DoubleTree by Hilton The Tudor Arms Hotel

Built in 1933 and once housing university students, this historic hotel draws a broad range of travelers. Family members of Cleveland Clinic patients and visitors to Case Western Reserve University are common guests during the week. Weekends see an influx of museum visitors and people attending weddings and other social events in the opulent ballrooms that feature second-floor balconies, hand-painted murals, and arched ceilings. But all visitors to this beautifully restored hotel can appreciate its Old World elegance with polished white marble and light hardwood floors and dark, carved-wood paneling on columns, walls, and across the ceilings. A long row of fine, oversized leather chairs and upholstered sofas with throws line either side of round coffee tables. The library and wine lounge area of the restaurant has a fireplace and offers another cozy spot for guests to congregate. This is a friendly and classy hotel that’s a local landmark.

The hotel is located in Cleveland’s East Side, approximately four miles from the downtown business district. It’s called University Circle or the Cultural District due to its proximity to schools such as Case Western Reserve University (a 10-minute walk or two-minute drive) and several museums. It’s a two-minute walk to the Cleveland School of Architecture and Design and a four-minute drive to the Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland State University’s campus is a 10-minute drive. Nearby museums and their driving times include the Museum of Contemporary Art (five minutes), Cleveland Botanical Garden (four minutes), and Cleveland Museum of Art (five minutes, or a 14-minute walk). The hotel runs a free shuttle service within a two-mile radius, making the aforementioned institutions a brief shuttle ride away. Most major downtown attractions can be reached in a drive of about 15 minutes, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Quicken Loans Arena, Progressive Field, and First Energy Stadium. The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is approximately a 25-minute drive. No restaurants are within reasonable walking distance from the hotel, which is located on a busy road, but several are within a brief drive.

Rooms are as modern as the public spaces in this historic hotel are traditional. Standard rooms come in king or double-queen options and have ample space to make them functional and comfortable. Suites come in the same bed options. Decor is essentially the same in all rooms, which is quite distinctive. Dark-brown hardwood floors contrast nicely with the cream walls adorned with colorful modern art, while blue sofas and drapes, marble-top wooden furnishings, and butterscotch leather headboards add a little decorative drama. Black leather office chairs and roomy desks with media plug-ins and stainless steel, rectangular lamps are in all rooms. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the rooms are the small bathrooms, where recessed lighting gives tan walls and rust marble a warm glow. Bathrooms have basin-style sinks and rainfall showerheads, but no tubs. The two-room suites each have two separate rooms that offer plenty of additional space, including sitting areas with second flat-screen TVs, upholstered sofa beds, glass coffee tables, and wet bars, microwaves, and mini-fridges. Suites have additional basin sinks outside the bathrooms, and offer robes and slippers. All rooms have coffeemakers, electronic safes, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, newspapers on weekdays. No pets are allowed other than service animals. 

The hotel offers a free shuttle service within a two-mile radius which includes nearby schools, museums, and the Cleveland Clinic. Valet and self-parking options are offered, but both are rather expensive for a hotel outside downtown. The breakfast buffet is not included in standard room rates but some packages include it, as well as parking. Breakfast is served in a lovely second-floor event space. The restaurant has a lounge with daily happy hour specials, a fireplace library space, and serves Mediterranean- and Middle Eastern-influenced cuisine for lunch and dinner. And room service is available from early morning until late at night. There is 12,000 square feet of event space including the opulent Crystal and Tudor Arms ballrooms. The business center has two computer stations, Internet access, and free printing. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the property. A florist shop occupies one end of the building. An on-site convenience store sells sundries and various foods and beverages. Free coffee is offered in the lobby throughout the day along with DoubleTree’s signature warm chocolate chip cookies. There is a fitness center with cardio and weight-training equipment. Dry cleaning and laundry services are available. The hotel also has an ATM and safe deposit box.