Hotel Ella, a beautiful restored and historic Texas hotel right in the heart of the UT campus, with roots as deep as the University. During football season, they host tailgate events including a food buffet, open bar featuring, valet parking, plus shuttles to and from the stadium. They call them fancy tailgates and it certainly lived up to the name. read more

Hotel Ella - Tailgate Event - Austin, TX - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This hotel is absolutely beautiful and in a wonderful location. I had great service from the valet each time. Outlined are my reasons for taking off a star: - The check-in process was severely lacking. I was not informed there would be a $150 hold on my credit card. I was also not informed that parking was $25 per night. I did not book this hotel for myself, it was done for me because I was on a business trip, so I was not familiar with all of the hotel policies. My bad, however, even if I booked it myself the hotel staff should inform you of these things when you check in. I was also not told anything about the pool, fitness room, restaurant or happy hour. - The housekeeping staff put the thermostat in my room down to 67 degrees each day. Each day I left with it on my own comfortable 74, and they turned it down to 67. Four days in a row. They also rearranged all of the things that were on the tables in the room each day. As I was on a business trip I had receipts stacked - I had to look for them in another place. They unplugged my chargers, wrapped the cords and placed them wherever they wanted (the first day when they weren't where I left them I became worried until I found them). They rearranged my folders, books, pens and other items. I understand they want to keep the room clean but they did not have to rearrange my things each day. - The first evening around 6pm there was a knock on the door. I couldn't hear what the person was saying, so I hastily got dressed (I had just gotten out of the shower) and answered it - it was housekeeping there to offer me water. I politely declined as I had water in the room. Perhaps I am not accustomed to such a nice and expensive hotel but this seemed over the top. I could have ignored the knock I guess? 5 stars for the valet and room itself - 4 for the housekeeping's overzealousness and the check-in process and surprise charges read more

What's not to love?! I've noticed a couple of one star retaliation reviews for not giving a late checkout and other unreasonable cray shit. Let me just tell you... Hotel Ella is perfect. Built in an old manor, it's super chic and sophisticated and located central to everything. It's not exactly walking distance to the cool areas but everything is literally a quick 5-10 min drive away. The rooms are so tasteful. The garden is lovely. The staff is very cool and so accommodating. There is a hip little restaurant with a cool bar attached with a great selection of interesting booze. I want to make the rounds for hotels in Austin but I probably never will because Hotel Ella is so spot on perfect! Why only 42 reviews? I guess people in Texas haven't discovered Yelp yet! read more

I read in an issue of Southern Living that the Hotel Ella has one of the best outdoor patios on which to enjoy a cocktail - this is true. The Hotel Ella is stunning! The hotel itself, the grounds and the patio are all gorgeous! Based on looks alone, this could be a 5 star rating, but we definitely experienced a few kinks while there. The drinks were delicious, I enjoyed the champagne cocktail and may have had more than one. The pretzel snack was good, but the pork tots were odd. Not bad, just odd. We had originally ordered the cheese plate, but had to return it; it had some funky cheese and sausage that none of us liked. We asked for the manager and he checked with the kitchen and realized they had accidentally included cheese that's not meant for a cheese plate. The manager (Erik?) was very gracious and apologetic, exactly the kind of service I would have expected, everyone else we encountered could have taken a lesson from him. The bartender was more than a bit surly and the servers weren't very helpful (had to be flagged down, dropped things off with no explanation of what they were). I would definitely return to the Hotel Ella to enjoy another cocktail on the patio, but may wait until the surrounding construction has finished. It sort of ruins the otherwise beautiful atmosphere. read more

Beautiful! My fiance and I stayed in "the mansion" for a week. Its a great establishment, beautiful architecture, staff are wonderful, accommodations are great. They made great recommendations for places to visit (we're from the Tristate area, so felt like fish out of water down here) that were fantastic. The pool & poolside drinks was so relaxing (veranda tea was my favorite cocktail from the Goodall's parlor menu). The food menu was okay, but I wouldn't go for the food... The valet attendants were very kind, speedy, and friendly. While at the pool, we would see those poor guys literally running to the lot to get the cars. Our rental car was scratched from the valet/parking, but accidents happen and they couldn't have handled it any better (took car of everything with the rental company and offered complimentary drinks). read more

