Mr & Mrs Smith

Hotel San José

Austin, United States

A magnet for music lovers and arty types, Austin's Hotel San José is a masterclass in stylish understatement with chilled-out charm on South Congress Avenue. This is a mellow hangout with retro bungalows and a leafy courtyard. You can borrow a bicycle, tinker on a typewriter or purloin a Polaroid – the extras here are a study in bohemia.

Need to know

• Rooms 40, including 14 suites.
• Rates Double rooms from $155.00, excluding tax at 15 per cent.
  The price shown represents the lowest nightly rate for a double room available at this hotel over the next 21 days. Any price conversions from the hotel's local currency ($155) have been conducted using today's exchange rates from xe.com.
• More details Rates exclude breakfast (from US$15).
• Facilities DVD and CD library, iPods stocked with tunes, free WiFi throughout, bikes for rental, typewriter and Polaroid camera for guests’ use. In rooms: flatscreen TV, CD/DVD player, iPod dock, free bottled water and a minibar of gourmet treats including pistachios and cola gummies.
• Poolside The slim, rectangular pool in the courtyard has white banana seats dotted around for stylish poolside lounging.
• Check-out Noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Check-in, from 3pm.
• Children Welcome – travel cots are provided for babies, extra beds are US$10 a night and babysitting is available (book 24hrs in advance).
• Also Smokers can light up on the outside patio. Dogs are welcome too (as long as owners keep them close by and clean up after them), for $10 a day.

Food and drink at Hotel San José

• Hotel restaurant You have the perfect excuse for a lie-in here, since there’s no restaurant – breakfast is delivered to rooms in Bento boxes. There are six different options, including a choice of cold and cooked goodies. The champagne breakfast features strawberries and cream, French toast and a bottle of fizz.
• Dress code Pyjamas, shorts and surf Ts – nothing is too casual.
• Top table Your own plump pillows and duvet-draped bed.
• Last orders The bar is open from 5pm to midnight every day, and you can have breakfast delivered from 7am to 11am.
• Room service Your Bento-box breakfast and multi-snack minibar should compensate for the fact that you can’t order in.
• Hotel bar The Wine and Beer Lounge is a neat, cube-shaped space by reception. You can sit inside, but tables by the garden are a more bright and breezy affair. The courtyard’s simple granite floor is studded with chunky wooden chairs, benches and communal tables, designed for dawn-till-dusk discussions. At night, the fire pit is lit, the pergolas twinkle with lamps and musicians play alfresco – on Wednesdays, house DJ Waxploitation draws in the crowds. Rock ’n’ Reel events are equally popular, teaming live music with a movie under the stars.

Hotel San José 1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, Texas 78704