Hotel Indigo Baltimore Downtown

Hotel Indigo is a chain of boutique-style hotels designed to reflect their surrounding area, often converted from older buildings. This downtown Baltimore structure was built in 1853 as a YMCA, and still bears the original inscription over the doorway. The interior is a bright, modern space with contemporary design. High ceilings and tall, arched windows lend a grand feeling, while hardwood floors and work from local artists keep it modern and stylish. Past the front desk, behind a divider, the on-site restaurant lends a warm glow. There’s also a lovely lounge with a fireplace and library, offering a cozy spot for guests to relax. Throughout the hotel, modern elements are paired with older styles -- think industrial-style light fixtures, crown molding and wainscoting, and an eclectic blend of furniture styles. The hotel is equally popular with business and leisure travelers, and although kids are welcome, the facilities are not designed with children in mind. 

In the heart of downtown Baltimore, this hotel is just off Highway 83 in the historic Mount Vernon neighborhood. It is on a busy one-way street surrounded by office buildings and churches, with a few restaurants and shops within a five-minute walk. The Walters Art Museum’s historic exhibits are a three-minute walk away. It is a six-minute walk to the Washington Monument, where visitors can get a nice view of the city. It is a two-minute walk to the nearest bus stop from the hotel. Sites and entertainment on the Inner Harbor, like Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, the National Aquarium, and the USS Constellation are a 10-minute drive away, plus guests can grab the water taxi to visit other spots on the harbor. It is an hour drive to Washington, D.C. from the hotel. BWI Airport is a 20-minute drive away. 

Rooms are beautiful and comfortable, decorated with midcentury modern furniture, hardwood floors, rich color accents, and custom murals reflecting the literary theme of the hotel. Ivory walls, dark-wood trim, and brown beds create a neutral base for accents in the blue-green rugs and burnt-orange end tables, pillows, and chairs. Simmons mattresses on king-size or two queen-size beds are thick and comfortable, topped with plenty of pillows. Upgraded rooms include split-level suites, with a separate living room and a wet bar on the first floor and a loft-style second floor with a king-size bed and work desk. All rooms have a 37-inch flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, Keurig coffeemaker, and an iron. Newspapers are provided for free. Sleek, modern bathrooms have a large, glass-door shower stall and a wavy tile backdrop. A hairdryers and free quality Aveda toiletries are provided. 

This hotel is light on extra features, as there are no pool or full-spa facilities. Still, the on-site restaurant has a bright, contemporary vibe and excellent food. Three meals are served daily. A free cocktail hour takes place in the lobby midweek, and free fruit-infused water is always available. A selection of snacks and drinks is also available for purchase in the lobby. 

The well-kept fitness center has a few machines and feels roomy. The hotel is pet-friendly, and even has a resident pedigree who spends his days on-site. Parking is inexpensive for the city, with a self-park lot across the street where guests get a discount with validation from the hotel. There’s a business center in the lobby, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the building.