Hotel Review: Thompson Austin

Thompson Hotels is a luxury lifestyle brand by Hyatt, focusing on sleek design and targeting young yet mature audiences who value experiential hospitality experiences. There are less than 20 locations in the world - all in the US and Mexico. While researching for a staycation spot in downtown Austin, I learned Thompson Austin opened a week ago. The hotel was a great last-minute choice; Since all Thompson hotels are pet-friendly properties, it meant we didn’t have to look for a pet sitter for our lovely dog. Moreover, some Thompson hotels, including Thompson Austin, do not charge extra for pets and even offer pet amenities, so it was a nice deal to save some money. I was thrilled to stay at my first Thompson hotel in Austin, but I wish I visited Thompson Austin much later when the hotel was more prepared to welcome its guests and to represent the luxury Thompson brand to the fullest. Here is my review of Thompson Austin:

• Lobby & Check-in Review

• Bedroom Review

• Bathroom Review

• Gym Review

• Cafe Review—The Coffee Bar

• Breakfast Review

• Summary

Our lovely dog, Laisy, stayed at Thompson Austin. She’s a city pup now!

Lobby & Check-in Review

Since Thompson Austin opened a week prior to my stay, my biggest concern was whether the hotel was ready for guests or not. I presumed the hotel would either be completely ready or not ready at all, and unfortunately, my check-in experience indicated it was the latter. 

The check-in experience wasn’t as glamorous as the check-in desk.

The lobby had an upscale and mature vibe and matched Thompson’s design DNA. The fireplace around the seating areas was a nice touch, and I felt immediately cozy. The mix of industrial and natural materials was apparent as soon as I stepped into the hotel, which continued throughout my staycation experience.

The fireplace made the lobby extra cozy.

Upon checking in, I was upgraded from a regular city view king room to a pool/city view king room on the 6th floor. It turned out the hotel was still under construction, and only four floors - 5, 6, 7, and 8 - were ready for guests.

Each furniture in the lobby was thoughtfully curated with modern design in mind.

I’m sure the hotel management had to meet project deadlines and launch on the scheduled go-live date, but it was discouraging to see that a luxury Thompson brand would open its doors in a hurry. One of the main reasons why I chose Thompson Austin was because of the brand’s generous pet policy. There is no weight limit, and guests do not need to shell out a pet fee for their furry friends. We were going to bring our dog after dinner, so I inquired if we can get bowls for food and water and a pet bed set up in our room. Again, the hotel couldn’t accommodate because they didn’t have the amenities at the moment. 

If you bring a pet, the pet relief area is about 2 blocks away from the hotel.

Moreover, the front desk agent didn’t explain how breakfast would be served or the location of the hotel gym. She did give me a card from the general manager, which explained the hotel was still under construction and in-house restaurants and pool would be closed until early February. I really wish I knew about logistical issues before I booked my stay.  I personally don’t think it is fair for consumers to pay for stays where more than half of the amenities are missing.

This announcement regarding construction and pool closure should be transparently disclosed on the hotel’s website.

I put my lackluster check-in experience to the side and went up to the 6th floor where my room was located.

Bedroom Review

Upon entering there was a large full-size mirror with space for everyday carry items. I saw a similar mirror at the Candler Hotel in Atlanta, and I really liked it since I tend to leave my keys or wallet in my room.  Similar to the lobby, I immediately noticed a mix of industrial and natural materials was being used everywhere in the room. The wooden closet had a stripe of brass as an accent. Inside the closet, there were two bathrobes, and interestingly the bathrobes had hoodies, giving a very casual look. There was also a suede padded boot jack from TACOVAS that was a unique touch for Texans. 

Only in Texas you will see a boot jack in your hotel closet.

The bed was comfortable and plush, and the sheets were soft to touch. The dimmable, ambient light fixtures next to the bed were aesthetically pleasing, but the installation wasn’t executed well since one of the lights was slanted.

The floor was made of natural wood, and the ceiling utilized exposed concrete.

