The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection

My spouse and I stayed this weekend at the Raphael Hotel. From check-in with the wonderful Amy to check-out, we had a perfect experience. We appreciated being met by such a friendly and welcoming person. We also really enjoyed the nice waiter in the restaurant from Morrocco. Both of these people truly exemplify the ethos of service that Mr. Marriott stood for when he founded this company.| We ate breakfast there both days and it was excellent. Loved the homemade oatmeal. Best ever!! The exercise room was well equipped.| We have nothing but good things to say about this place. This is an older, elegant hotel that is well taken care of. Thank you for the great service. We are Lifetime Platinum Elite Members, and this hotel is right at the top of the many Marriott family hotels we have stayed at.

One of my fave places to stay in KC. The location is convenient and the staff very accommodating. The rooms are nice and large and will be comfortable to most travelers. The restaurant at the hotel has a great variety and the food is outstanding. The staff was very helpful in dinner choices. Highly recommend this location

Wonderful in every way! Definitely a place my husband and I will return - felt like a true getaway. Location is perfect - love love love the nightly jazz (especially the dueling strings on Sunday night), the breakfast, and the customer service!! The Chaz manager and bartender are fantastic. Very unique and special place. Also enjoyed running and walking at Loose Park up the hill.

My husband and I recently had a very pleasant stay at the Raphael for a weekend. The service was amazing - from the valets to the front desk to the restaurant staff. The live jazz and a cocktail each evening was such a nice way to end a busy day. The room was clean and presented well, although we only had one bedside table (would have appreciated one on each side). The bed was comfortable enough, and the bathroom was nicely done and very clean. The property is conveniently located and easy to find. The only negatives were loud guests in the rooms near us. We would stay here again.

One of my very favorite spots in Kansas City anytime I go to visit. I have to stay here. I love this hotel. I cannot say enough wonderful things about it from his old age and it’s charm that valet driver always knew my name whether or not I’ve been there three times in a week or once a year The bartender used to be able to hear you across the room, even if you were whispering and make sure you had water or your drink and the jazz was lovely. It still has a wonderful fair for restaurant and the rooms are a little bit less enchanting as they were 10 years ago, but I’m sure they’ll go through a renovation again it is a wonderful place to stay. One of Kansas City‘s best charms it was a kind of place where old widowed women went to pinch Tricia’s of poor buses and old men who were widowed, we gather for breakfast to each other over their former career triumphs with places like IBM sprint, Hallmark…a real Kansas City gem if you stay there eat there or just stop by.

Very nice historic (read “old”) hotel oozing with charm and character. Clean rooms, attentive service, and a very good on-site restaurant. The fitness area is marginal, but it’s a small hotel so it’s understandable.between a universal machine and dumbbells, there’s enough for a good workout. Room service was quick and tasty (had the cheeseburger and fries). If you want upscale, there are several high end restaurants within a couple blocks, as well as some BBQ joints nearby. Very good location if you don’t need to be in the grimy downtown. If you want a modern hotel with an executive lounge, this isn’t the place.

Wonderful stay. The room was impeccably clean and comfortable. Room service breakfast was right on time and cooked perfectly. The live music at the downstairs restaurant was a joy. All of the plaza is within walking distance. We loved the classic, upscale vibe of this hotel and would be happy to stay again.

We had a wonderful experience at the Rafael Hotel celebrating our anniversary! The staff was amazing especially Yolanda, Patrick, Amy, and Ari! They were so personable, and even gave us an anniversary gift! The hotel room was exceptionally clean and nice, and the restaurant tenderloin special was excellent. Great location, a boutique hotel not to miss!

Great service. Amazing downstairs bar/restaurant. Strong drinks. Fantastic staff. Good valet. Walking distance to the plaza. Luxurious rooms.

Outstanding Location is perfect Dinning and bar is awesome Rooms are really well kept and up to date Staff is beyond friendly. Stay here!

Very beautiful historical Hotel on the KC Plaza. Room was very nice and comfortable. Loved the String on the Green event, so nice sitting outside and listening to jazz. All employees were very nice and friendly.

Beautiful Hotel in Kansas City STAY HERE. TRUST ME In the downtown plaza. Awesome location and view of KC. Super fancy big room safe feeling quiet Staff was so nice. Coffee early in the AM. Cookies at night. Everyone in my trip was happy Short drive to ballparks ! Tracee, Yolanda, Nia were smiling and friendly and helpful

Beautiful old school hotel near the country club plaza. Extremely courteous staff in all positions interacting with the customers, starting even before our arrival when I interacted due to our extremely late arrival. Tastefully decorated with sensible upgrades paired with old charm. We definitely enjoyed our weekend getaway. Only deduction due to mattress being in dire need of replacement.

A simply old school elegant hotel. Founded over 100 years ago as a boarding house it's gone through many changes. But what I love is many of the original parts remain... tile in our bath, the mahogany in the lobby and other items around this grand dame. Staff is so good, Rick gave us the first tour.... but everyone from the valet (awesome) to the front desk just wanted to help. Our suite was the perfect size (room 302) and we could walk to so many shops and restaurants. Room service is back and we had breakfast included which helped. And delicious btw. The bar downstairs is called Chaz and it's a fantastic place to hear music and eat.... and drink great wine. All in all, I found my new hotel in KC!

