Lake Austin Spa & Resort Review
If you are looking for the ultimate luxurious escape, the Lake Austin Spa & Resort is just a short and scenic 30 minute drive from downtown Austin. The 19-acre property sits on the serene shores of the Colorado River with a total of 40 guest rooms, a heated pool barn, two outdoor pools, two restaurants, a huge spa facility, and a multitude of workout rooms. With lineage dating back to the 1940’s, the resort underwent a major transformation when purchased in 1997 by Michael McAdams and William Rucks who proceeded to renovate the outdated rooms and facilities. It has since been noted as one of the top wellness resorts in the world by readers at Conde Nast, and has been known to host travelers from around the globe.
We visited the Lake Austin Spa and Resort in January and enjoyed a 24 hour, all-inclusive stay filled with an impressive lineup of activities: think boat cruises, floating yoga flow, inspiration on canvas painting, pilates, yoga and cooking demos led by the resort’s talented culinary staff. Everyone on staff was incredibly friendly, and the service itself was phenomenal. The activity groups consisted of about 3-6 people (sometimes even a solo class), so you had one-on-one attention from the trainers, teachers, etc. Cell service is limited on the property in order to encourage disconnection, and individuals are prohibited from cell phone use entirely in the common areas, as courtesy to other guests. Don’t worry, you will still be able to snap a few insta-worthy shots without a problem.
The property has its own garden, where chef grows much of the product used in the meals served at both properties restaurants. Even in the winter time, the garden was impressively fresh and still blooming with flowers and produce alike. The menu at the resort restaurant was portioned out perfectly so that each meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is between 300-600 calories with nutritional information available to all guests. Perhaps our favorite feature, was the kitchen doorbell that allows you to order frozen yogurt at anytime throughout your stay. The flavors rotated throughout our stay from hazelnut to mango to acai berry and cold brew coffee.
Food lovers will appreciate the Lake Austin Culinary Experience, which happens the second full week of every month. During this time culinary programming is hosted by award-winning chefs from around the country. Learn how to make your own gourmet meals at home with instruction from the experts in their field. Past guest chefs have included: Justin Chapple (Test Kitchen Editor at Food & Wine), Sara Moulton (Food Editor for Good Morning America), Shaun O’Neale (Master Chef on FOX), and Chef David Bonom of NYC.
Seperate from the resort, you will find the spa facilities which are available to day guests and have a separate access road for entry. The 25,000 square foot facility includes the heated pool barn, outdoor pool, Aster Cafe and the spas steam room, jacuzzi and gym. There are over 100+ services available in the spa, and they have been specifically recognized for their award winning facials which include: anti-aging, skin brightening, customized options, cleansing and Vitamin C focused treatments.
Overall Ranking: A+
Pros: Amazing views of the lake from almost all of the property, full list of activities, all-inclusive meals, friendly service, wide array of spa treatments.
Cons: Not many, but be ready to put down a deposit before your visit. Stays start at $495/guest/night.
