Took a mini vaca to Austin Van Zandt during this COVID right before the kids school start. Upon arrive everything is up to code and handle the check in smoothly. Hotel is very modern and chic, and the location is great for walking bars, foodie, and fun. The Manger Nick was great and staff provide superb service. Note pets are allow without any charge and for a hotel that allow pets the rooms are super clean. No hint of pet ever inside a room, a big plus. If you plan to use the pool make sure to reserve your time slot. Location dine in restaurant also requires reservations also, so make sure you plan well. Hotel have valet and self parking, much better rate then the local parking lot. If your lucky, maybe you can get the street parking, which are a bit cheaper but not by much Plenty of EV scooters to use to get around the area.

Excellent hotel with great customer service and nice touches. Check-in Minimal wait time for check-in offered free beer and water which was an excellent touch. Upgraded me for free due to being an IHG Spire member. Room Rooms are excellent here. Rooms are clean, as expected, beds are super comfortable and room furniture is top notch. No complaints here Pool Area During this time, the pool was at limited capacity. The area in previous years was always a party. This was during covid, so the pool was basically empty when I went but still nice. There was some construction equipment for painting or window washing but it did not bother me. Happy Hour There's a free happy hour daily! This is one reason I love going to Kimpton hotels. Free happy hour daily which is always a good time and definitely a nice touch. Location You're right on Rainey Street. Now that I'm in my 30s dirty 6th is no longer my thing. The more chill vibe on Rainey Street is perfect for my tastes. Lots of cool dive bars and restaurants as soon as you walk out the door. If you're here for a conference, the convention center is a 10 minute walk easily. The rest of downtown is also easily accessible. Cons Price, this hotel is generally more expensive than most of the other downtown hotels. If you take advantage of the amenities and location, it's probably worth it. Also, if you're trying to work from home during the week (I was) there are limited areas to do so. All of the common areas in the hotel are playing music that can be heard so it's not a great place to take business calls unless you're doing so from your own room. The business center was also closed due to Covid-19 when I was there so maybe this has changed. Should you stay here? Yes! This hotel is normally pricier than some other downtown hotels. I have stayed in a few other hotels downtown and this one always takes the cake. The staff here does an amazing job and even if it's a little bit more expensive, if you want great location and plan to go out on Rainey Street and make use of the pool and happy hour, you definitely won't regret it. If you're a business traveler and plan on only sleeping at night and maybe driving to another part of the city without taking advantage of the amenities, it's probably not worth the premium.

What stood out for me, at the HVZ, was the friendly staff. When we found that the hair dryer in our room did not work, one of the front desk staff literally ran up to deliver a working model. We were on the 9th floor. I am sorry I did not get his name so I could mention it here. I can commend Shelby ( front desk) and Clarence ( doorman), who were warm, welcoming, and helpful. The room was very comfortable, both in climate control and furnishings. I had a terrific dinner at Geraldine's, although the current lovely view may disappear when a new high rise pops up between HVZ and the river. The only downside to HVZ, for us early to bed types, is its terrific location overlooking Rainey Street. The ( loud) music starts by 8:30, and continues to at least 11 PM. If you prefer quiet by that time, request a room which does not overlook Rainey. Once we swapped rooms, it was terrific.