TL;DR

Location: Most central of all Omaha boutique hotels in Old Market.
Building: Clever 1990s skyscraper makeover with chic modern furnishings.
Style: Window-walls, natural light, contemporary decor with local art.
Experience: Comfortable, well-serviced, and versatile for leisure or business.
Check prices here

The Farnam, from Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is the most Old Market central of all Omaha’s boutique hotels.

As millennial aesthetics regained popularity in the early 2020s, some clever hoteliers took over a 1990s landmark skyscraper and turned it into a hotel.

Enter The Farnam, a building worthy of a midwestern remake of Fight Club. It’s not hard to imagine baby Edward Norton staring out of the top-floor Billionaire Suite towards the First National Center.

Or, maybe that’s just us. You might prefer to envision a full-on, Cranberries-for-the-first-dance kind of wedding or a few very uneventful yet quite comfortable business meetings.

Whatever direction naughties nostalgia takes you, you’ll be well cared for at The Farnam.

The window-walls allow for plenty of natural light on the chic modern furnishings, and the local art on the walls keeps you grounded in the Omaha spirit.

What are the rooms like?

Rooms: 120 rooms including King Singles, Queen Doubles, and Suites.
Style: Modern whites and grays with patterned cushions and plush headboards.
Features: Architectural touches, big TVs, working areas, mini fridges, plush bathrooms.
Suites: Extra homey with seating areas and occasional tables, ideal for longer stays.
See all the rooms in detail here

Rooms keep the same not-so-ultra-modern aesthetic, striking a nice balance between comfort and style.

It’s all windows and whites and grays, which often gets a bit dull, but the patterned cushions and plush leather-ish headboards add enough interest, in our opinion.

It’s definitely a hotel’s hotel, wall-to-wall carpeting and all. There is enough contemporary sensibility (check the super-hip tiled bathrooms) to make it feel fresh, rather than dated.

Guestrooms start at 400 square feet, so you don’t have to worry about space. They come in King Singles and Queen Doubles, with a handful of Suites as well.

The Suites have that little extra bit of homey-ness, with seating areas and the odd table; if you’re staying for a while, you might want to snag one.

Otherwise, however, we’d say the rooms offer plenty of space and comfort.

Whatever you choose, you’ll find unique architectural touches, big old TVs, working areas, mini fridges and plush bathroom amenities.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

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

Dining: Lone Tree Landing café for grab-and-go, Dynamite Woodfire Grill for upscale New American meals.
Drinks: Catalyst Lounge cocktail bar with outdoor terrace.
Fitness: Gym with Peloton bikes, cardio machines, and free weights.

You’ve got a few very good options for a snack, drink, or full meal at The Farnam.

The Lone Tree Landing café is the spot for a grab-and-go breakfast, a nice latte, or a cheeky afternoon pastry.

If you want more of a sit-down and savor, you can find upscale New American at the Dynamite Woodfire Grill.

There’s a full breakfast menu here with all the classics. And the rest of the day, any number of comfort meals plus some chic takes on classic cocktails.

Finally, the Catalyst Lounge is a lovely cocktail bar with an outdoor terrace (Omaha’s largest outdoor bar terrace, we are told), good for welcoming in summer nights.

The Farnam has a pretty swish fitness center too. They have Peloton bikes if that’s your thing, plus typical cardio machines and free weights for the traditionalists.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Between Old Market and Gene Leahy Mall, prime central Omaha spot.
Culture: Orpheum Theater, Joslyn Art Museum, Holland Center, Children’s Museum within 10-minute walk.
Riverside: Farnam Pier, Old Metz Brewery, Kiewit Luminarium nearby for walks and exploration.
Zoo: Henry Doorly Zoo less than 10 minutes by car.

The hotel is nestled right between Old Market and the Gene Leahy Mall, one of the more charming parts of town.

You can shop, eat, or just wander around and peek at the cute architecture.

Just head 5 or 10 minutes east and you’ll hit the more cultural side of Downtown. The Orpheum Theater, Joslyn Art Museum, Holland Center, and Children’s Museum are all within a 10-minute walk.

If you’d rather stay riverside, head about 10 minutes towards Farnam Pier. It’s a cute bridge sort of thing that stretches over the Missouri.

Up and down the river, you’ll find other neat hideouts like the Old Metz Brewery, for our revelers, or the Kiewit Luminarium, for our science-y friends.

Probably the top tourist spot in the city, the Henry Doorly Zoo, is reachable in less than 10 minutes if you have a set of wheels.

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

Some things guests liked:

“The room was spacious, comfortable and clean. The staff were friendly and approachable. Location was perfect, walkable to restaurants, bars, performing arts centers….”

“Top notch property with amazing employees who go above to better your stay….”