Though we are in the era of short-term rentals, Texas Monthly is out on the prowl to recognize those truly local hotel gems scattered across our wonderfully vast state. And a Houston hotel has earned the No. 1 recommendation spot.
In the four years since their 2019 edition of “Where to to Stay Now,” Texas Monthly has proved not every home on Airbnb offers as luxe of an experience as a business that was designed for it. Plus, a hotel isn’t going to charge you ridiculously high cleaning fees.
Topping this year's recommendations is Houston’s own La Colombe d’Or, the landmark mansion that overlooks the historic Montrose neighborhood. It was built over a century ago and named after an inn and restaurant of the same name in France. As CultureMap reported, the hotel underwent a major transformation in 2019, reopening in 2021 with a newly renovated house and bungalows, and a 34-story tower.
La Colombe d’Or, also known as “golden dove,” is richly decorated with art. Some would say it resembles a museum with its 400-plus original paintings, sculptures, and other art pieces decorating the common areas, guest rooms, and hotel gardens.
The Grand Galvez in nearby Galveston also earned a nod on Texas Monthly's list. Much like La Colombe d'Or, the Grand Galvez resort is also more than a century old. It features an extravagant full-service spa, saltwater pool, and even a swim-up bar. Patrons often come to check out the hallways plastered with pictures of prominent figures (sometimes with less-than-stellar reputations) who have visited the hotel. Reports of ghosts that have haunted the resort during its 112-year history are also a draw for both skeptics and ghost-hunting enthusiasts.
All 10 hotels on 2023’s "Where to Stay Now" list have either recently opened or undergone massive renovations since the publication's previous edition. Commonalities between the hotels include a love of art, historic preservation, and attention to those tiny details that truly outshine the convenience of a short-term rental.
Texas Monthly's recommendations include:
- La Colombe d’Or in Houston
- Hotel Lulu in Round Top
- Lively Beach in Corpus Christi
- Hotel Drover in Fort Worth
- The Loren at Lady Bird Lake in Austin
- Stanton House in El Paso
- Grand Galvez in Galveston
- Thompson Dallas
- Willow House in Terlingua
- Commodore Perry Estate in Austin
Texas Monthly also included the newly renovated Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa on their list of honorable mentions. The Houstonian has long been regarded as one of the city’s best hotels, even earning recognition in Forbes’ 2023 Travel Guide.
The newly renovated Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa scored an honorable mention.
Photo courtesy of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
The 10 honorable mention hotels are:
- The Barfield, Autograph Collection in Amarillo
- Hall Arts Hotel in Dallas
- Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa
- Cotton Court Hotel in Lubbock
- Hotel Dryce in Fort Worth
- Thompson San Antonio-Riverwalk
- Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk
- Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park in El Paso
- Austin Proper Hotel
- Hotel Turkey in Turkey
More information about the hotels can be found on texasmonthly.com.
