Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel & Suites

The 53-floor, two-tower Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel & Suites is one of the most visible (i.e. tallest), and therefore desirable and well-known hotels in Niagara Falls. All the upper-middle-range hotel basics are here (multiple restaurants, pool, gym), but its the staggering views of the American and Horseshoe falls from the 33rd-floor restaurant, 34th-floor lounge, and many of its upper-level, east-facing rooms that give this hotel so much clout. The proximity to and views of the falls are the main reason to book a room at the Hilton (or at least stop by for a meal at The Watermark). 

This is a hotel that knows it has location and vistas in the bag, so it doesn't particularly feel the need to excel in other areas. Reports of customer service and maintenance issues -- like grubby windows and worn-down furnishings -- are rather common. But such shortcomings do little to impede the hotel's steady stream of visitors. At any given moment of the day, Hilton’s reception area and lobby are crawling with luggage-laden groups, parents clutching the hands of toddlers on either side, and couples hunched over brochures and iPhones (presumably taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi here, which costs a fee in rooms). On our visit, we believed the sea of people and suitcases in the check-in anteroom was an emergency evacuation underway. This hoopla, however, was simply the norm for one of the most popular hotels in town.

Hilton Niagara Falls is located smack-dab in the center of the busy Fallsview Tourist Area, so it is a short walk or easy drive from almost everything in Niagara Falls (just know that the walk down to Niagara Parkway, with views of the falls, covers some steeply sloped sidewalks). The Hilton is across the street from Fallsview Casino Resort and its neighbors in every other direction are also hotels (e.g. Best Western Fallsview, Four Points by Sheraton Niagara Falls Fallsview, The Oaks Hotel). It is a six-minute walk to Skylon Tower and another five down to Queen Victoria Park. The tourist promenade Clifton Hill is a 20-minute walk from the hotel. Walking to the popular Winter Festival of Lights and Journey Behind the Falls attractions takes about 10 and 15 minutes, respectively. Note that the hotel's lobby drop-off isn't located on Fallsview Boulevard, but on the road leading to the parking deck.

Hilton Niagara Falls is one of the larger hotels in town, with 1,049 rooms. (By comparison, Sheraton on the Falls has 669 rooms and Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa has 442.) On the whole, the rooms are functional but unexceptional, with necessary amenities and ho-hum brown-and-beige corporate-feeling decor. All have flat-screen HDTVs with premium channels and on-demand movies, work desks with lamps, blackout curtains, Cuisinart coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and big bathrooms with walk-in showers. However, there are reports of mold in the showers due to a lack of exhaust fans in the bathrooms. In the room closets are digital safes and ironing equipment. Suites come with sofa beds and jetted tubs and higher-tier suites add fireplaces.

Those seeking a room with views of the falls should be aware that it's not enough to book a room on the east (falls-facing) side of the hotel. To clear the Fallsview Casino across the street, you have to ensure a spot on floor 23 or higher. Some east-facing rooms on the hotel's higher levels have unobstructed views of both falls. 

Hilton Niagara's star feature is its 33rd-floor restaurant, The Watermark Restaurant. Watermark is open for dinner nightly, offering traditional American steakhouse fare and great views of the falls (and the fireworks) from its floor-to-ceiling windows. Down on the ground level, dining options include Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse (open nightly for dinner) and Pranzo Ristorante Italiano (open for lunch and dinner daily). The Grand Caffe Breakfast Buffet is open for breakfast daily, and Mercato Market Cafe, offering Starbucks coffee and snacks, is open from early morning until late afternoon. Myst Lounge, on the 34th floor, offers more dizzying views of the falls, as well as drinks and occasional live music. Myst is only open evenings, but its ground-floor counterpart, Spyce Lounge opens midday and closes late at night. 

Near the lobby is a large lagoon-shaped indoor pool with a spiraling waterslide. This and the adjacent gym are both closed until fall 2018, but guests can use the facilities at a neighboring hotel. A business center has computers and printers and meeting rooms are available to book. The only parking option at the hotel is valet, which is an additional daily fee, but there are other less expensive parking options nearby. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby, but costs a fee for in-room access.