You may recognize the hotel’s name after musician Stevie Van Zandt, and the music influence is definitely shown in this newly developed Kimpton property right near Austin’s up and coming hot spot on Rainey St. To the unique horn chandeliers to the live music playing at their in-hotel restaurant Geraldine’s, this hotel speaks to Austin’s reputation of being the music capital of the world.
Kimpton is a small brand hotel chain that prides itself on their uniqueness and taking care of their customers with small perks. Kimpton is now part of IHG and thus you can redeem IHG points or certificates for free nights.
My Stay
My 2 night hotel stay at the Van Zandt was an exceptional one. When checking in, I mentioned the secret password “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (which changes a few times a year), and was able to select a guitar pick from a cowboy hat to reveal my prize. I got a hotel amenity which I choose champagne to be brought to my room.
When I got to my room, a letter from management and a treat was also waiting for me, which is a perk of being an Inner Circle Member.
The room was cozy and the bathroom had a modern feel. The only thing I didn’t like was that the shower didn’t have a door. The shower felt great and you get full sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash to use.
I went to explore the hotel and found a sizable gym and an outdoor pool which is open from dawn to dusk with a cozy fireplace near an outdoor bar.
Some nice perks about this hotel is that you get complimentary coffee & tea service in the morning and complimentary happy hour starting at 5pm (I got a margarita) both in the lounge. You can also borrow a bike during the day to go on a cruise around Town Lake or explore the city.
I also checked out the restaurant Geraldine’s for dinner which is right next to the pool on the 4th floor. The service was excellent and as an Inner Circle member, I got a complimentary chef’s tasting. The crispy pork ribs with watermelon was sweet and the best I’ve ever tasted. I should have taken a picture before I gobbled it up! A reservation is recommended when dinning for dinner.
Some downsides to this hotel is that it is near a new hot spot so there is loud music during the evening and there is construction around the area during the day. For parking, there is only valet for $35 and there is very minimal nearby parking. Austin is notorious for cars getting towed so don’t park in an area without legitimate parking of any kind.
Management and the staff were very friendly and did a superb job of making me feel welcome.