This Chic New Houston Hotel Has a Rooftop Infinity Pool, Luxe Spa, and Panoramic City Views — and We Were Among the First to Stay

Thompson Houston’s sleek 36-story glass and steel tower rises above Buffalo Bayou Park.

Like most travelers, I hope for sunny, clear weather for my vacations, so it seems a little strange — even to me — that one of the best memories of my recent visit to the new Thompson Houston was sitting up in my plush bed around 1 a.m. enthralled by a thunder and lightning storm. I opened my drapes wide and watched through floor-to-ceiling windows as the sky lit up every few seconds, silhouetting the Houston skyline.

The hotel opened on Feb. 14, and about a month later, I was there for the grand debut of the Thompson Spa, an exciting event with caviar and Veuve Cliquot, informational sessions in treatment rooms, and a demonstration of the Gold Aurum Radiance Infusion Facial by Pietro Simone, who was at the opening to highlight his exclusive treatments and products at the spa.

My room featured warm, earthy shades, spacious closets, a well-stocked mini-bar, and appealing snacks I dug into as I caught up on emails and munched popcorn at the comfortable desk conveniently equipped with charger outlets. In the vast glass-enclosed, marble-lined shower area of the bathroom, a free-standing tub was set against a floor-to-ceiling window with bath products nearby. Fans of long, lazy baths will find this irresistible.

A stunning backdrop of downtown Houston greets guests at the seventh-floor reception desk. Sol 7, the hotel’s all-day dining spot, is on the same floor, with a bar, indoor seating, and outdoor tables that spill out towards the pool and an expansive recreation area. In early spring, it wasn’t quite swimming weather, but I foresee the pool being a hot spot (pun intended) during warm Houston summers.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the friendly Texas-style greetings and attentive service from everyone I encountered during my stay, from the moment I arrived and met Charlie, the house car driver, to servers at Sol 7, reception staff, and everyone who assisted me at the spa. I’m pretty sure they all meant it when they said, “Y’all come back,” and I definitely plan to return for summer and a poolside cabana.

Read on for my full review of Thompson's newest Texas property.

Houston Thompson

• The views of the downtown skyline and Buffalo Bayou Park from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the guest rooms and suites are gorgeous.

• The pool area is a luxurious oasis, with colorful furnished cabanas and a stunning blue and gray porcelain-tiled infinity pool.

• Expansive marble bathrooms feature free-standing tubs and outdoor views.

• Guests receive metal refillable water bottles at check-in, and there’s a beverage station on each floor with flat and sparkling water. (Magazines and a bowl of apples, too.)

• The spa, an entire hotel floor, features ultra-luxurious products and treatments, a huge couples treatment room, and an outdoor relaxation area.

The Rooms

The 36-story hotel’s 172 rooms include 34 suites decorated in contemporary style with hardwood floors and carpets with geometric prints. Guestrooms feature wide fabric-covered headboards, convenient reading lights, and easy-to-manage lighting controls. Rich earth tones combine with brass accents, colorful modern wall decor, and white duvets on plush beds for a crisp, welcoming look. The floor-to-ceiling windows with sheers and blackout drapes overlook lush green Buffalo Bayou Park or the downtown Houston skyline (or both). All rooms include a Nespresso coffee maker, Tivoli sound system, minifridge, curated honor bar, clothing steamers, and cozy hooded sweatshirt-style robes.

Rooms include 400-square-foot King or Double Queen Rooms, with accessible rooms in each configuration. Guests can choose spacious suites like the 800-square-foot Panoramic Suite, with a separate bedroom and living area, a walk-in shower, and a bathtub. The two-bedroom Allen Park Suite includes a private balcony, three bathrooms, and a separate living area. With three bathrooms, a 2,500-square-foot outdoor terrace, and two fireplaces, the two-bedroom, 4,300-square-foot Thompson Penthouse suite is the ultimate place to stay.

Food and Drink

Sol 7, a bright casual restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, is open for breakfast, all-day dining, weekend brunch, and weekday happy hour. The menu includes a raw bar, sandwiches, salads, and main dishes. The Sol 7 bar features a wide selection of cocktails, wine, beer, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Toca Madera, the well-loved modern Mexican steakhouse known for high quality and bold flavors, is located across from the hotel. The extensive dinner menu features a variety of starters, a raw bar, salads, steaks, and seafood.

On the hotel’s first floor, Maven Coffee + Cocktails offers premium coffee, teas, pastries, parfaits, sandwiches, sweets, wine, and hand-crafted cocktails.

Activities and Experiences

The heated outdoor rooftop infinity pool, surrounded by palm trees, lounge chairs, and furnished cabanas, features cocktail and dining service provided by Sol 7.

