TL;DR

Comfortable stay: Central, easygoing style with modern interiors.
Design: Boxy contemporary building, colorful interior accents.
Vibe: Great for hanging out; cheerful rooms and a rooftop bar.
Convenience: Walkable to attractions, easy access to city center.
Check prices here

This Downtown Grand Rapids Michigan hotel might be part of a large chain, but it’s a lovely balance of comfort, luxury and easygoing style all the same.

The building is not our favorite, one of those boxy contemporary types, but it does have a good showing of windows, and the interiors make up for any lack of exterior charm.

Inside, we’re talking a relaxing base of grays and whites studded with colorful accents.

There are plenty of local touches, too, for anyone who gets a bit spooked by the Hilton name (as we do!).

It’s got all the other benefits of a central hotel: walkability, ease of access, and is an excellent home base for a Grand Rapids adventure.

It’s a little bit Super Hip Library, a little bit Wall-E, but before everyone gets fat.

In that vein, it’s also one of the nicest hotels in the city just to hang out in.

The rooftop bar is a must, and rooms are so cheerful and bright you’ll be happy to linger for a bit.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 155 total.
Room types: King Singles to King Suites, some with balconies.
Decor: Simple, colorful, modern with clever touches like slatted headboards.
Comfort: Plush bedding, LCD TVs, coffee machines, and working areas.
Suites: Sectionals for lounging and extra space.
See each room in detail here

Rooms range from King Singles to King Suites, some of which have cute balconies.

They’re perfect for watching the city wake up while you enjoy your morning coffee.

The decor is pretty in line with the rest of the hotel, simple furnishings with elements of color and shape that make everything feel lively and modern.

We especially like the slatted wood headboards. They’re nothing fancy, just a clever design choice that makes things feel special without leaning on fancy.

They’re all pretty similar, though Suites get nice little sectionals for a good lounge-y vibe.

Whatever you choose, you’ll enjoy plush bedding, LCD TVs, working areas, and coffee machines.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

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

Dining: Portico café for breakfast/lunch, Knoop rooftop bar for Dutch-inspired snacks and dinners.
Drinks: Cocktails and draft beer available at Knoop.
Fitness: Small on-site gym with essential equipment.
Business: Business center for work needs.

Perhaps the best design can be found in the onsite restaurants, Knoop and Portico.

We’ll start small, with the breakfast-y café on the first floor of the hotel. Portico is open for breakfast and lunch, serving up classic dishes and locally roasted coffee.

Knoop is our crowning jewel, the supremely chill rooftop bar. Here you’ll find attractive lounge areas and a bar with one hell of a view.

They’re serving up Dutch-inspired snacks and dinners alongside a seriously stacked draft list. It’s flanked by a pretty extensive cocktail menu as well, if you prefer your liquor hard.

If you’d rather be more active, there’s a fitness center on site. It’s pretty small, but the hotel is no Goliath either.

We think you’ll get everything you need from the handful of machines.

There’s also a business center in the hotel for anyone unlucky enough to be in the city for work. Meetings or no meetings, we still suggest you bop up to Knoop for a beer.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Central, walkable to attractions, near highway access.
Parks: Riverside park across the Blue Bridge.
Museums: Gerald R Ford Museum, Public Museum, Art Museum, Children’s Museum.
Dining & nightlife: Bridge Street bars and restaurants.
Music: GLC Live, Van Andel Arena, St. Cecilia Music Center, Skelletones nearby.
Neighborhoods: Heritage Hill for historic architecture, Eastown for artsy, bohemian vibes.

One of the most easy-to-get-to of all Grand Rapids hotels, Canopy is both walkable to most of the city’s attractions and spitting distance from the highway.

We suggest your get out on foot at some point. One go-to is the riverside park across the Blue Bridge, on the opposite side of the Grand River.

You’ll also find some nice museums out here, including the Gerald R Ford Museum and the Public Museum.

Nearby Bridge Street is also home to many of the city’s best bars and restaurants.

If you prefer to stay on the east side, you’ll still have plenty to do. The Art Museum and the Children’s museum are just a 10-minute walk.

Music is also going to be a cinch. GLC Live, the Van Andel Arena, and the St. Cecilia Music Center are at most a 10-minute walk.

Skelletones, the more alternative venue, is basically next door.

If you’d prefer a good wander outside, take a walk around Heritage Hill and Eastown, two of Grand Rapids most well known neighborhoods.

Heritage Hill has an abundance of historical architecture and an old-money residential vibe, while Eastown is more laid-back, artsy, and bohemian.

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

Some things guests liked:

“What a comfortable, clean, modern and warm place to stay! The front desk staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The hotel itself was within walking distance to so many restaurants and bars and boutique shops. Grand Rapids is such a charming and safe city, we loved that we were able to park for the weekend, and walk everywhere. Coming back to an amazing shower and a comfortable bed in the evening made it even better!…”

“The hotel was clean and beautiful and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The location was fantastic – just a block from the arena where we saw a concert. …..”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”My toilet backed up, which was a little problematic, but they sorted it out and were very professional about it. Otherwise everything else was great. …..”

”The only ice machines are on the third floor. And while there are water dispensers on each floor, they were a trek from our room….”

Read all the reviews right here