The Heathman Hotel

Leslie Kelly Scout

Joined 5 months ago

This historic hotel is so charming in so many ways. The service is Old School gracious, friendly and helpful from the minute you pull up to the curb. Rooms are comfortable, even if the bathrooms in some tend to be on the smaller side, keeping one foot in the past. Yet, the in-room amenities such as French press coffee, the free WiFi and much-appreciated slippers, are thoroughly modern. The location, just a couple of blocks from the heart of downtown, is terrific, too.

If you do stay, don't miss the early evening wine tasting in the hotel's super cool library. For more than 30 years, authors who stay here have made it a tradition to leave a signed book. It's possible to borrow books if you're a guest. Browsing the shelves is like devouring a delicious list of Who's Who in American literature and Pop Culture. Instead of watching TV at the end of the evening, my husband read Calvin Trillin's witty poems about the 2012 election from the book Dog Fight aloud. What a treat!

And speaking of treats, if you're a fan of afternoon tea, there's a lovely one served in the handsomely decorated lounge. (Pictured here.)

Jen Stevenson Scout

Joined 8 months ago

Appealing to seekers of old fashioned swank and 50 Shades of Grey fans alike, this downtown mainstay has a lovely tea court perfect for relaxing with a cuppa tea/something stronger after a long day of business meetings/tourist hotspot hopping.