Hotel Duval, the Chic Place to Stay in Tallahassee

Staying at the Hotel Duval was like being in a swanky boutique hotel on Miami's South Beach. Could this really be a downtown Tallahassee hotel? Since October 2009, the 117-room property has been welcoming and spoiling visitors with luxury.

First Impressions of Hotel Duval

Hotel Duval is conveniently located three blocks from downtown Tallahassee and minutes from the Florida Capitol, Florida State University and Florida A&M University. Pulling under Hotel Duval's porte cochere, I was greeted by friendly valets and a soothing waterfall embedded in a wall. During my stay, all staff were friendly, courteous and made me feel as though I was a guest and not a tourist.

This Tallahassee hotel is housed in a building which originally opened in 1951 and underwent nearly a year-long revitalization including the addition of the eighth floor. The lobby is sleek and elegant with minimal decor accented with funky nooks ideal for intimate conversations. Chandeliers with dozens of bubble-like globes hang from the lobby ceiling.

Sleeping at Hotel Duval in Tallahassee

Each of the six guestroom floors has its own unique color and scent. I stayed on the sixth floor, the "yellow" floor. A sweet-floral scent drifted down the hall and into my room throughout my stay three-night stay. I popped my head on the fourth floor, the "red" floor, to inhale the spicy and sweet scent.

My bed rested against a vibrant yellow wall and another wall was accented with yellow tinted prints. A small yellow pillow topped the white duvet of my Queen-size bed. There was ample lighting around the bed, room hallway, desk and bathroom but there did not seem to be enough light in the center of the room.

Comfortable for a solo traveler, the room was wired for complimentary wireless Internet; offered plenty of storage options with the dark, wood dresser and closet; and entertained me with the 37-inch flat screen television but found it lacking in electrical outlets. The working desk for my laptop was spacious but had to search for an outlet to plug in my computer.

Zen in the Hotel Duval Bathroom

Soft bathrobes awaited in the closet and the bathroom was a visual treat. Two frosted glass pocket doors formed walls of my bathroom. The sink bowl and countertop were made from one piece of clear glass and my bathroom toiletries sat on what looked like a piece of black slate. Taking a shower was like bathing under a gentle waterfall as my feet enjoyed the smooth feel of the pebble floor and body appreciated flow from the rain showerhead. And while the clear glass shower door was acceptable, the horizontal mirror in the shower startled me. Thankfully it steamed up quickly.

Tallahassee's Newest Hot Spot Housed at Hotel Duval

The eighth floor of Hotel Duval houses Tallahassee's newest hot spot, Level 8. The rooftop lounge is both indoor and outdoor and offers a spectacular view of Florida's capital city. The downside of my stay was trying to sleep at midnight with Level 8's music booming two floors above.

Shula's 347 Grill is the hotel's restaurant serving seafood and beef dishes. Dinner reservations strongly suggested. LeRoc, open for breakfast and lunch, is a casual cafe featuring Starbucks beverages and food items from local businesses. Hotel Duval is a groovy place to meet with function space for up to 250 people. The property also has convenient business and fitness centers.

Hotel Duval is a Member of the Autograph Collection

Earlier this summer, Hotel Duval became the 11th hotel worldwide invited to be part of Marriott International's Autograph Collection, a group of luxurious, boutique and independently-owned hotels.

Next time visiting Tallahassee, I will consider another stay at Hotel Duval.

Hotel Duval
415 North Monroe St.
Tallahassee, Fla. 32301
Tel: 850-224-6000
www.hotelduval.com

Source:

August 2010 Stay