Hollander Hotel

Located on a busy corner in downtown St. Petersburg, the three-story Hotel Hollander exudes Old Florida charm mixed with an eclectic decor and a few modern touches. Its basic red and beige brick facade gives no hint of the organized chaos inside, where walking into the lobby is more like walking into a museum than a hotel. Splashes of color are found in every corner, and handpicked accessories that range from an antique phone booth to a giraffe statue appear throughout the room.The lobby houses the Common Grounds Coffee Shop and the Tap House Restaurant and Bar, which carries on the eclecticism of the lobby, with its Dali-like paintings, stuffed deer head above the bar, and a worn piano in the dining room. The Common Grounds has a wooden herring-bone patterned wall, another deer head, and a large glass case filled with yummy-looking pastries.The hotel has a laid-back vibe that manages to be nostalgic and hip at the same time. It draws mainly couples, but families, who might appreciate the kitchen facilities in the rooms, and solo travelers who like to bathe in the glory of bygone days, would likely be comfortable here too.

Located at the corner of Fourth Street North and Fourth Avenue North in downtown St. Petersburg, the Hollander Hotel is within a 10-minute walk from several nearby restaurants, including the 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House and BellaBrava. Area sights, such as the Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge, the Salvador Dali Museum, the St. Petersburg Pier, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Mahaffey Theatre, and Tropicana Field, are within a 10-minute drive.  St. Petersburg Beach, Clearwater Beach, the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, Busch Gardens Theme Park, and Adventure Island water park are within an hour's drive, and Tampa International Airport is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel.

Recently renovated, the rooms at Hollander Hotel are all non-smoking and simply decorated with light tones and a few pops of color. The King Suites include tiled floors, full kitchens, dining areas with full-size dining tables, and living rooms with sofas and easy chairs. Queen and King Standards have hardwood floors, small dining tables, and mini-fridges. In addition to the mini-fridges, each unit comes with a microwave, coffeemaker, free Wi-Fi and Internet plug-in, and a flat-screen TV. The room furnishings, which are slightly mismatched, include light-colored wooden dressers, nightstands, and headboards, cobalt-blue lamps with white lampshades, white linens with green throw blankets, and framed prints on the walls. Views are null. Bathrooms, which have shower/tub combos, are small and cramped.

The Tap House, with its numerous craft beers, fun vibe, and an all-you-can eat buffet on weekends, the Commons Grounds Coffee Shop, and the full-service spa, which uses organic products, are the highlights here. There's no fitness center or business center. A stylish outdoor pool area, complete with cabanas and a poolside bar, was added after our visit. Morning yoga classes are also held here. The hotel cultivates nostalgia, but it does offer free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, and rooms come with full kitchens or at least microwaves and mini-fridges.