The Grand Hotel Minneapolis

This 100-year-old building once housed the Minneapolis Athletic Club; the four-pearl Grand Hotel Minneapolis has maintained that tradition with the outstanding fitness and sporting facilities (including an indoor pool, aerobics studios, racquetball, and more) that are connected though separately owned. This property has also kept alive an old school atmosphere through its decor, which includes copious amounts of varnished dark wood and leather. A lion sculpture and a wall installation depicting the Colosseum seem at home with a wide wooden staircase in a lobby that resembles a gentlemen's club from a bygone era. Guests are primarily vacationing couples and business travelers.

This hotel is in the center of downtown, surrounded by corporate office buildings and high-rise hotels. It's connected to the city’s convenient skyway system, a collection of enclosed footbridges between buildings that allow travelers to maneuver through downtown without being subjected to the outside weather. It’s a block away from the Nicollet Mall, a 12-block pedestrian mall filled with shops and restaurants, and a three-minute walk from the tram to the Mall of America. It’s also within a nine-minute walk to Target Center, home of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is about a 25-minute drive away, or a 26-minute ride on the blue line from the Nicollet Mall Station & Platform.

The Grand Hotel's 140 rooms and suites have a stylish feel, with a subdued color palette and modern framed art on the walls. Some of the rooms have classic wood furnishings, including sleigh-style or four-poster beds. The wallpaper has a subtle houndstooth pattern, and emerald green drapes add a touch of color. All beds have decorative throw pillows playfully emblazoned with a deer head. Each room has a work desk with an ergonomic chair, and most have stylish leather armchairs with footstools. Flat-screen TVs and iPod docks come standard, along with honor bars, but there are no mini-fridges. Yoga mats are included in every room too. Most of the marble bathrooms have shower/tub combos, while suites have separate walk-in showers and soaking tubs. Bathrobes, hairdryers, and upscale bulk toiletries are also provided. 

The 58,000 square-foot Life Time Athletic Club is the main event at The Grand Hotel Minneapolis; though it's separately owned, guests have access to all the facilities. The club includes a six-lane lap pool and a spacious fitness center filled with rows of cardio machines, weight-training equipment, and free weights. The average guest could get a day's workout just walking through the entire facility, but there's also a running track, boxing studio, and aerobics and yoga studios, not to mention racquetball, handball, and squash courts. Separate men's and women's locker rooms have their own steam rooms and saunas. Business travelers may appreciate the seven meeting rooms, a 5,000-square-foot ballroom, and a 24-hour business center. Wi-Fi is free for Kimpton members, which is free to join. For dining, Rare Steak & Sushi serves its namesakes along with an extensive wine list, and more casual fare such as burgers and sandwiches. The popular lobby bar, The SIX15 Room, can get noisy during its long-lasting afternoon happy hour with everything from tap beers, house wines, and pizzas priced at $6.15 to match the name of the bar. Like all Kimpton properties, the hotel also hosts a free nightly wine hour and there's free coffee in the morning.