South Congress Hotel

My wife and I have been coming to the South Congress area for our anniversary, in July, for years. We came on a whim years ago, had a great time, and have been coming back since then. We stay there wander around shopping and visiting the local restaurants and bars.

We DID NOT get to stay there this time. I booked reservations for Friday and Saturday nights almost two months out. We showed up in the same Jeep Gladiator we have driven there for the last two trips. The same jeep gladiator that is unchanged since we had it parked in there garage, by the valet, the last two trips.

This time, however, the Valet held up his high calibrated fist, slightly lower than the highest point of our Jeep, and pronounced that it would not fit in the garage. I responded that it had been parked in their garage the last two times that we visited, with zero issues. He held up his [recently certified by the state department of weights and measures] fist and reiterated that it would not fit in the garage. I responded that we would not be staying if we could not park our vehicle on the property.

He ran inside to the front desk. I walked in behind him, thinking that this is an easily worked out issue, after telling my wife not to take her things out of the car- just in case.

When I got to the front desk, the "guest services manager", Louis, greeted me with thinly disguised animosity and asked if I was the guy with the truck that was too tall. I said yes, and politely told him that we have had the same vehicle parked in their garage numerous times and that it has never been an issue. He proceeded to tell me that he "would not overrule is valets". My thought was "OK, what is the point of you being a manager then?" while at the same time recognizing that this guy had zero inclination to even try to work things out. He was exceptionally happy to get rid of us- for whatever reason. He voiced the I'm sorry about this with the thinly veiled disdain of someone scraping gum from his shoe, as he informed me that he would not be contacting our booking service to cancel the reservation, but that I would have to do so.

Looking at the guy wearing his mask (Summer of 2025) with a sweater on under his button up short sleeve shirt, I think it was actually a prejudice issue, but I will never know. I can think of no other reason for his hostility before I even spoke to him. I cannot stress enough that there was nothing confrontational with the valet or this manager from my end. This all came from nowhere.

It worked out for the best as I sit here on the porch of a cabin attached to a winery outside of Fredericksburg. I just booked a Spa day for my wife and I hope to have time to go for a run at Enchanted Rock while she is busy. Skip South Congress, and especially the South Congress Hotel, and head for wine country. We have spent our last anniversary weekend in Austin. I will miss dinner at Perla's.

Honest Speculation: We were tagged as undesirable conservative types and they didn't want us in their Austin. I cannot think of another reason for the undeserved hostility.

The food, both breakfast and lunch, was very very good. Surprisingly good. Service was also great.

- Charged (not just authorized) $150 up front for incidentals
- First Thursday music turned the place into a night club and negated the quaint bar. No warning about this event was given.
- The shower had a window in it to living space!
- Rectangle toilet
- No bathroom fan
- Very dim lights and few in room
- No temperature control on bathroom fixtures
- No bag in wire garbage can
- No coffee maker
- Ceiling unpainted, looks like parking garage
- Bed hard as a rock and pillows useless
- No gluten free options for dining
- Loud street
- Thermostat did nothing - 72 no matter what
- No recommendations book
- Uncomfortable chairs
- Internet doesn’t work consistently
- Sparsely and cheaply decorated rarely used spare guest room vibe

I definitely wouldn't stay here again, despite the prime location.

Great location, just a short walk from lots of restaurants and shops.