Two resplendent San Antonio hotels – Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk and Mokara Hotel & Spa – were just praised in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Released October 7, Condé Nast Traveler surveyed 757,000 readers to discover their favorite travel experiences from April 1 through June 30, 2025. Respondents submitted ratings for hotels, resorts, cruise lines, spas, cities, airlines and airports, trains, luggage, and countries.

The Thompson San Antonio hotel ranked as the 11th best hotel in Texas for 2025, and this is the fourth year the hotel has been named one of the best stays by Condé Nast Traveler readers. The 20-story hotel opened at 115 Lexington Ave. in 2021.

According to Condé Nast contributor Tommie Ethington, the hotel “brings the party to an otherwise low-key part of town” and its guests all look like they’re fashionably preparing for a celebration, whether it be the fact that it’s the weekend or an important event.

“The rooms are equal parts moody and industrial with dark wood and rich leather accents, but there are also ‘Texas-inspired touches’ like cowhide rugs and Ranch Water in the mini-fridge,” Ethington said. “Upgrade to one of 33 suites for indoor-outdoor spaces, fully stocked wet bars, and mod soaking tubs.”

In addition to the luxurious suites, the hotel boasts 162 guest rooms, an opulent penthouse, a rooftop bar and terrace, and an event venue.

A little farther down the list is San Antonio’s Mokara Hotel & Spa, which ranked as the 15th best Texas hotel. This is the first time the hotel has been named in the Readers’ Choice Awards since 2017.

The Mokara Hotel will soon undergo renovations in October to update every guest room and suite with a refreshed contemporary design with a few Western details. The hotel will additionally add more wellness-focused amenities, such as free-standing bathtubs, therapeutic bath crystals, and much more.

Mokara San Antonio A model room at Mokara preview’s the hotel’s transformation.Photo courtesy of Mokara Hotel & Spa.

The No. 1 hotel in Texas
Austin’s Hotel Saint Cecilia topped Condé Nast’s list of the top 15 hotels in Texas for 2025. This South Austin hotel is located within walking distance of South Congress Avenue, and according to Bagley, the hotel is purposely obscured from view from the popular tourist-attracting street to provide the utmost privacy for guests and members. Curious passersby are not allowed access inside.

“Record label execs, artists, musicians, writers — everyone has been told about this hotel by a friend with good taste,” Bagley said. “A few local scenesters, who are granted access via exclusive membership, regularly patronize the bar.”

The hotel provides ultra-luxurious amenities like a “six-figure Hästens mattress,” Grown Alchemist products, custom batik kimono robes, and much more. Each guest room is also equipped with a turntable, and guests can borrow vinyls from the hotel’s library in the lobby.

The remaining Texas hotels that were deemed the best in 2025 include:

  • No. 2 – W Austin
  • No. 3 – The Carpenter Hotel, Austin
  • No. 4 – Thompson Houston
  • No. 5 – The Driskill, Austin
  • No. 6 – The Crescent Hotel, Fort Worth
  • No. 7 – Warwick Melrose – Dallas
  • No. 8 – Marriott Marquis Houston
  • No. 9 – Hotel Magdalena, Austin
  • No. 10– The Line Austin
  • No. 12 – Hilton Anatole, Dallas
  • No. 13 – The Joule, Dallas
  • No. 14 – Hotel Saint Augustine, Houston