Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton

Beautiful Hotel, But Noise Makes It Impossible to Sleep. The hotel itself is gorgeous – stunning lobby, stylish and comfortable rooms, and two amazing restaurants with great food. The staff is friendly, professional, and very helpful, which made check-in and dining a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, the location and poor soundproofing completely ruin the stay. The hotel is next to a construction site, a train track, and a hospital. You hear everything: trains passing, sirens from ambulances, street traffic, and construction noise early in the morning. Sleeping here was nearly impossible, and I left feeling exhausted. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, this is NOT the place. Great amenities and staff, but the noise level makes it hard to enjoy your stay.

We enjoyed our stay here! This hotel has personality and is beautifully finished. I also appreciate that it doesn't allow pets. I love my pets, but I leave them home when I travel, and I'm not interested in inhaling anyone else's pet's dander, or anything else they may leave behind!

This trip to Des Moines was family celebration for our dad's 80th birthday. And selected this hotel as the last time we were in town the hotel was just finishing up renovation. And my sister stayed here and enjoyed the room, features were comfortable, clean and good location. Each floor has a reflection through the years showing the hotel's history and events in Des Moines. And these interactive mirrors with fashion period clothing...fun picture moments. The lobby has this amazing scent that was relaxing and just brightened my mood every time I came off the elevator or entered the front door. Our room had good space and features - there is good bathroom counter space and walk-in shower. The shower head for our room did not have good pressure, but decent for what one needs. The one drawback for my roommate was the pillows, if you prefer a firm grade you will need to bring your own. Using the Hilton app made my stay incredibly smooth. I was able to select my preferred floor and room during check-in, then activate the digital key right from my phone. Checkout was just as effortless handled entirely through the app. It was a packed stay, so I didn’t get a chance to try the Speakeasy or any of the hotel restaurants each one was bustling with people. Definitely something to check out next time. Fortunately, there are several great restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, plus a convenient Starbucks nearby. I would recommend this hotel and would select again.

What a fantastic hotel and staff! It started when I pulled up front. The valet was fabulous, helpful, and friendly. Spend the money to use the valet. You won’t be disappointed. The check-in was quick. They greeted me as I walked up. Friendly and helpful staff. The property is beautiful and peaceful. It is well manicured, well taken care of historical building. My room was clean with a beautiful view of the downtown buildings. I will definitely stay here my next time in Des Moines. Thank you staff of Hotel Fort Des Moines!

Every thing here was exceptional from the moment we arrived. Paris and his team of valet were hands down the best team of professionals I've seen. They had a cart ready and helped unload our luggage, escorted us to the front desk and made sure we were taken care of. The check in was easy and seamless. The room was luxurious, clean, and spacious. The breakfast in bed was convenient and delicious. I will stay here everytime I'm in Des Moines from now on.

Sharing the opinion of several reviews here. A building with historic charm, mixed in with modern touches gives this hotel an elevated vibe. Staff is helpful at every turn, and the two restaurants available within the hotel are fantastic. Affordable parking garages nearby as well. We'll definitely be back.

I’ve been having such a wonderful stay at this hotel! The entire place is spotless the cleanliness is truly impressive. I also love how they preserved the building’s historic charm while renovating it with modern touches. On top of that, the location is perfect, right in the heart of downtown. Everything is within walking distance, which made exploring the city so easy and enjoyable. Overall, this hotel exceeded my expectations, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Des Moines.

This hotel is amazing. The hotel is beautiful. The service staff, bartenders, manager, and Jake the valet attendant are top notch. If you want elegance with amazing service at every level this is your place. If want the most amazing bar service get Selena at the bar. Her espresso Martina is beyond Italy and her professionalism and mixology was one of the best in the world. Sherrie the host for the speak easy was on the job two days. A huge government diplomat came in 5 minutes before unannounced and she handled amazingly. Class and poise while handling a situation especially when people didn’t know what was going on. I would hire every one of these people!!!

