1700 Smith St, Houston, Texas, United States | (618) 248-8274
Fresh from an extensive 2016 renovation
Attractive public spaces with a midcentury modern look
Contemporary guest rooms with flat-screen TVs and Keurig coffeemakers
Three restaurants, including a popular indoor/outdoor bar with live music
Lovely outdoor pool area with free private cabanas
24-hour fitness center with Precor equipment
Business center with two computers and a printer
Meeting space for up to 400 people
Concierge, room service, and valet parking (fee)
Valet dry cleaning and laundry
Free downtown shuttle
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Not centrally located downtown
Mini-fridges aren't standard
Breakfast costs extra
The three-and-a-half-pearl Whitehall Houston is still fresh from an extensive early 2016 renovation, and offers contemporary and comfortable accommodations. It's located on the perimeter of the central business district, with public spaces that have an attractive, midcentury modern look. Its 259 guest rooms are contemporary, though not as stylish, with flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi, but mini-fridges aren't standard. Features are a highlight—there's a popular outdoor bar that has live music, an inviting outdoor pool area with private cabanas, and a fitness center, plus concierge and room service and a free downtown shuttle. Travelers looking to be within walking distance of the convention center can consider Club Quarters Hotel in Houston, which offers similar amenities.
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Scene
A newly renovated business hotel with a stylish lobby and unpretentious vibe
This hotel opened 1963 as the Whitehall and later became the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown, only to be reborn as the Whitehall in early 2016 following a multi-million-dollar renovation. It sports a midcentury modern look, with quality reproductions of designer furniture and white marble floors framed by traditional wood paneling. Unfortunately, there are some generic, contemporary elements that drag decor down a notch. Expect to see plenty of business travelers here along with weekend leisure travelers. The outdoor bar can be a lively place on the nights it features live music.
Location
In Midtown, on the western outskirts of downtown
The Whitehall is located in Houston’s Midtown area near Interstate 45, west of the convention center and most of downtown's top attractions. It isn't ideal for tourists, as the immediate area consists primarily of office complexes and government buildings. Some other hotels and a few restaurants are within a short walk, but there's little in the way of dining and nightlife options nearby. - Five-minute drive to the Toyota Center
Rooms
Contemporary, with Keurig coffeemakers and free Wi-Fi, but mini-fridges aren't standard
Guest rooms don't have the same attractive look as public spaces, but they're contemporary and comfortable. They benefited from the hotel's 2016 renovations, done in light earth tones with espresso hardwood floors partially covered by generic blue and rust carpeting. Wooden furniture has a reddish-brown finish and includes oval desks with leather office chairs. Standard rooms are average in size and include bench seating—Kings also have leather armchairs and matching ottomans. Larger Deluxe and Executive rooms are available, as are Suites. All have Keurig coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi, bottled water, and cookies, but mini-fridges don't come standard. Bathrooms have a similar style, and contain shower/tub combos or roomy, glass-enclosed walk-in showers with white subway tiling. Some units on higher floors have excellent skyline views, while others face the interstate highway.
Features
On-site dining, an outdoor pool, and 24-hour fitness center, plus a free downtown shuttle
Dining is a highlight at The Whitehall Houston. Edgar’s Hermano offers breakfast for an additional charge and Tex-Mex cuisine for lunch and dinner, and room service is available. Espresso drinks and grab-and-go items such as pastries, salads, and sandwiches are sold at Buffalo Bayou, which also has Texas wines and local beers. Part & Parcel is popular with hotel guests and locals alike, featuring live music in an open-air space along with craft cocktails and small plates in the evening. Another top feature is the outdoor pool, with free private cabanas, loungers, and tables with umbrellas surrounded by potted palm trees. For wellness, the fitness center is open 24/7 and has good selection of Precor equipment, including three treadmills with individual video screens. It also has free weights and a strength-training machine. The hotel’s 12,000 square feet of meeting space can host functions for up to 400 people, and there's a business center with two computers and printer. Other amenities include a concierge, valet dry cleaning and laundry, and valet parking for an extra charge. Wi-Fi throughout is free, as is the hotel's shuttle that transports guests downtown.