Absolutely LOVED staying here! Every single person on staff dedicated their time and energy in making sure the guests' experiences are wonderful. From the easy check in to the gentlemen who walk you to the door when it's pouring outside to the awesome kitchen staff, I'd stay here over and over again for my next Austin visits. read more

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This is a historic location that has been refurbished beautifully. It's an adorable and very romantic boutique hotel. It is also located in a great location. It's near the UT campus and right downtown. The area is quiet at night as well. I also had an excellent breakfast in the morning and the staff is very friendly. read more

Hotel Ella - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

I stayed at Hotel Ella one month ago, travel was for a work conference. The hotel rooms are nice but the management and business office has been a nightmare to deal with. At the time of our check -in and check-out they couldn't resolve any of our questions and took our credit cards and told us they would call us to follow up. No one ever called and days after our stay our cards were charged. I had to call and request a receipt several times. A month later and after multiple calls with managers and billing officers, I'm still waiting for a receipt with my billing information so I can get reimbursed for work. The front desk has no control on the way they charge (can't separate charges, etc.) and the back office has long phone waiting periods (avg 15-30 min each call). I have had one manager call me back to confirm that the request was placed with the business office but no resolution to date. Unfortunately, I will be contacting the state and university offices that hold this yearly conference to make sure they are aware of these issues so that they pick different accommodations next time. read more

This review is for the bar/parlor: First off let me say HAPPY HOUR IS 4-7 M-F. Garret our bartender was a superior bartender and knowledgeable about the hotel. The lobster roll and other sandwiches are good bar food. The other service members were polite and helpful. The pool area is nice and well kept. Outdoor seating was very comfortable. This one is for the grown folks to have a drink... Enjoy. read more

We had a very nice stay here for my husband's 40th birthday. The staff was very helpful with valet and getting checked in was pretty easy. I don't have a lot to say because we had such a short visit. The bar was closed for an hour during our stay for a holiday party and the restaurant was closed all evening. Fortunately, we didn't mind that but some people might be frustrated by it. I suggest calling before booking in case that's something that would bother you. However, I suggest going out for food and drinks, anyway. The bar had delicious drinks, but, Goodall's was not good food. read more

I had such a wonderful time at this hotel. My partner and I stayed here for our honeymoon. We wanted to go all out but not break the bank completely so we chose Hotel Ella. It's definitely nicer and worth the price. We frequented the bar for the happy hour (4-7pm weekdays) and the bartenders are all super sweet and attentive. The concierge was knowledgeable and helped us plan fun things to do in the city. My partner and I definitely don't fit the mold of people that stay at a nice place like this, but I would recommend Hote Ella, as everyone here has treated us very well. read more

Perfect place to stay in Austin. Elegant and beautiful. Lots of amenities. Very fresh and current decor. Friendly and professional staff. Very CAN DO attitude by all. Very nice valet service and the also offer complimentary shuttle service by their own fleet of beautiful Cadillacs. WOW. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for an amazing place to stay in Austin. read more

Hotel Ella - Beautiful blend of historical and modern. - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

This hotel is by far the most lovely hotel in Austin. The renovated rooms are spectacular with carrera marble bathrooms and large french doors opening to the veranda. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable - happy to explain the history of the property. Goodall's food is delicious - the pork sandwich on the lunch menu was moist and the apple slaw on top was crisp and tangy. The atmosphere in the bar is swanky traditional styling, with interesting show pieces and great cocktails. Wouldn't recommend any other hotel in the city to someone I had visiting. read more

Easily my favorite hotel in Austin, between the amazing customer service, gorgeous grounds, and ultra comfortable rooms! This is our second stay and we love it. Historic, super cozy with all the modern essentials, and close to campus- doesn't get any better! read more

Hotel Ella - View from our balcony! - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

We arrived to see the lovely house we saw photos of on the internet. We check in in the beautiful foyer. Then we are directed to a grey building behind the historic building, to our hellish room. This is worse than any motel I have ever stayed at. There is no closet, no drawers to put your clothes away. There is a coat rack, I kid you not, in the middle of the room with a few hangers. Wow! Our room literally looks a a white brick wall! We call down and express our shock. They say that's all we have tonight. We ask to cancel our stay and find a real room. They REFUSE!!! Wow!! Again!! Wow!! They say we can cancel after tonight so we decide to spend the night as we have a dinner we need to get to. Well, we could not sleep a wink as that white wall is lit up all night and the curtains cannot block the massive amount of light pouring into the room. The next morning we leave and go to a REAL HOTEL. What a bs way to take money from people: scam them into thinking they are staying at a charming historic hotel and then drag them to a miserable back building! Awful!! read more

