This Boutique Hotel in One of the Midwest’s Most Prominent Cities Was Once an Elite Social Club - Hotels Above Par - Boutique Hotels & Travel

"Housed in a 101-year-old gothic- and Tudor-style building in the Power and Light District, this recently renovated five-star hotel began life as an exclusive social club whose members included Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. It blends Midwest charm with art-deco-inspired luxury: an expansive mahogany-lined lobby with soaring ceilings, more than 20,000 sq ft of event space highlighted by a two-story Tudor Ballroom with stained-glass murals, and 144 rooms (including 15 suites), many of them loft-style two-story layouts with separate living areas, marble bathrooms, large soaking tubs, and C.O. Bigelow bath products scented with black pepper. Dining options span an acclaimed fine-dining restaurant led by James Beard–nominated chef Johnny Leach and pastry chef Helen Jo Leach — a frequently changing, locally sourced menu centered on a visible wood-burning hearth with inventive dishes like smoked egg with trout roe and potato chips or lamb shoulder with yogurt and mint, plus delicately balanced, Asian-influenced desserts — to more casual choices: The Classic (known for one of the city's best cheeseburgers and a 50/50 martini), the all-day Lobby Market for pastries and coffee, and Nighthawk, a lively basement bar with live music, cocktails on tap, tater tots, and a pool table. Guests can expect a fitness center, extensive meeting spaces, complimentary daily breakfast for two (per bedroom) through certain bookings, and perks such as potential room upgrades and flexible check-in/out (subject to availability). With rooms starting around $225/night and close proximity to attractions like the Nelson-Atkins Museum, the WWI Museum, Boulevard Brewing Company, the City Market, and the Arabia Steamboat Museum, it’s an ideal pick for both business and leisure travelers."