Houston has a new top-notch hotel with a sleek, soaring exterior and a bold, thoughtful interior.

Opening in early 2024, the Thompson Houston Hotel brings 36 floors of fresh, modern accommodations to downtown Houston’s historic Fourth Ward, just off Allen Parkway and across from Buffalo Bayou Park, making it easily accessible to nearly everything travelers might want to visit. of all the places to do and see in the city.

The hotel has 172 guest rooms, including 34 gorgeous suites (if you have a Hyatt Suite Upgrade Award, this is a great place to use it) with earthy colors that blend a mid-century feel with inspiration from the surrounding area. , natural materials and hardwood floors.

What’s the atmosphere like at the Thompson Hotel Houston?

The Thompson Houston hotel is welcoming, yet artsy and loves to party.

This is a great place to hang out between events and activities in the surrounding area downtown. During our stay during Thanksgiving, there were plenty of families hanging out by the pool, as well as a well-to-do crowd enjoying cocktails before a night out.

From the moment you walk into the ground floor and take the elevator to the main lobby on the seventh floor, you’ll see some very eye-catching art installations, such as this “1953 Beetle Sphere.”

How much does the Thompson Houston cost and how to book

Good news for Hyatt hotel lovers: The best way to book the Thompson Houston is to use your World of Hyatt points.

This is a Category 5 Hyatt hotel, and a standard room costs 17,000-23,000 points per night. Considering the cash price for a standard room typically ranges from $300 to $500 (plus a $35 nightly destination fee), points are often your best bet.

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If you don’t have Hyatt points ready to go, don’t worry, because World of Hyatt points can be transferred from the Chase Ultimate Rewards program and the Bilt Rewards program at a 1:1 ratio.

However, if you pay cash, the hotel is part of the American Express Select Hotels + Resorts program, which is available for American Express Platinum Card®. If you plan on paying cash, this is a great way to book because you get daily breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, and a $100 stay credit. You can also use up to $200 in annual premium hotel + resort points from the American Express Platinum Card to stay here to reduce cash costs.

Room at the Thompson Hotel Houston

When you enter a room or suite at the Thompson Houston hotel, you may notice the strategic use of colors and materials inspired by the surrounding area, helping to “bring the outdoors inside” due to the hotel’s proximity to Buffalo Luohekou Park. Of course, this is also helped by the large windows in many rooms overlooking the park.

But beyond that, you’ll also see mid-century décor featuring bright art, wood, and brass. It’s trendy, cool, and bold without overpowering the space.

During our stay we were split between two connected spaces, combined under the name Allen Park Two Bedroom Suite. While this may not be the most common suite at the Thompson Hotel, photos of this gorgeous 1,500-square-foot space will still give you a good idea of ​​some of the smaller suites and more standard rooms, since it’s truly a- The bedroom suite is combined with the more standard room next door.

The connecting space in the two-bedroom suites appears to be the same layout as a standard king bedroom at the Thompson Houston, which is an impressive 400 square feet.

While the portion of our space was very nice, the suite portion was definitely jaw-dropping.

If you need a place to entertain a few people or spread out in downtown Houston, this should be at the top of your list. For those who want to book a different suite here and get more Hyatt points or Hyatt suite upgrade rewards, you can book the 650-square-foot Sky Suite or even the 800-square-foot Buffalo Bayou Park Suite, which also offers Become an impressive space.

The beds were extremely comfortable, the views were stunning, and the design choices in the bedroom and living room were interesting and eye-catching. However, the star of the Thompson Houston rooms and suites has to be the marble bathrooms. In some suites, like the one we stayed in, even the bathtub offers unique city views.

What we ate at Thompson’s in Houston

Currently, there is only one restaurant on site at the Thompson Houston hotel: Sol 7 . Dining experience integrated with live entertainment.

There is a coffee shop next door and other options within easy reach almost In a hotel is actually sometimes described as being in a hotel. During my stay, we tried breakfast (via room service and the restaurant) and dinner at Sol 7, a bright and art-filled restaurant located near the main lobby on the seventh floor.