Guests can explore Buffalo Bayou Park’s trails on complimentary eco-friendly electric bikes. The 160-acre park is also home to playgrounds, waterways for kayaking, historic areas, and art installations.

In addition to fitness equipment at the Thompson Fitness Center, there’s assisted stretching, percussion therapy, cryotherapy, and a vibration plate to stand on for increasing circulation and relieving foot pain, which is available by appointment on Fridays.

Available daily at the Thompson Spa by appointment, guests can experience a customized aromatherapy sensory journey to create the perfect blend of aromatics for bath salts to be used in the room or packaged for travel.

With the Bayou Sound Bath, available on Sundays at the Thompson Spa, guests relax in a comfortable lounge, listening to the soothing sounds of Tibetan singing bowls, Koshi chimes, and rainsticks for a powerful experience that supports physical and emotional well-being.

Libations at the Library events occur occasionally, with guests enjoying cocktails in comfortable seating surrounded by the massive library wall and panoramic views from the seventh-floor reception area.

Pets (up to 50 pounds, maximum of two per room) are welcome at Thompson Houston, with special amenities for furry guests. Buffalo Bayou Park’s enormous dog park is nearby.

The Spa

The hotel’s spa is a wellness destination, spanning the entire sixth floor of the hotel, with six treatment suites, an expansive corner couples suite, and a boutique with a curated selection of top-quality products. Amenities include an outdoor relaxation area, saunas, a salon, and a 24-hour fitness center. In the peaceful spa lounge, guests can enjoy organic hot teas, light bites, and floor-to-ceiling views of downtown Houston and Buffalo Bayou Park.

Treatments and products from renowned Pietro Simone utilize his protocol and techniques like dry massage and organic cotton threading. Simone’s treatments use high-end technology and holistic methods to penetrate each layer of the skin, plumping and facilitating lymphatic draining. Signature treatments include the Cellular Activating Hydration Facial and Cellular Activating Age Management Facial.

The spa menu also includes facials featuring Agent Nateur, a luxury hormone-free skincare line, including the Agent Nateur Instant Glow Facial. In the expansive corner couple’s spa suite, the Couple’s Rose Petal Romance Retreat is a candlelit treatment for two. Led by Megan Fitzgerald, a seasoned spa and wellness leader, the Thompson Spa offers high-end, transformative experiences.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The hotel’s registration desk, concierge desk, public restrooms, restaurants, swimming pool, fitness center, and exercise facilities are accessible. The hotel offers van-accessible self-parking and, with advance notice, accessible transportation. In addition, there are closed caption or closed caption decoders for guest room televisions, assistive listening devices for meetings upon request, and accessible guestrooms with mobility features and 32-inch doorways.

The public entrance is accessible, and there are accessible routes to the spa, restaurants, fitness center, pool, meeting and ballroom area, registration desk, and guest rooms.

Location

Thompson Houston is located 10 miles from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and 22 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Guests have easy access to restaurants, parks, museums, performance and sports venues, and shopping malls within a few miles of the hotel. Downtown Houston is about a mile and a half away. Once at the hotel, a car isn’t necessary unless visitors want to head outside of Houston to explore the area. Shared rides and the house car are convenient for short, local trips.

Thompson Houston offers complimentary house car service upon request for drop-offs within a three-mile radius of the hotel. The service is available on a first come, first served basis from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. (There's also a heliport on-site for guests who truly want to arrive in style.)

Just under a mile away, Houston’s downtown Theater District, covers 17 blocks offering premier theater venues, fine arts, and culture. The Toyota Center, a mile and a half away, is an entertainment venue that hosts professional basketball games, concerts, and touring shows.

Minute Maid Park, less than two miles away in downtown Houston, hosts professional baseball games in a retractable roof stadium. Shell Energy Stadium, two miles from the hotel, hosts soccer matches, football games, concerts, and more. Three miles away, the Houston Zoo is home to more than 6,000 animals.

The Houston Museum District, just over two miles away, boasts 19 museums, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Museum of African Culture, and the Holocaust Museum Houston. The Museum of Fine Arts offers more than 65,000 artworks and exhibitions.

River Oaks Shopping Center, less than two miles away, offers more than 60 luxury retail brands, restaurants, and events. The Galleria, an expansive shopping center with more than 400 stores and restaurants, an ice rink, two swimming pools, and a children’s play area, is five miles from the hotel.

Nearby restaurants are Toca Madera and Flora for Mexican cuisine and Bludorn for upscale seasonal American food.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

World of Hyatt members can earn and redeem points at Thompson Houston, and they can get 10 percent off when they book a standard or premium room on hyatt.com. (Special Offer Code: MYRATE) Award nights start at 17,000 points per night in this Category 5 property and go up to 23,000 points per night on peak dates.

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