The green leather-wrapped headboard had two reading lights, and a brass frame was sandwiched between the headboard and the back panel.  The nightstands next to each side of the bed were asymmetrical.

Every furniture in the room used high-quality materials.

One was had a black marble top and used metallic handles; the other nightstand was a combination of an L-shaped gray marble stand and a square glass table. Again, I was seeing the combination of industrial and natural materials.  The gray marble nightstand had a Bluetooth speaker/radio from Tivoli. 

Like this nightstand, versatility is the key to maximizing every little space in a small room.

The nightstand was equipped with two USB ports and two electrical outlets. I appreciated that the outlets’ orientations were different from one another, which may allow guests to fully utilize both outlets. Across from the bed, a futuristic-looking media console discreetly hid a mini-fridge that was well stocked with alcoholic beverages and different kinds of soda.

I grabbed bottled water from the gym and kept them cool in the mini fridge.

The cabinet also housed a Nespresso machine, but there were no coffee pods to be found anywhere. I’m a coffee lover, so I actually dialed the front desk to get Nespresso pods delivered. When I came back from dinner, I found some coffee pods on the desk, but they were the wrong pods.

I wasn’t able to use my Nespresso machine during my staycation because the hotel didn’t have correct coffee pods.

For those unfamiliar with Nespresso, there are two types of Nespresso machines, Original and Vertuo, and each machine cannot interchange pods because the pods come in different sizes. The coffee machine in my room was a Nespresso Original model, so I dialed the front desk and explained that I needed smaller coffee pods since my machine cannot use big pods designed for Vertuo models. About 20 minutes later, a housekeeper brought me another round of Vertuo coffee pods.

I received wrong coffee pods twice in a row.

I brought them to the front desk and asked if I could get coffee pods that would fit my Nespresso machine, but the front desk agent wasn’t aware that there could be two differently sized coffee pods. He tried his best to accommodate and offered us free coffee at the hotel’s in-house cafe - the Coffee Bar. Later, I learned this was only a small glimpse of how unprepared the hotel was. Going back to the bedroom, on top of the media console, the minibar was very well-stocked with liquors from Texan distilleries such as Still Austin, Seersucker, and Tito’s. Along with the liquors, the minibar had wellness kits and small bites available for purchase.

These liquors were surely overpriced, but the selection was great and highlighted key Austin distilleries.

The wall-mounted smartTV had a Chromecast built into it, which was great for enjoying Netflix shows at night.

As expected, the TV was a smart TV, making is easier for hotel guests to control the TV.

The work desk was on the smaller side, but its waterfall marble look was gorgeous.

The marble desk was small for my taste, but its waterfall look was gorgeous.

On the desk, the hotel generously offered me a complimentary bottle of champagne. I always appreciate when hotels take an extra step to welcome brand loyalists, so I was grateful that the hotel recognized me. 

Thank you Thompson Austin for a nice bottle of champagne!

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, a chaise sofa was situated along with end tables on each side. The sofa has an arm that was raised weirdly high, making it a less than ideal choice for taking a nap.

The arm of the lounge chaise was raised abnormally high, making it uncomfortable.

From the room, you could overlook the pool as well as numerous wooden canopies, which were still under construction.

When the hotel was still under construction, a “pool view” is not as desirable as I originally thought.

Having the pool view was supposed to be an upgrade, but I would’ve preferred a regular city view since the view was chaotic and unprepared. While looking outside through the window, I realized how dusty the room was.

I’m glad I don’t have dust allergy because my room was full of it.

When sunlight hit the room, I could see floating dust particles everywhere. Considering that COVID-19 was very prevalent during my stay, I was concerned about the cleanliness of the room. 

Bathroom Review

The main bathroom door was a sliding door with a locking mechanism. However, it couldn’t escape the inevitable sliding door gap, which meant noise isolation from the bathroom was lacking.

It is rare to see a sliding door with a locking mechanism at hotels.

