Location: 220 Main, Houston, 713-224-4266,
Rates: Start at $219 per night for a room with king bed; deluxe rooms are located in the corner, a quieter area of the hotel; suites available. Look for online deals. Valet parking only, $25 per day.
Stay here if you’re: Looking for a funkier yet rich feel. The building, formerly the Union National Bank building, has been transformed into a luxurious boutique hotel.
It’s close to: Downtown, the George R. Brown Convention Center, the METROrail light rail line.
The rooms are: Beautifully decorated with comfortable beds, furniture you can lounge on and a nice work space.
They put all of the money into: Creating bathrooms that truly prove the axiom “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” The modern bathroom sported a large, jetted tub, a floor-to-ceiling glass rain shower and full-sized bottles of Molton Brown of London bath products. The only odd thing about the room was a shuttered window that opened between the bathroom and bedroom. One supposes this was so you could see the flat-screen television from the shower. In our case, it was used to scare the unsuspecting person who was using the toilet.
The bottom line: This hotel is a great alternative to chain hotels. The staff is exceptional and friendly, the Bank restaurant offers a scrumptious brunch, and the hotel’s proximity to jazz clubs, museums and other downtown destinations is a perk.
– Jacqueline Feldman