We've stayed here now two times in the last few years! The service is always very friendly. We've tried both restaurants and they are great. Rooms are clean and exactly as described. Comfy beds and linens in each room. The speakeasy, located in the basement. you need a reservation for. Super easy to do- as the front desk or call ahead if you aren't staying in the hotel. Speakeasy is only drinks, there's no food to small plates. It's a beautifully renovated hotel, with a fun atmosphere and 20/30s feel. You feel like you're stepping back in time in such a good way! It's definitely one of our faves in the downtown area to stay!

Here for a wedding and a fun time. Shhh, there is an underground speak easy! Make sure you know the password Johnny needs iced. Too darn fun!!! And the drinks! The hotel was festive, with a great gym! Plenty of great nearby restaurants within walking

Hotel Fort Des Moines is an overwhelming structure in the heart of Des Moines, Iowa. It is a beacon of foresight and planning for 20th-century hotel construction. Since its opening in the summer of 1919, this historic hotel has welcomed a myriad of notable people, including 13 U.S. Presidents from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama, as well as Charles Lindbergh and Helen Keller. It's on the National Register of Historic Places and the hotel's architecture was an absolute first of its time. Designed by Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson, the building was built with classical columns. To have columns was opulent. Hotel Fort Des Moines was at the forefront of innovation. It had many firsts... It was the first hotel west of the Mississippi River to offer private bathrooms. It was the first hotel in North America to feature a car lift. This hotel revolutionized the hospitality industry in its time. I loved my stay. This hotel is gorgeous. I'm so glad it has been perfectly preserved!

This hotel used to be one of my favorites when I traveled to Des Moines, which is several times throughout the year. I'm not sure what's going on with the Curio Collection hotels but over the last 6 months every Curio Collection hotel I've stayed at has the worst customer service. The answer is always no & there's no appreciation for repeat guests or honors members. For reference purposes I stayed 3 nights in a king room. The valet personnel had a different process every time I asked for my car. The first time I was given a ticket & told to text that number to the valet. When I followed their process they said they never received the text causing a significant delay in getting my car, because I stood there for 10 minutes before any valet person was present. Then in the same day & my next time out, I was told oh no you don't need a ticket here's a link just show that & use the same link to receive your car.... It went back & forth each and every time creating a lot of confusion & extra time delays. I think the final nail in the coffin was when I called to be responsible & ask for an extra 30 minutes to check out I was told sure but that will be $30. I told them to not worry about it & I'd be out on time. I was out of my room on time and waited on the elevator for quite some time. Come to find out I was charged $7 for those minutes between my room & getting into the lobby. There was no offer to help with my stuff or customer friendly treatment of any sort. Just fake smiles and annoyed sarcastic responses. Needless to say I won't be staying here again & it makes me question the entire Curio Collection moving forward.

The Hotel Fort, Des Moines was one of the coolest hotels we ever stayed in. It is an art deco style hotel from what appears to be the early part of the 20th century. The architecture and interior here are something to behold. The staff is also fantastic! As Hilton diamond members, we were upgraded to a corner suite on the fifth floor, room 512. It was literally one of the nicest rooms I've ever stayed in. And we have been all over the world. This hotel, the staff and the vibe are special. You should absolutely stay here if you can.

Fantastic! I usually don't review hotels because so few seem to tick all the boxes, and many renovated older hotels are a bit dicey. Hotel Fort Des Moines was exceptional. I don't think I have ever seen such an impressive blend of a historical building with modern amenities and upgrades. They obviously paid great attention to the details, see the pictures of the bath towel hanger and the light switch I attached. The staff (valet, front desk, restaurant) were all welcoming and pleasant to chat with. The room was exceptionally clean and had plenty of usable outlets for charging the whole families electronics, and their standard WiFi was quite good. The breakfast was very good, making it worth eating in. (I am the type of person who will skip the "free breakfast" before letting a bad one ruin my day, and I was quite please with the meal.) I definitely would stay there again.

Beautiful hotel, with a skywalk to Nationwide Insurance across the street. I had the opportunity to stay here two nights on a work trip and would stay here again. My room was just lovely, and comfortable. The walk-in shower and C.O. Bigelow toiletries were fantastic. The lobby is so lovely and they offer both a coffee shop and a bar/restaurant and they serve breakfast. The staff was very friendly and well-trained.

