I’m no athlete, so imagine my surprise when the soccer ball I had just kicked soared past the goalie’s right side and flew into the net, clocking in at a cool 27 miles per hour.
I should mention, though, that I wasn’t on a soccer field. And the goalie — although certainly life-like — was simulated, as was the goal he stood in front of.
In fact, I wasn’t even outside under a clear-blue sky; rather, I had escaped the sweltering summer heat of Austin, Texas, and found respite in Hilton Austin’s brand-new Top Golf Swing Suite, where I was testing out my penalty kicking skills between sips of Champagne and bites of hot, gooey melted queso.
The hotel’s Top Golf Swing Suite experience, which opened in February and is bookable for $65 per hour for small groups, is located in a private room within Austin Taco Project, a modern taco restaurant found just off the hotel’s lobby.
My hour-long session in the Top Golf Swing Suite was perfect for the six-person bachelorette party I was with; in addition to a wide variety of games that included both Top Golf and soccer, my group played ice hockey, tried our hand at classic carnival games and hurled dodgeballs during a game of Zombie Dodgeball. (We also had a private server, access to the full Austin Taco Project menu and non-simulated table games.)
Corporate or Leisure: There’s Something for Everyone
The 801-room Hilton Austin, which houses the Top Golf Swing Suite, is attached to Austin Convention Center and features one of the largest ballrooms in the city and more than 95,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Unsurprisingly, the hotel’s clientele tends to lean more corporate, with business travelers accounting for about 60% of business, according to Heather Hagelberger, cluster director of marketing for Austin and Houston hotels for Hilton. But that’s a ratio she hopes will shift with the addition of several new amenities, such as the Top Golf Swing Suite and the hotel’s upcoming 1,236 square-foot F45 Training studio, which will debut in the fall and make the hotel the first in the world to feature a fitness studio of this type.
Small groups can book the hotel’s new Top Golf Swing Suite for private parties featuring interactive games and food from Austin Taco Project.
Credit: 2022 Hilton AustinAs a leisure traveler myself, I was certainly impressed with the amenities available during my three-night stay at the property, which is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Austin, within walking distance to Lady Bird Lake, the bars and the nightlife scene of nearby 6th and Rainey streets and just a five-minute drive from the popular South Congress shopping district.
Because temperatures topped triple digits for the entirety of my stay, I alternated between finding respite in the hotel’s rooftop saltwater pool — which is just the ticket for clients wanting to beat the heat and soak up downtown city views with a margarita in hand — and its massive air-conditioned lobby, complete with several cozy seating nooks, a business center and multiple restaurants.
The hotel’s rooftop features a saltwater pool, a hot tub, a pool bar and cabanas, along with sweeping views of downtown Austin.
Credit: 2022 Hilton AustinComfortable, Spacious Guestrooms
Guestrooms at this AAA Four Diamond property are spacious, and connecting rooms are available. Although the rooms themselves were simply decorated, eclectic art captures the eye with abstract Southern urban motifs, from bedazzled horse saddles to photos of twisted bicycles next to a sign that says “Sidewalk Closed.” And at 26 floors tall, the property promises gorgeous downtown views.
My signature Hilton Serenity bed was quite comfortable, and I was impressed with small-yet-practical touches, such as the singular control panel located between my two double beds that allowed me to control temperature, switch off each light in the room and more.
Local Influences Abound
The property is not part of Hilton’s Curio Collection (the company’s line of boutique properties designed with the host destination in mind), but Hilton Austin features multiple nods to its home city, perhaps most apparent with its variety of food and beverage options.
Although visitors seeking the familiar will be happy with the full-service lobby Starbucks, which provided a necessary jolt of caffeine each morning, the aforementioned Austin Taco Project is perfect for lunch, offering a creative take on tacos and hand-crafted cocktails (I opted for the tempura avocado tacos paired with a pomegranate cosmopolitan).
Meanwhile, the hotel’s dinner restaurant, Cannon + Belle, is home to a Bourbon Bar featuring Ghost Hill Bourbon from Treaty Oaks Distillery in nearby Dripping Springs, Texas. There’s also an indoor biergarten featuring large-screen televisions for sports viewing (Hook ‘Em Horns!).
Austin Taco Project, located off the hotel’s lobby, exudes a hip, eclectic feel and features tacos with a twist.
Credit: 2022 Hilton AustinIn a nod to Austin’s moniker as the Live Musical Capital of the World, bands will set up shop in the lobby next to CAnnon + Belle each evening from Thursday through Saturday.
And, of course, after filling up on any of the options, it’s just a short walk back over to the Top Golf Swing Suite for another round of golf.
Or, if you’re feeling brave, Zombie Dodgeball. (Just aim for their heads, trust me.)