Inside the bathroom, there was no door, and everything was connected and open. The black floating toilet was certainly more design-forward than other toilets, but I would’ve preferred more privacy.

The hotel probably wanted to show off its floating toilet, but I wish there was little more barrier to it.

The vanity had one sink, and it was seamlessly integrated with the counter. The light fixtures next to the mirror provided decent lighting, but I wish it was brighter, especially around the mirror. Then, I noticed the mirror had a button. I hoped it would somehow increase the brightness of the mirror, but the button appeared to be broken or unusable.

I loved the seamless look of the vanity sink, but the button on the mirror didn’t work.

On the vanity countertop, there was a brass tin, and I was certain that it contained bathroom amenities such as cotton swabs or makeup remover. However, the tin was empty.

The brass tin was supposed to contain bathroom amenities, but it was empty.

A petite bottle for body lotion was sitting next to the tin, and it was open and almost completely used by someone else. It was another disappointing indicator that the room wasn’t properly cleaned. The walk-in shower featured a rainfall-style shower head, but the water pressure wasn’t as strong as I hoped for.

The walk-in shower could accommodate tall guests, but the water pressure was not amazing.

However, the shower did have ample space to place personal toiletries. The hotel offered communal toiletries by D.S. & Durga.

These shower products were heavily scented with strong masculine notes.

The Bowmakers line had strong cedar and pine rosin scents. While I enjoyed the scents, it was a bit unfair that it was geared towards male audiences. 

Gym Review

The gym was located on the third floor of the hotel. This 6,700-square-foot fitness center was roomy and had everything you need. By the entrance, a mini-fridge contained cool bottles of water to help you stay hydrated at the gym.

This mini fridge is the only hydration station in the entire gym.

Next to the mini-fridge, there were three personal rooms that could be used for TRX training or other HIIT workouts. However, the TVs didn’t work, and the lighting didn’t turn on either.

If you want to engage in private TRX training, take this room while it’s available!

From there, the gym really opened up, and I saw various medicine balls and kettlebells as well as other full-body workout equipment like the TRX system and a punching bag.

There is no shortage of full body workout equipment at the gym.

Towards the windows, brand-new TechnoGym treadmills were neatly lined up, along with TVs mounted from the ceiling.

The gym featured brand-new TechnoGym treadmills.

Other TechnoGym cardio machines like ellipticals and climbers and Peloton bikes were scattered on the gym floor.

Take a Peloton class at Thomson Austin!

The weightlifting area was great for both light and serious lifters. The dumbbells went up to 50 lbs, and there were three adjustable benches available.

The gym was fully stocked with dumbbells and fixed barbells.

In addition to them, there were a Smith machine and a full squat rack for serious lifters.

It’s great to see s Smith machine and a squat rack at the hotel gym.

Similar to the gyms at Austin Proper Hotel or at W Austin, I was really glad to see that luxury hotel gyms began to transition from stuffing their gyms with as many cardio machines as possible to creating a more inclusive environment for all types of guests. Next to the lifting area, I found space with TechnoGym cycling machines, but again, the mounted TVs were not functional at the moment.

If you can’t secure a Peloton bike, try a spin class using a TechnoGym branded cycling machine!

The gym didn’t end there and really stretched further back. There was a dedicated area for dancing and group classes.

Whether you want to practice yoga or dancing, the gym at Thompson Austin has you covered.

Next to the group class space, the hotel thoughtfully installed a gorgeous lounge area.

If you finish your workout earlier than your partner, you can relax at this lounge space.

Lastly, I found the highlight of the gym - an indoor golf simulator. This was my first time seeing an indoor golf simulator at the hotel gym, so I was thrilled, but unfortunately, it was still under construction.

It’s such a bummer that the golf simulator was not ready during my stay.

Overall, the gym at Thompson Austin was full of new equipment and covered all audiences. However, it was obvious that the gym was not ready for guests, and I wish the hotel opened it later when it could fully unleash its potential.