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I wish I had combed through all the negative reviews before booking this hotel. We arrived late at night and there was no one to check us in - after calling and watching the phone ring and waiting about 20 min someone finally came in. We then took us to our room... which was not in the main building .. it was a random building that looked like an old office or dorm building. When you stay at a boutique hotel you want that ambiance - had I know I was going to be in a random 2 story building I would've booked elsewhere. The coffee in the morning is terrible. The room itself was small, had no closed, no desk. No counter space by the sink just a small opening for the actual sink. We didn't receive housekeeping. We came during the storm and I understand how that can be challenging for staff members but they offered nothing! The restaurant closed and we were left without foods. They had a very matter of fact attitude and showed no regard for their guests. Overall the experience was terrible and we checked into a different hotel for the remainder of our trip. read more

Stayed for one night, and choose it because they are dog friendly. Very clean, comfortable bed, and the staff were very friendly. They are on high alert for Covid precautions with cleaning, social distancing, masks, limits of people at the pool and in the fitness center, etc. Great hotel, we really enjoyed our stay. read more

Absolutely fantastic boutique hotel. Old mansion previously owned by Goodall Wooten, a wealthy Texan who donated land for UT. Ambiance, Service, Comfort, Vibe, and amazing cocktails and food. Highly recommend spending an evening on the porch enjoying handcrafted cocktails and fabulous apps. read more

a weekend alone never happens. I can't take a vacation, because of offspring. I can't relax, because I don't know how to. but I had a quick weekend away at Hotel Ella. first, I wasn't treated like a degenerate that I look like. second, everyone was so accommodating for valet, for me losing my room key, for bringing me ice like 37 times, for bringing me extra bubble bath and soap because it smells SO GOOD, for me not wanting breakfast & just grabbing an iced tea, for me going in and out of the hotel more times than I can count. third, they asked why I was staying. they wondered why a local would book a weekend. I explained my kid was in the ICU, and I wanted to be close, so I could visit her. the sympathy rolled in. the employees genuinely care why you are there & make your stay as comfy as possible. read more

Don't pay the money for the fancy tailgate. Drink line was so long it took 45 min to get 1 drink. And when I did finally get there, I asked if I could get 2. "Sure." He gave me .25 ounces of liquor. Waste of money. Over sold and under poured. Oh, the food? Meh. Nothing memorable. Save your money read more

Loved the Hotel Ella -- our Jr Suite - sublime ! the valet staff -- stellar ; Colin, Nolan, Aaron, all so helpful and pleasant . Front desk ; Kimmie & Corinne - lovely and service was POST HASTE whether for a newspaper or for room service ! we will be back ! :) read more

Where to start? We were 4 adults traveling with our service dog. At our first breakfast our dog was in a pet carriage by our table. We were asked whether he was a service animal. Yes. Before our THIRD inquiry about our dog the manager AND a waitress, who was not our server, told us we could not have the dog in the restaurant! Well, that did it! One is not required to prove that one is a service dog but I insisted that they take a look at his service tags! That ended that situation! Unfortunately, we had a room over the underground garage! Door openings early morning and evenings. And we had an unsightly with of a fence outside our window..where some greenery would have been appreciated as opposed to the prison view! The only friendly service people were Burton, in the restaurant, and Zack, the valet. The Positive Points were:- Very comfortable beds! Pool clean and inviting! As far as the food experience is was very satisfying. Veranda & common areas inviting. Beautiful hotel but needs hospitality & diplomacy. Management could use a few classes in hospitality! We ourselves are in the same industry. Have a nice stay! read more

What a gem. Stayed here Sunday night (9/8/19) with my aunt. While the hotel and property are beautiful, it was the staff that really made my stay extra special. Stephanie and Jonathan were absolutely extraordinary. So helpful and polite. The bartender was exceptional as well. My aunt and I plan on making this an annual trip because our experience was so wonderful. Thank you Hotel Ella for your gracious southern hospitality. You made this midwestern girl feel right at home. read more

