A Weekend at the Fairmont Austin — Views, Vibes, and the GOLD Treatment
I’d heard great things about Fairmont Austin, but being there is a whole different experience. It’s Texas, so yes, obviously it’s huge — 37 stories high and right in the center of downtown. It definitely gives big city energy, but somehow still feels personal. The lobby hums with life, the kind that makes you want to grab a drink, people-watch, and then wander around just to see what else is happening.
Getting to Austin from Orange County
From Laguna, it was an actual breeze. We flew nonstop from SNA to AUS on Southwest (a smooth under-three-hour flight), grabbed an Uber, and were downtown in about 20 minutes. Which, for Austin, is basically winning the traffic lottery.
Checking in on the Fairmont Gold level felt like being let in on a special little secret — especially since this was right before Austin City Limits and there were definitely some bigwigs sharing our elevator rides.
The Gold floors are tucked at the top of the hotel with their own private check-in and concierge.
Our room had a skyline view that was fun to take in — a mix of old Austin architecture and all the sleek new builds rising around it. They’d even left us a trio of desserts waiting on the desk, which didn’t last long. Hello, macarons!
The Gold Lounge became our favorite hangout spot. Drinks flowing, snacks all day, and this relaxed vibe where people read, chat, and just soak in the view. You could easily spend half a day up there and still feel like you did something productive.
Downtown Austin Right Now
There’s a lot happening downtown — cranes everywhere, streets being redone, new restaurants opening every week. It feels a little chaotic but exciting, like watching a city reinvent itself. The Fairmont sits right in the middle of it all, just steps from Lady Bird Lake and a short two-minute walk to Rainey Street, the lively strip lined with bars, live music, and food trucks.
We walked down to the lake not long after checking in. The trail was full of runners and dog walkers, the water mirroring all those new glass buildings.
When we got back, we headed to the rooftop pool and jacuzzi. Between the skyline views and the mirrored hotel reflecting the clouds, it honestly felt like a movie scene.
Dinner at Garrison
For dinner, we went to Garrison, the Fairmont’s fine-dining restaurant that’s officially a MICHELIN Guide 2024 Recommended spot — so yes, it’s the real deal.
It happened to be my boyfriend Cory’s birthday, and they made it special right away — “Happy Birthday” printed on the menu, a celebratory cocktail, and a staff that somehow balanced friendly and refined perfectly.
Cory ordered the Pan-Roasted Grouper, I went for the pasture-raised chicken, and they started us with complimentary Black River caviar — because, of course, MICHELIN.
The cocktails were just as memorable: Farrah’s Watching, a smoky small-batch bourbon drink, and Antiquity, an aged gin cocktail that instantly became my favorite of the night. Dessert was over-the-top in the best way — pineapple brûlée, chocolate garden, and a pink dessert that looked like art and tasted even better.
Trading Cowboy Boots for Reeboks
The next morning, I realized I’d packed cowboy boots but no workout shoes — classic me. But Fairmont Gold has this wild “Forgot It? We’ll Get It” service, so I decided to test it.
Literally 15 minutes later, someone showed up at the door with brand-new Reebok shoes, socks, pants, and a workout top. I still can’t get over it.
We walked to F45 Downtown Austin for a morning workout, then headed back for breakfast in the Gold Lounge (their croissants alone are reason enough to upgrade).
Exploring University of Texas, Lady Bird Lake & 6th Street
After breakfast, we Ubered to the University of Texas campus — about 20 minutes away — wandered around, pretended we were college students, grabbed lunch at a local spot, and then headed back for our couples massage at the hotel spa.
The spa has everything: a sauna, steam room, city-view jacuzzi, and plenty of space to just zone out before your treatment. The massage was perfect and made a day of walking the city in cowboy boots totally okay.
Later that afternoon, we popped open some prosecco and made our way back to Lady Bird Lake — this time for a ride with Retro Boat Austin. Picture a little green vintage boat cruising down the water, skyline views ahead, music playing, and people jogging by on shore. It’s one of those “why don’t we have this in Laguna?” moments.
Back at the hotel, we grabbed a drink at the Fulton Lobby Bar, which has live music most nights. And because it’s Austin, of course the singer was incredible (and may or may not have been performing that weekend at ACL).
After being completely swooned by the music, we hopped in an Uber to 6th Street, where we found a bar playing the Chargers vs. 49ers game — with a college band performing right in front of the screen. Somehow, it was the coolest football experience ever. It felt weird, it felt spontaneous, and it was so perfectly Austin.
Heading Home
The next morning, we squeezed in a Barry’s Bootcamp class (cowboy boots safely left in the room this time), casually spotted a Lamborghini with a “ROGAN” plate, and packed up to head home.
It was a quick two-night getaway, but somehow it felt like a full vacation — amazing food, easy travel, standout service, and just enough adventure to remind you why it’s fun to explore somewhere new. Fairmont Austin nailed it — the comfort, the energy, and all the small touches that make a trip actually feel special.
Photos at the Fairmont Austin by Thomas Ocovos.