Outstanding experience from valet to check-in to room. Super comfortable, modern room with a great bathroom and shower. Lobby with a historical touches with simply lovely. Kudos to all the staff I encountered at the valet, the check-in desk, at checkout, and reclaiming my bag later in the day. The best day I've had at a Hilton property in a long time. I would absolutely recommend this if you ever travel and need to stay near downtown Des Moines.

We went here for my niece's wedding. It is truly a spectacular piece of history. Throughout the hotel there are carpets in the hallways with timelines in history that show what has happened in Des Moines during those years. There are the old fashioned type of elevators as well; you will need your card key to get to your floor for safety. At first when we checked in, they had a duplicate reservation for us. That was shocking! They would have charged us for a night (a compromise they said), but since we were there for a wedding, they did not. A little strange I thought, but I let it pass. It was a nice touch to our name on the television to welcome us. I also did like the keurig pods in the room so I could have my coffee when I got up. There is a coffee and wine restaurant attached to the hotel which is very cool with a speak ez downstairs. I was a little disappointed with our room as the giant lite above the table didn't work. We were promised it would get fixed but when we inquired the next day, the worker said he was the only one on duty and that you needed two people to do it or did we want to move to another room (which we did not want). We also did not know that you had to call housekeeping by 10:00 a.m. to get your room cleaned. I guess we complained enough that they did clean the room. The workout facility was nice (it is in the basement however). I did like the Bigelow toiletries although I had to ask for more body gel (one little one for 4 days). The lobby for sure is a great part of this hotel with big comfy chairs and interesting history (many Presidents have visited here). So even though we had a few mishaps, we did sleep well on the comfortable beds in downtown Des Moines.

I went here with hope, just to walk out with no hope or money. I spent $2000 on a room just to find out that my room had been given to "Gary". Who even names their child that?!

Welcomed by a team of valet. Room had a big foundation. Big bathroom. DoorDash delivers here. Watched football in the TV. AMAZING EXPERIENCE

I would call the staffing situation here poor and it all stems from bad leadership. There customer service is substantially below the standard set by other curio collection properties. The front desk manager was extremely rude. If I had a choice of venues for an event this would not be the place I suggest. As a lifetime diamond member, I am surprised the chain even considers lettering First Hospitality fly the curio flag on this property. What an embarrassment from a service perspective.

We booked this hotel as a staycation for a 5 year wedding anniversary, my husbands birthday, and Mother's Day combo celebration. We were really excited to have a night away from the toddler and actually get some good sleep. We did the online check-in which was nice because we didn't have to stand in line and our key was virtually accessible on our phones. The hotel itself was really beautiful and the staff were all very friendly. We did the valet parking and headed to our room. One of the first things we did was attempt to charge our phones in the outlets next to the bed. However the outlets on my side of the bed weren't working. I thought maybe I was missing something so I called the front desk to check. They sent up two maintenance people who tested it and confirmed it wasn't working. They said "I guess you'll just have to use another outlet in the room". Not a huge issue but it's annoying to not be able to use your phone while you're laying in bed and it charges when you're at a nicer hotel. The larger issue was the hallway of out hotel floor felt really hot as if there was no air conditioning. It wasn't a huge deal because our room did have an ac however it was sent to 74. It was pretty hot and humid outside so I turned the temp down to make sure the room was cooled by the time we went to sleep since I tend get pretty sweaty when I sleep. We left for dinner and came back but it was still at 74. We were about to head out again so I called the front desk again to ask how the a/c worked since it seemed to be stuck. They said they'd send someone up to take a look. When we came back to our room again it was still stuck at 74. Since we were about to go to bed I called the front desk again to find out what had happened. They said they weren't sure and there was no note about it so they would send a third person to look at it. The guy who came up was very friendly but he told us that the a/c is motion detected and would only lower to whatever temp we select if there is movement in the room. Since we were sleeping we'd have to have it set at 74. About two hours later I was so sweaty that I went down to the front desk at midnight to ask if we could at least get a fan for our room. They told me they didn't have any fans but offered to send the same guy up from before to tell me that it's motion censor operated. Needless to say I slept only a few hours. The windows can't be opened but any kind of breeze would have helped. They also don't have sound proofed windows or blackout curtains so all of the cars revving by throughout the night would wake me up along with the street lights. The staff here were all very nice and the hotel is beautiful and in a perfect location but I don't think I'd want to stay here again if they don't resolve their a/c issues since I was really looking forward to a nice night's sleep, especially for the cost.

