"How did it strike you on arrival?The hotel, on Saratoga Springs’ main drag, is unmissable with its Victorian wedding cake of a facade and three-story high pillars. The lobby preserves the elegant retro vibe with a modern twist: plushly upholstered settees in golds and greys, a grand staircase, and even an old wooden telephone booth. To one side is the dark wood-paneled Morrissey’s, which has become the go-to local watering hole. Nice. What’s the crowd like?A mix of well-heeled travelers who are visiting for one of Saratoga Springs’ many seasonal cultural offerings (thoroughbred racing, the New York City Ballet at the famed local Performing Arts Center), stylish locals, and parents visiting their kids at nearby Skidmore College. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.I was frankly surprised by how big the rooms are, given that historical properties are usually a warren of small chambers (the five-year reno took the place down to the studs). I had a Premier Broadway Suite (overlooking the street lined with Victorian facades) and the whole thing read “classic hotel” (you could almost imagine a pillbox-hatted bellhop ringing the doorbell). The bedroom had a leather-upholstered headboard and navy bordered hotel sheets, and the sitting room featured a long couch facing a built-in wood bar and entertainment system—all of it in a handsome cobalt blue and gold palette. But the real revelation was the bathroom, with its marble walls, radiant penny-tile flooring, double sinks, Toto toilet, heated towel rack, and freestanding soaking tub. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?The bar area was a lovely surprise, with cut-crystal tumblers and free seltzer, beer, and soda. As in many new hotels, the room has a one-touch lighting, shade, and sound system, which worked nicely (once you’ve figured out how to use it). Room service: Worth it?The hotel has plenty of food options. The Blue Hen, in a Victorian-style greenhouse with outdoor patio, is the hotel’s farm-to-table option (pasture-raised chicken; herb-roasted lamb chops) and serene breakfast spot (less serene when rented out for private events some evenings). In the adjoining building, Salt & Char is a modern take on a classic martini-style steakhouse serving up all sorts of aged cuts (Delmonico, Strip, Porterhouse…) and with an excellent raw bar, too. And in the hotel lobby, Morrissey’s—named for prizefighter/gangster John Morrissey, credited for bringing racing to Saratoga, who died here at the bar—has a gentlemen’s club vibe (dark wood paneling, leather banquettes, herringbone floor), serves up tasty wood-fired pizzas and crudo, and is never not hopping with locals and hotel guests. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.Its location, right on Broadway, couldn’t be better, and the hotel lets you take out its signature gold bikes to explore surrounding parkland, race track, and hot springs. Bottom line: worth it, and why?The hotel is really the first true luxury game in this Victorian spa town (the Gideon Putnam, where you can still book a soak in the Roosevelt Baths, is a classic, but a bit staid and outdated), and it does a great job honoring Saratoga Springs’ glamorous legacy." - Alex Postman
