Built in 1924 to compete with the nearby Driskill, the Stephen F. Austin was another favorite spot for state legislators, as well as celebrities like Babe Ruth and Frank Sinatra. Unlike the Driskill, it stood abandoned for a while before being gutted and reopened as an InterContinental property. The public areas aren’t as grand as those of the Driskill—the lobby is rather dark—but the guest rooms are elegant, with touches of red giving them a regal air (stars on the rugs symbolize Texas). They also have nice tech touches, including USB ports on the bedside phones and a bedside unit that lets you remotely turn off lights in other parts of the room. Two other assets: Stephen F’s Bar and Terrace, with sweeping views of Congress Avenue and the capitol, and the Roaring Fork restaurant, known for its “bigass burgers” and Southwest flair.