This was out first time in this Hilton property and we were impressed The Good: The check-in on the app was a breeze as usual. Everything is clearly marked in the Hotel so finding out room was no problem. We stayed (as usual) on the top floor and had a wonderful room. It was all very modern with a nostalgic touch. Having my name displayed with a welcome message on the television set in our room was a nice touch as well. The staff was welcoming and happy to answer any questions we had. Breakfast in the restaurant was delicious with great service as well. The Bad: Only having valet parking made it difficult to get our manual transmission car parked, as the valet wasn't sure how to drive a manual. He did however tell us we can use the free parking garage around the corner, which saved us the $33 valet fee. The Ugly Truth: This property instantly became our new favorite hotel to stay at in the Des Moines metro. We highly recommend staying here and exploring all the old artifacts displayed throughout the Hotel. Beds are so very comfortable and amenities are top notch. See you next time we're in town!

Stayed 2 nights while in town for work. Really lovely hotel. Recently remodeled ...room was spacious, cozy and quiet. Very conveniently located within walking distance of many businesses and restaurants downtown. Will definitely stay here again.

Attended a wedding in Des Moines and this is where the room block was. The hotel recently reopened after a multi-year renovation and all I can say is "wow!" The design of the hotel is spectacular. The amount of detail in every direction you look is spectacular. The cleanliness was also wonderful. They kept a lot of details from the old design, like the elevators. But I can't get over the incredible quality of design in my room. The fixtures matched well, the flow of the room just made sense, and the bed was absolutely comfortable. There were so many lighting choices in the room as well. What made the hotel great was the fact that everything was new. It was new and comfortable. Their restaurant/bar on site is also magnificent. The staff is friendly and helpful with any questions you may have. I don't come to Des Moines often but will only stay at Hotel Fort Des Moines when I come back.

Hotel Fort DesMoines is an old hotel that's been beautifully renovated with keen attention to detail and many uniquely clever touches. The lobby has a custom scent, the carpet in the hallway is actually a timeline, the halls have mirrors that make you look like your wearing 'dapper' period clothing (if you stand just right). The rooms are well appointed, relatively spacious, and quiet. The corner rooms are the best. The two restaurants are excellent choices. My previous stay was a little frustrating as the hotel was newish, understaffed and coming out of Covid. This time, time, though they seem to have things in gear! Adding to the enjoying is its location. The hotel is in a very walkable part of town with a number of choices for shopping, dining and entertainment. Plus, like all of Des Moines, it's easy to drive. The only downside is the parking valet can take a while to get your car. But, if you don't want to wait, there's two reasonably priced parking garages within one block.

hitler was nice and I liked the chocolate cake and Ryan tarhan got me to go here and staff was lovely

Not a single room ready until 630pm. Restaurant charges like they are Ruth Chris for very subpar food and amounts. When my room was finally done, there was old food and breast milk still in the fridge. Book elsewhere.

Beautiful hotel with excellent dining options and fitness center. Whatever staffing issues led to poor reviews seem to have been resolved. The only negative is you can definitely hear neighbors, but that's to be expected in restored older buildings.

The updates to the decor are beautiful- the staff was great. We were there for the weekend, to celebrate my husbands birthday. Will, at the front desk suggested several places for us to go out and each place was perfect! The hotel restaurant, Proudfoot & Bird, was so nice. Food was great, the bar was very nice - and Quinn took personal care of everyone! As we were checking out, we decided to take some pictures inside the lobby - and Annabelle offered to operate the camera. Overall, this was a fantastic experience!

This hotel is recently refurbished and is absolutely beautiful. It has an excellent restaurant and wine bar on site as well as a not so secret speak easy!

The Hotel was nice and the staff was very pleasant. They cleaned my room, like pre-Covid, with fresh linens and restocked. Nice location in downtown Des Moines.

