TL;DR

Art-focused stay: Boutique hotel with in-house gallery.
Historic building: Formerly the Metropole Hotel, beautifully preserved.
Modern interiors: Contemporary chic with original mosaic floors.
Prime location: In the heart of Downtown Cincinnati.
Check prices here

This central boutique in the center of Downtown Cincinnati is the perfect place for an art-focused vacation.

We feel a bit like the 21c Museum Hotel chain, started in Louisville, KY, is at its best in the Midwest. And this is definitely proof positive.

The building itself is a winner, formerly the Metropole Hotel, a gorgeous stone and brick number with a little happy trail of eye-catching wrought-iron balconies down the middle.

Inside, everything is fully updated, a contemporary chic so complete you could be in a new Brooklyn loft if it weren’t for the views of Historic Gano Alley out the windows.

The gallery inside is obviously a huge draw, and the original mosaic tile floors are works of art in and of themselves.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 156 total guest rooms and suites.
Stylish comfort: Bright wood, gray couches, and original artwork.
Room variety: From King Singles to Suites with soaking tubs.
Modern amenities: HDTVs, Lavazza coffee, custom tile work.
See each room in detail here

Rooms are a nice balance of casual comfort and fresh style.

We’re talking residential vibes made from bright wood, easy gray couches, hip desk chairs and original artwork on the walls.

Rooms start at a 250-square-foot King Single, with Queen Doubles, Luxury and Studio options.

Studio Kings have separate seating areas and are great options for couples.

If you’re going all-out, Suites are excellent options with unique decor, more space, and any number of extra amenities. Try out a soaking tub, or enjoy tables for both dining and working.

Whatever you choose, you’ll enjoy HDTVs, Lavazza coffee in-room, locally-made custom tile work and lovely glass showers.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Onsite dining: Metropole restaurant with local focus.
Stylish space: Tiled floors, high-arched windows, airy vibe.
Wellness: Full-service spa with facials, massages, and rituals.
Fitness: 24-hour gym available to guests.
Art galleries: Rotating exhibitions with varied artwork.

The onsite restaurant is named after the hotel that once was, Metropole.

It’s a place for stylish dining, and it’s proudly local – from the local vegetables in the breakfast hash to the 100% Ohio-based draft list.

The dining area is pretty breathtaking, in our opinion, all tiled floors and gleaming wooden dividers.

High-arched windows let in plenty of natural light for a perfect, airy ambiance.

More active guests have a 24-hour gym to enjoy, though all our attention is on the full-service spa.

Here, you can enjoy a relaxing time in the cozy spa area, with treatments that range from facials to massages, and a nice menu of combination services termed ‘rituals.’

The museum has multiple galleries with a rotating series of exhibitions.

It’s a great setup, suited to a nice range of artwork, where everyone can find something they love.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Central location: Right in walkable Downtown Cincinnati.
Transit: Streetcar connects the three downtown districts.
Nearby culture: Taft Museum of Art and Freedom Center.
Outdoor options: Riverfront trails and Eden Park access.
Mt. Adams: Charming neighborhood with cultural hotspots.

Downtown Cincinnati is well-preserved, historical, and notably walkable, a pretty easy rec on our part.

Even our non-pedestrian friends will be able to enjoy the streetcar, which provides an easy ride around the three downtown districts.

Once you’re out the door, you can head in almost any direction you choose.

Towards the river, you’ll find a lot of event-centered attractions, like the Great American Ball Park and a nice handful of waterfront performance spaces.

If you’re hungry for more arts and culture, the The Taft Museum of Art is a 15-minute walk.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is on the way down to the river.

You’ll also find a lovely network of trails that can take you all the way up to Eden Park if you let them.

This is our east-ways adventure, towards Mt. Adams and its charming cadre of cultural hotspots.

It’s roughly a half-hour walk from Downtown (longer if you go riverside).

Eden Park is home to plenty of green space, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Krohn Conservatory, and plenty of other nice places to visit.

Further inland in Downtown are plenty of bars and a nice handful of art galleries.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“This hotel is extremely unique! Really enjoyed all of the artwork and the service was outstanding….”

“I enjoyed everything about this hotel. From the room, to the staff, to the restaurant and bar. The location is in the heart of downtown and is easy walking distance to many attractions. This is my “go to” anytime I visit my family in Cincinnati….”