Hotel is an old rehabilitation center and our friend's room looked exactly what you would expect from such a place, no closet or view. Our room was in the old residence and was not what you would expect for the rate we were paying. The place is over 100 years old and looks like it, the annex looks like poor student housing of the 60's. The first night the diningroom was sold our to a private party and there were no places to sit in the bar to eat dinner. The second night the bar was sold out to a private party. See no reason why anyone would want to stay at this hotel. read more

In June, I reserved and paid for a table for 7 for afternoon tea at Hotel Ella on Sept. 25. It was for my daughter's only bridal shower with out of town guests flying in. Printed invitations were sent and shower favors purchased. On Sept 4, I received an email out of the blue canceling my reservation because the hotel had subsequently booked an event for that day. Rescheduling was not an option for us. Very disappointed in this shabby treatment by GM Nik Fiorelli and Hotel Ella. I do NOT recommend them. They obviously do not care about their customers and didn't even try to make it right. read more

My wife and I love the Hotel Ella. My wife and I went there for my sister's wedding and we stayed in room 25 inside the mansion. The room was very spacious, the minibar was stocked with excellent Texas goodies. The bed was very plush and comfortable and the bathroom was very clean and clad with marble. The suite has a beautiful view of the hotel pool.  Every part of the hotel grounds are beautiful and manicured. The hotel bar and the restaurant are all so wonderful and inexpensive. The hotel as many great sitting areas where you can just sit and read out on the porch. This hotel has the whole package including amazing staff. Megan and Shelby at the front desk were there the entire time and always graded my wife and I with a smile and were filled helpful with information. My wife and I will definitely be back when we visit our new family in Austin. read more

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Hotel Ella has done a great job of upgrading the Mansion on Judges Hill. We dropped by on New Years Eve and every aspect of the service from the valet to waitstaff to bar staff was impeccable. We just had drinks and a few snacks but definitely plan to return ASAP. read more

My office recently hosted a Happy Hour event for our team at Hotel Ella. Megan Smith, the events coordinator, made the event an absolute success! She was so helpful throughout the whole process and put together a proposal in record time. Once we arrived, the staff there was very attentive and kind. When other guests accidentally sat in part of our reserved space, the staff was quick to show the other guests another spot where they could sit that was available. I was impressed by their professionalism of everyone I worked with and the overall venue itself was absolutely beautiful. Did I mention that the food and drinks were amazing? Because they were. I have only good things to say about Hotel Ella! read more

Hotel Ella. Just wow. I recently hosted a bridal brunch for 27 ladies at the Hotel Ella. The entire event was planned long distance, from Georgia, via the internet, and telephone. Heather, Megan, and the entire staff were just wonderful!! I chose the Hotel Ella because I had a vision in my head of a vintage tea, very ladylike and feminine, and the hotel itself was built in 1900, so a gorgeous vintage location was the perfect first step! When the actual planning began, the clear guidance I got made it easy to make all the decisions! Every question I asked was answered, every special request I made was provided, and on event day, the charming Heather was available herself, or made sure I was able to get any help I needed during set-up. All this while really sticking to my budget!!! All of my guests, especially the bride, were just delighted with food, the pink mimosas, the ambiance and the general beauty of the Hotel Ella. Thanks so very much ! You guys are the best!! Kathy J. read more

This place hit 5 STARS in every category for me. Customer service, amenities, location, and everything in between. Let me first start by saying that my boyfriend and I had to book a last minute room as we were driving from Dallas. He has never been to Austin, so I wanted to find a unique spot that you couldn't find anywhere else. I found Hotel Ella. They accommodated our late check-in request and upon arrival, we were greeted by John. John was amazing. He was friendly, kind, generous, and made everything so easy. I can't say enough great things about him. He shared some of the history of the hotel and went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make our stay great. Even at midnight, he was so warm and such a gracious host. Wow. We stayed in a suite that included a shared veranda. The bathroom was gorgeous and the bed was soooo comfy. It was perfect. We had room service in the morning and an easy check-out when we left. We didn't get to check out the pool but John gave us a mini tour, and I can't wait to swim in it next time we stay...AND we WILL be staying again. Oh and if you're worried about the safety due to Covid, they take care of everything. I felt so safe and everything was cleaned to perfection! read more