Hotel is gorgeous. The remodel is wonderful. BUT, for the expense of staying, I would have expected a few more amenities. Everything was beautiful and wonderful, but a cup of coffee in the morning would make me want to come back. The location is also wonderful. Walking distance to everything. This hotel also doesn't have check in and check out listed anywhere correctly. We tried to check in at 3 (which is what our confirmation listed), but we're told check in wasn't until 4. Check out was listed as 11. But I think I heard someone say it was actually noon. I don't think I'll stay here again.

I cannot rave enough about this hotel! The renovation is gorgeous, beautiful history with modern flare. Staying here made us feel luxurious! Check in staff are very friendly! Beds are dangerously comfy, we could have stayed in bed all day!!!! One thing we were bummed about was no microwave in the room, we had leftovers from restaurant visits and couldn't reheat them. It wasn't enough of an inconvenience to ruin our stay though. Having a restaurant and coffee/ wine bar in the hotel was also a plus. Convenience of those was much appreciated when we were to tired to really go off site. I would recommend this hotel to anyone for a weekend getaway!

Four-star "luxury" hotel that stops taking guests at MIDNIGHT? Oh dear what a joke. Hilton elite - whatever - the people running this place are abosulute amateurs, somehow unable to accommodate a walk-in just after midnight. No they were not full, yes this is a massive hotel with a 24 hour desk, but they just didn't want to. They don't do that. They treated me like I was absurd for trying. Perhaps Des Moines is such a boring soulless place that I was the first person to try. It's like they didnt realize that they could have made MORE money off of me and I would have paid it. This place has no idea what hoteling is. Go somewhere else and avoid Iowa while you are at it.

We came here from California to attend a family wedding nearby and wanted to stay in Des Moines a few days. The hotel is lovely. You can feel the history in the little details around the hotel but it also has a chic and modern feel. I've been told by family that it is newly renovated. They did a great job! Francesca and Jeff checked on us via text and responded promptly to our questions. We were even allowed a late checkout because we are moving hotels today to be closer to the wedding venue in a few towns over. You won't regret staying here, it's top notch!

I needed to cancel my reservation and called 2 days before the arrival date. I was told that there was no reservation under my name so not to worry. I received an email from booking.com whom I made the reservation through and they said they asked the hotel not to charge me for the cancellation but I could call them directly to see if they could wave the cancellation charge. I called them directly a second time the day of the reservation and now they said, oh they do have my reservation but they had switched my last and first name around so thats why they couldn't find the reservation so they do have to charge me. What a rip off!

What a beautiful hotel. The staff was friendly. Valet was so convenient. The bars attached were super enjoyable. Would come back again!

Dirty room, leftover nachos/food in fridge. Room smelled bad after old food was discovered opening fridge. My wife needed clean fridge for breast milk. Hilton is supposed to disinfect room. Broken phone. Dillon the night manager was rude. Prioritization of wedding over loyal Hilton customers. As a diamond member there for my Birthday and to attend graduation party the next day they make you feel like a second class citizen due to event at hotel. No room service. Small rooms, could barely fit a pack and play for my 4 month year old. I asked several days ahead if I could pay for an upgrade or move to bigger room because we had a baby traveling with us. Terrible staff. They said they would call me, never did. Worst curio hotel I've stayed at. The Marquette in Minneapolis is much nicer. You can tell they through a lot of money at remodeling, but they should have made more suites as the regular rooms are super small, and barely any suites. You're better off staying at any other Hilton in the Des Moines Metro area. Parking is terrible. Cramped bathroom, hurt myself getting out of shower hitting a "set of keys decoration" getting out of bathroom. I wouldn't even call it a bathroom, I've been in larger airplane bathrooms. I'd be embarrassed sending any Nationwide insurance visitor to this hotel that's nextdoor or any other business. Wife and baby not happy. I'm not happy. Never staying here again, maybe last Hilton I ever go to.

My mom and I recently stayed at this hotel for a girls weekend. We had an absolute blast - the hotel was gorgeous and the staff was so attentive! This hotel is so beautifully renovated. Appropriate homage was paid to its history and it was finished with modern and elegant touches. I HIGHLY recommend Proudfoot and Bird - WONDERFUL cocktails, amazing design, and great bartenders. This hotel is 5-star all around!