The Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel

A short drive from the airport and within walking distance of all Cincinnati’s hottest destinations, the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel is a smart choice for travelers in the Cincinnati and northern Kentucky region.

The hotel is housed in the Bartlett Building, built at the turn of the century as Cincinnati’s first skyscraper, and by Daniel Burnham, the architect behind the Flatiron Building in New York City and D.C.’s Union Station.

The elegant lobby is decorated in touches of black and gold with a somewhat vintage style that almost feels Great Gatsby-esque. The courteous, yet casual, front desk clerks check you in swiftly (but, unfortunately, free WiFi is only available for Marriott Rewards members).

On my visit, I only had a carry-on, so needed no help finding my way to the gilded elevators and heading upstairs. One little special touch you can find on your way up? The elevator interiors boast what look like modern art, but are really self portraits of the designer. Give it a second and you’ll see.

I had a spacious double guestroom, with the same white-on-gray-on-black decor found throughout all the guestrooms in the hotel. The views from the seating area next to the two large windows showed off the skyline, plus a sliver of the Ohio River. The bathroom was large and stocked with an overabundance of towels (more so than you’d usually find). The rain shower was superb, and the comfy bed with lots of pillows to choose from was just what I needed after a long day of travel.

However, maybe the most convenient and surprisingly delightful amenity was the extremely easy media access. Just turn on the smart television, type in your Netflix username and password and you’re watching all your favorite shows. You’re automatically signed out when you check-out.

While I didn’t have the chance to eat at the hotel’s chic restaurant, D. Burnham’s, I did stop by the bar for a late-night drink. The bar area is small, but comfortable, and there are lots of tables where you can enjoy the company of two or three friends without feeling exposed. Plus, even with multiple televisions showing a baseball game, you could still easily hear yourself talk.

My drink of choice, which I would definitely recommend and enjoy again? The Equinox — Maker’s Mark Bourbon, lemon basil shrub, house-made ginger beer and bitters, combined for a totally sip-able nightcap.