With all the new hotels popping up around Houston, sometimes it can be hard to determine which is the best place to stay. Guest reviews are helpful, but sometimes we just need an expert's take. Luckily for Houstonians, Esquire Magazine has put together a master list of "The 41 Best New Hotels in North America and Europe," and one parkview Houston hotel has made the cut.
The annual list, now in its third year of publication, shares the most unique and unforgettable experiences compiled by Esquire editors. Hotels that were recognized steered away from "the grain of ho-hum luxury [and] change the vibrations of its neighborhood and its city."
The Thompson Hotel, which opened in late 2023, was Houston's lone representative on the list. The swanky hotel is located just outside of downtown across from Buffalo Bayou Park. Luxurious modernity is what makes this lodging stand out above the rest, as guests (likely those of high profile) are allowed to arrive and depart the property using the Thompson's rooftop helipad.
The hotel contains 172 rooms and suites across eight floors inside a 36-story tower that's shared with luxury condominiums The Residents at The Allen. Guest rooms are adorned with warm brass accents and deep green leather furnishings, weaving together a mid-century modern aesthetic with classic elements.
The picturesque wall-to-wall marble bathrooms contain floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook into downtown, beckoning guests to explore the city for themselves.
Check out those city views.esquire.com
According to Esquire, the Thompson's best selling point is that it's specifically not located downtown. Guests can instead rent one of the hotel's e-bikes and explore Buffalo Bayou Park, or they can explore one of the on-site dining offerings, with more on the way.
"Opening soon are Chardon, a French bistro, and Buck 40, an upscale supper club, but for now there is Sol 7, a lively lobby bar and restaurant that embraces the outdoors with its vast floor-to-ceiling windows, which open up when the weather’s nice," the report's author wrote. (Read CultureMap's previous coverage of the hotel's restaurants here.)
Room rates at the Thompson Hotel Houston start at $379 a night, placing this right in between the's list two other Texas hotels.
Other top Texas hotels
Austin's The Loren at Lady Bird Lake and Hôtel Swexan in Dallas were the only other two Texas hotels that were recommended in Esquire's list.
The Loren at Lady Bird Lake opened in 2022, featuring 108 luxurious rooms with city and lake views across eight floors. The lakeview hotel boasts a beloved Austin spa, a rooftop restaurant, and an all-day coffee shop and cafe. Room rates begin at $270 per night, which is much more affordable than many other hotels in the area.
"Breakfast tacos, smoky barbecue, and live music beckon in Austin," the report says. "Cool down in the café with a margarita or a frozen espresso martini, or admire the sweeping skyline from the rooftop pool or from the restaurant Nido as you indulge in an octopus carpaccio, or take in Lady Bird Lake through the floor-to-ceiling windows of your stylish mid-century-modern room."
The Loren in Austin was the most affordable Texas hotel on Esquire's list.
Courtesy of The Loren
The hotel's popularity is bolstered by its ideal location right on South Lamar and West Riverside Drive, just steps from the Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail and the Zach Theatre, and is a short walk to local-favorite parks Auditorium Shores and Zilker Park. Travelers can walk across the pedestrian bridge to visit the Austin Central Library, or dine at one of the nearby restaurants like Ember Kitchen or Hestia.
The Loren also has deep connections with Austin's creative scene and local artists. In summer 2023, the hotel partnered with The Contemporary Austin to commission a mural by local artist Manik Raj Nakra, and showcased his art inside the cafe.
Most recently, the hotel finished restoring the beloved Paggi House historic landmark that sits on its property. The new art venue is now showcasing its first exhibition, Explorers, featuring art by Matthew Ritchie, Rodney McMillian, Xylor Jane, and many more.
Meanwhile, The Hôtel Swexan is a stylish boutique hotel in Dallas' Harwood District, just north of downtown. This stylish spot pays attention to the little details that make a guest's stay as comfortable and hassle-free as possible, Esquire says. The thoughtful amenities also appeal to guests' deluxe tastes. And with room rates beginning at $625 per night, guests can expect no less than the utmost service and conveniences.
"Should you book one of the top-floor suites, know that they are spacious enough for the whole family," Esquire wrote.esquire.com
"You won’t have to ask for a toothbrush and toothpaste because you forgot to pack them — they’re already in the bathroom waiting for you," the report said. "The minibar? It’s stocked with both Burgundy and good California pinot (made in Burgundian style, of course)."
The report also praised Babou's — the hotel's upscale nightclub — the rooftop pool, and the live jazz nights.
The full list of hotels can be found at esquire.com.