Cafe Review—The Coffee Bar

Thompson Austin has a cool cafe and bar called the Coffee Bar, located on the first floor right by the entrance. The Coffee Bar served coffee from Greater Goods Coffee Co. and offered basic pastries to go with the coffee. As the name suggested, the cafe also functioned as a bar, serving sold various alcoholic beverages including wine, beer, and hard seltzer.

The Coffee Bar had an extensive list for both caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.

We ordered a latte and a cappuccino, as well as a cheese danish. However the cappuccino didn’t have any milk froth, and the latte didn’t have much milk compared to the cappuccino. The cheese danish was even more disappointing; it was soggy and cold. On the other hand, the environment of the Coffee Bar was fun yet mature. We sat at the bar, but there were two curved sofas surrounding a fireplace, which would be great in the winter.

This beautiful fireplace was still under construction during my staycation.

I noticed a small book exchange box by the corner; reading a book by a fireplace initially sounded pleasant but it wasn’t suitable for the energetic atmosphere of the cafe. Also, there wasn’t enough space to actually sit down and read a book.

The Coffee Bar should get small tables to serve individual guests.

Since the hotel was still under construction, I’m not sure if the cafe would get more furniture, but having more individual tables would be nice for hotel guests. 

Breakfast Review

Though hotel restaurants were still under construction during my stay, Thompson Austin offered breakfast service on the second floor of the hotel, where event halls were located. When my fiancé and I arrived for breakfast, it was clear that this was a temporary solution. The seating arrangements and the overall atmosphere felt as if I was there for a company conference. We waited about 10 minutes but the restaurant host was nowhere to be found.

The restaurant host never greeted or checked us in.

Eventually, we sat ourselves, and a waitress came to our table a few minutes after. For beverage, I asked for water, and as I was about to take a sip, I saw the water was full of dust. My fiancé’s cup was also dirty, so we asked for new cups. The new cups were, again, dirty, as we were able to see the dust floating on the water. The waitress ended up giving us bottled water to resolve the issue. Then, I saw construction workers going in and out of the event hall, carrying tools and equipment. To top it off, cleaning crews were cleaning sprays to clean the carpet as hotel guests were dining.

The dining area was clearly a temporary solution.

Even before my food came out, I felt uneasy to dine in because not only there weren’t any barriers to protect my food from people passing by with tools covered in dust, but also cleaning and building construction shouldn’t take place next to a dining table. I was hungry and was still curious about the quality of food, so we ended up ordering Tommie Taco and Farmers Market Omelet. The food came out surprisingly fast, and the crispy fingerling potatoes were crispy on the outside and fluffy inside.

The crispy fingerling potato was the highlight of the dish.

I didn’t expect the omelet to have so much goat cheese, so only order it if you absolutely love goat cheese.

This fluffy omelet had an avalanche of feta cheese inside.

Summary

Overall, Thompson Austin had a lot of potential to be a luxury Hyatt property in Austin, TX. The bedroom had amazing design elements. The contrasts between industrial and natural materials worked brilliantly, and every piece of furniture showed that I was in an upscale hotel without feeling too uptight. The gym was fully stocked with high-tech equipment, and it even had an indoor golf simulator. However, the hotel was not ready to welcome guests properly. Even with construction and supply chain delays, I genuinely believe the hotel should’ve opened later when everything was ready. The pool, restaurants, and even suites were still under construction, and some areas at the gym were not fully finished. Despite being a pet-friendly hotel, pet amenities were not available. The cleanliness of my room and the bathroom was highly questionable, which is a big red flag when COVID-19 is still raging. Although the staff did their best to accommodate, I was uncomfortable that the hotel was not entirely transparent on its website (other than on-site restaurants) about the unpreparedness and delays in opening crucial parts of the property. For now, I do not recommend Thompson Austin, but it may be worth another visit in the future to see if the hotel can truly reflect the modern and upscale lodging experience of the Thompson brand.