I usually like a simple breakfast ($45 per guest here), so I enjoyed the yogurt, vanilla granola, and mixed berry bowl both mornings. Meanwhile, my kids went for chili, which, while not the most photogenic, seemed very timely.

The wonderful sunset view we saw during our evening visit to Sol 7 was the real highlight, but it was the American Wagyu Sliders ($12) and Garlic Duck Fries ($8) from the happy hour menu (Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 6pm) to follow.

If you’re traveling with kids who are picky eaters like me, know that they might have a little difficulty as Sol 7 doesn’t have a dedicated kids menu.

Pro Tips:Sol 7 is a restaurant on Resy, so if you have American Express® Gold Cardyou can use one of the up to $50 Resy bill credits you earn every six months (registration required; eligible at U.S. Resy restaurants and other eligible Resy purchases) toward dining.

Facilities and activities

Don’t forget your swimsuit, because the hotel’s seventh-floor infinity pool, with its million-dollar views of the downtown Houston skyline, is not to be missed.

It was a little cool for me to jump in during our November visit, but some brave kids did get to swim. I imagine during the warmer months this place is the heart of the hotel, especially the surrounding cabanas.

Meanwhile, the hotel’s entire sixth floor is dedicated to wellness; here you’ll find the Thompson Spa and gym.

The hotel offers some managed classes, such as assisted stretching in the morning and yoga on the green. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to visit the spa on this visit, so I’ll use some official photos of the hotel in this section. But if I had the time and cash to budget for a trip to a spa, I’d probably want to try something like the Basic Aroma Journey Massage, which includes a warm foot wrap and head massage.

In addition to the hotel’s swimming pool and fitness area, the Thompson Houston hotel offers some great amenities for exploring the surrounding area.

For example, you can use the Bluejay electric bike, which is included in the daily destination fee and is perfect for trips to Buffalo Bayou. Or, if you want to go further afield, RV use is free for trips within a 3-mile radius—just enough to get us to the Houston Zoo.

Insider Tips for Staying at the Thompson Hotel in Houston

• If you have a World of Hyatt global membership, you can enjoy breakfast discounts in restaurants or through room service.
• Valet parking is $55, but if you want to save money and park your own, be careful as the surface parking around the hotel was not well marked during my stay, but meters were obviously required. If you don’t follow these rules, you will be issued a warning and/or a ticket (ask me how I know that).
• The Thompson Houston is pet-friendly, so you’ll see plenty of puppies out and about, and you’re welcome to bring your own (up to 50 pounds).

• If you like “underground” attractions and are a history buff, don’t miss a tour of the cistern at nearby Buffalo Bayou Park. It’s only a 15-20 minute walk away, but book your tickets online in advance as some tour times sell out.

• The Thompson Houston hotel is also a great base for exploring Hermann Park and Houston’s Museum District. Many museums have days or times when admission is free. For example, the wonderful Museum of Natural Sciences is free every Tuesday from 5 p.m.

Accessibility

The hotel has accessible corner rooms with wider doorways, accessible showers, emergency flashers and smoke detectors. However, please note that the pool does not have an accessible elevator. Additionally, while the hotel has three Americans with Disabilities Act compliant rooms, I was unable to find award availability for those rooms using Hyatt points.

My advice is to contact the hotel directly for assistance with booking, or book a standard room through points and contact the hotel to try to switch it to an ADA room if necessary.

bottom line

Even though I’ve lived in the suburbs of Houston for decades, I’ve always had a hard time finding a restaurant recommendation in Houston when someone asks me where to go because there isn’t a solid answer. This is especially true when it comes to balancing location with modern, premium experiences and great value points. But now — and for the foreseeable future — the answer is simple.

If you’re looking for a reliable, fun Houston hotel that’s innovative, cutting-edge, close to just about everything, and offers great points value, look no further than the Thompson Houston. Just don’t forget to bring your cycling shoes and swimsuit.

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