room was also very spacious, the bed was incredibly comfortable, and our beautiful bathroom even had my favorite Le Labo products with my name on it! The personalization and attention to detail really impressed me, and I was ecstatic to check out what else it had to offer!

 Here’s a few reasons why I loved my stay, and why you should check it out too:

Fairmont Gold – where do I begin? The Fairmont gold experience was nothing I’ve ever experienced. Booking a Fairmont Gold room gives you access to exclusive rooms, including “the gold lounge” where there’s a check-in and lounge area. The Gold Lounge offers food and drinks during operating hours! I especially loved this feature of the hotel because of the convenience. Whenever I was hungry and needed my caffeine fix, I stopped by to pick up food, snacks and coffee (I made my own lattes!) at any time of the day! Definitely worth the money if it’s within your budget!!

Luxurious amenities – one of the reasons why I loved my stay at the Fairmont was the amenities in the property! They have a gorgeous pool area, a gym to stay active, and a spa to to get massages and relax. I was able to schedule a massage at the Spa, and even got to enjoy the sauna and Jacuzzi. I had the most relaxing time ever, I’ve got to say that it was definitely needed!

Dining options – another reason to love the Fairmont is the variety of dining options! Revue offers a vibrant dining experience with flavors from Italy and Asia, as well as seafood options and even a pastry shop you can enjoy! I definitely recommend their okonomiyaki and shrimp gyozas while you’re there. However, If you’re looking for a date night spot, look no further because Garrison is the place! They’re known for their smoky, high-quality meats, seafood and local produce that will excite your taste buds! When you visit, make sure to try their sourdough bread with avocado butter. It is out of this world!

Drinks, drinks, drinks! The Fairmont has two bars in their property. Fulton is located in the 1st floor by the lobby, while Rules and Regs is located by the pool area. Both bars offer amazing hand-crafted cocktails and delicious food to enjoy; its definitely worth checking out!

MUST-SEE SPOTS

 On our first official day in Austin, we visited a couple notable spots in the city.

Our first stop was Desert Door, the one and only sotol distillery here in the US. We got a tour of the distillery and learned how sotol is made and even got to taste it during and post-production! I’ve never heard of sotol until this tour, but I was amazed of its process and taste! Sotol is a distilled spirit made from wild-harvested sotol plants. Think of it as a cousin of mezcal and tequila. And not to mention, you will LOVE the interior of this place! It’s a rustic heaven and perfect for photos!

Next stop was Vista Brewing, a brewery located just outside of Austin where you can enjoy acres of beer garden, live music and ranch views! We got to try their delicious beers and food, and the interior of this place makes you feel right at home. The brewery is so stunning overall and definitely worth the visit!

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

The Austin City Limits Music Festival, also known as ACL Fest, is an annual music festival held in Zilker Park on two consecutive 3-day weekends in October. This was my first time attending ACL Fest and I was ecstatic to see what it had in store! I have a true love for festivals and live concerts because there’s just something special about everyone coming together, listening to live music, and having the best time. The festival is held in the city and it was a breeze to get into considering it was just a few miles away from our hotel. The artist lineup included a few of my favorites like Masego and Childish Gambino, and I was so happy I got to see them perform live! The festival as a whole was very organized; it was easy to walk from stage to stage, and had an amazing VIP area we got to experience! Food AND drinks were all included, and it also had some cool stands and installations that you and your gang can enjoy. Out of all the festivals I’ve been to, it was the best VIP experience and definitely worth the money.

If you’re looking for your next getaway, Fairmont Austin is the place! You get to enjoy a beautiful city and check out amazing food, art and music. I had such an amazing time and can’t wait to go back! Shoutout to the Fairmont team and staff for such a wonderful experience and I can’t thank them enough for this opportunity. Thank you so much for reading and hope you got some insightful tips on your next visit to Austin.  For more recaps, you can check out my Instagram and “Austin” highlights! Til next time!