Will come here again - DEFINITELY! Cute rooms Good location High quality reasonably priced meals served down stairs at their pretty restaurant Very nice people working there - very accommodating Warm pool in the cold weather What else???? read more

I was disappointed in my stay at Hotel Ella. As a woman traveling alone on business I opted for this property because of the outstanding reviews and it had gorgeous photos online. The linens were stained. My king suite balcony was above an open garbage dumpster. The night time front desk agent was rude and dismissive. I was totally understanding of their abbreviated restaurant hours due to CoVid (closed at 8pm on Sunday) (no open restaurant for dinner service Monday) but when I inquired where I might be able to find food and drinks within in walking distance she responded with "I don't know. I don't have a list. There's a liquor store across the street". They over charged my card after my departure and did not provide an invoice at check out. I'm going to give two stars instead of one because both the valet staff and the daytime front desk agent were very kind and professional. Overall takeaway: this is a gorgeous event space but not a luxury hotel. read more

My boyfriend and I had an amazing stay at Hotel Ella, as always! The positive attitudes of the valet and front desk are a major part of the reason we always choose Hotel Ella when visiting Austin! Shoutout to Stephanie, Daniel, and Molly for going out of their way to make our experience extra special! read more

Really beautiful hotel. The service is great. The rooms are spotless. The folks are very pleasant. A great experience and I'd definitely recommend staying here. read more

We we're so excited to plan our stay at Hotel Ella. It's not our first visit but it will be our last. Check in occurred after 4 (room was delayed for hours), our "private viranda" ended up being a porch shared by wedding party next door, our neighbors played loud music in their apartment until early in the morning, our shower will not shut off so it's impossible to fill tub without shower pouring over you, soap & shampoo were disposed of by housekeeping but didn't replace, and our "private veranda" door was unlocked when we arrived and left unlocked after first night. Huge disappointment. read more

So we had three couples book online, over $330 a night ( June 19). Celebrating 3 birthdays. I called the Monday and Tuesday before to ask about guests, told we could have one each and we mentioned birthdays. All good no issues. Then another one of the party calls on Friday June 18 ( today), and was told the pool is closed on June 19 th for a wedding. It's too late now to book anywhere else central with a pool and the mgmt could care less. Horrible scheduling and no where on any sites was this mentioned. Post covid greed has set in. Unacceptable. What about all the guests who are aren't in the wedding who have no pool access? Unacceptable. Go somewhere else, avoid this bs. read more

Beautifully redone old mansion converted into a hotel. Great location. The staff was tolerance of the guests but definitely not friendly. The coffee was not drinkable . Ours was delivered by room service for $18 ++ by a terribly rude waiter. We did have the coffee removed from the bill. The beds are wonderful & the rooms are big. I am not sure if I will return. read more

Every time we come here there is an event that is either in the bar or in the dining room which one or the other is closed off so the other area is overcrowded and difficult to get in to eat or drink. Today we were going for a swim and yes there's an event going on there so I did not get my exercise in this afternoon. This hotel should inform their guests prior to their arrival of these events so they could make different plans. We will not be back and we have stayed here several times in the last few years and it used to be our favorite hotel but guests are now second class while management caters to special events. read more

We came for an overnight stay for a concert. When we checked in Travis was excellent. We wanted to change rooms due to the rain and we were able to without a problem. However we then wanted the original room and moved yet again, sorry!! He went above and beyond and it was of no issue. When we went to get a cab we were presently surprised by the house car, a very nice BMW, took us to Frank Erwin Center! At the end of the night we were on our patio and got locked out, luckily Tom came to our rescue. Unbelievable staff. So pleased. And the hotel is so beautiful and quaint but modern with every convenience you could want. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

Very seldom do I write a bad review. Manager was so rude. Location is inconvenient to downtown. Pretension meets depression here. Sad little restaurant. But the manager was the worst. As an attorney/judge who flew to Austin to meet a client, the hotel manager should have asked how they could assist, instead of creating multiple barriers and insulting me. 5 minutes after I paid for my client's room and was escorted to the room with the client, I decided to wait in the lobby. Hyper-aggressive manager was quickly standing next to me demanding to know what I was doing in the lobby, who I was with and why. I told him and he then called my client's room to confirm I was telling the truth. It was embarrassing and so rude. What hotel does that? Really weird. Dude deserves a pink slip IMHO. read more