The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa

Character and identity

Set on 27 wooded acres beside the Houston Arboretum, yet less than a mile from the 610 Loop and minutes from The Galleria, The Houstonian feels improbably secluded for an urban hotel. The 280 rooms sit within a low-rise property whose lobby leans into Texan vernacular: rustic fireplace, mahogany walls, overstuffed sofas, a regal staircase, more hunting lodge than slick city hotel. The draw is the amenity stack: a 175,000-square-foot members' fitness club, the 21-room Trellis Spa (the largest luxury spa in the state), three outdoor pools including a 32-foot rockscape slide, and the Southern-accented Manor House Estate Restaurant.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The decisive factor here is the club and spa: if you'll actually swim laps, take classes or book multiple Trellis treatments, the value is hard to match in Houston, and there's no resort fee. If you won't, you're paying for acreage and amenities you'll skip. Book a Deluxe Corner King for the sitting area, and ask about the Barbara Bush cookies on arrival.