This hotel DEFINES 5 star. From the moment you pull up, someone is there to open your door, take your bags and give you a delightful welcome. Guest check in made us feel like royalty and the staff takes great pride in explaining fun facts about the history of the hotel. It is old and beautiful, immaculately updated with the latest luxury. To make the night even better, I received an upgrade due to my Marriott status and it was truly an upgrade. Room 405 has a jetted tub, with separate tub/shower. The regular tub is so deep it could act be a soaker tub. Big comfy living area with squishy pillows and a large king bedroom. I travel a lot for business and I would normally say that there is no hotel better than home...until I stayed here. The hotel has little amenities you wouldn't think of, like earplugs, heated lamp in the bathroom, and the sofa in the bedroom for stretching out with a blanket and a good book. I had the most relaxing night after dinner soaking in the tub with a bottle of wine, Netflix and a comfy robe. I was sad to go and I can't wait to go back.

What an absolutely cute hotel. Now a Marriott but it is a historic hotel that has been updated. Amazing bar with craft cocktails right at the hotel. Polite bellmen and good coffee.

My favorite autograph hotel in the Midwest and leads me to reminisce of Italy. the Marriott rewards upgrade may have ruined me. So gorgeous- a favorite pampering. The view from my room's windows overlooked the Raphael fountain and the Plaza. It's a favorite. The service is abundantly courteous, anticipates needs and does everything graciously. Love this Midwest hospitality!! Flight delay kept me from being able to enjoy the live Jazz in the Restaurant here-- so many great reasons to stay.

We stayed here for our anniversary. Everything was perfect: The staff, cleanliness, upkeep of the hotel the view from our room and more ... I wish I had a photo of the plaza lights to share

The Raphael during the holiday season is such a treat! We stayed just after the New Year when the Country Club Plaza lights are still glowing and a plaza view room is magical. The hotel is gorgeous with modern amenities and old-world charm. All the staff is attentive and Chaz restaurant is a wonderful way to "stay in" and enjoy delicious food and live music without driving or walking anywhere on a snowy evening. Bring a bottle of red wine to enjoy (for a $25 corkage fee) with the Steak Diane and Black Forest German Chocolate Cake for dessert. Finish with a drink in the bar (they make a mean Manhattan) and live music (Wednesdays and Sundays). Our definition of a perfect date night, especially after the craziness of the holidays!

Really enjoyed my stay in this classic hotel. Originally built in 1927 as the Villa Serena Apartments, the building was converted to a hotel, opening as the Raphael in 1975. The rooms at a tad smaller that most Marriott property rooms, but that is to be expected in a historic old buIlding. My room was clean and cozy, and provided everything need for a comfortable two-night stay on this business trip to K.C. The individually packaged toiletries were much appreciated, and there were several not usually found in your average hotel room. The staff was also exceedingly polite and professional. The location is also ideal, as it is just a 3-minute walk from the historic Country Club Plaza shopping district, which is PACKED with countless stores and and high scale dining choices.

We had a brief stay here on a road trip and loved the ambience. It's situated close to the Plaza on Ward Parkway overlooking the shops and decor. The lobby smells incredible and has lavish decor. We were greeted by a lovely woman at the front desk who quickly checked us in. The parking was easiest to manage of all the hotels on our journey across the country. The room was clean and charming, and we enjoyed the fitness center. This would definitely be a spot we'd return to.

We booked a one-night weekend stay. As a Bonvoy Platinum guest, I was upgraded to a Plaza view king suite and provided two vouchers for a complimentary continental breakfast (which we were able to use for room service). The view of the Plaza from our room was excellent! The breakfast was fantastic. We upgraded one to the eggs benedict (which my wife loved) and I got the continental breakfast which had one of the best scones I've ever had. We didn't use the mini-bar, but $4-5 beers, $5 mini liquor bottles, and $20 for bottles of wine seemed very reasonable. We did appreciate they had a second empty mini-fridge for guest use. The service through the hotel was very polished for the most part. They were very warm and accommodating. They seem to be doing a great job complying with COVID-19 protocols. While the rooms aren't large, this is a great hotel due to its proximity to the Plaza and it's not a massive property so the service is much much more personalized. Often, most of the staff remembered us by name. The valet was $16, which I thought was reasonable and especially convenient as there is almost no street parking due to the Plaza lights. I would highly recommend this property.

Wow. What a beautiful hotel w wonderful staff. I had a tram meeting back in feb 2022 and Patrick Joyce was great to work with and my team loved the hotel and vicinity to the plaza. My wife and I just stayed here and it was so nice to see the plaza lights and had a cocktail in the quaint Chaz lounge. My only ding is why no live music on weekend! Would have been nice to hear a little holiday music while having a cocktail and looking at the lights. Tracee the front desk person was so nice when we checked in! Just wonderful all the way around and will be back for sure! Thank you all

I was coming to KC for a work trip and since it was short, I decided to stay in a nice hotel vs an extended stay like I normally do. I am so glad I chose The Raphael!! Finding the hotel was easy because the arches are lighted 24/7 and I recognized them from the hotel pbotos. It is located on Ward Rd by the river, which makes it in a really cute part of the city. The bellman wasn't initially available because he was valeting another vehicle, but he came in and valeted my vehicle, which is complimentary. Self parking is also complimentary. At check-in, Alexa was so nice and welcomed me. She explained that they have live jazz during happy hour M-F and answered all my questions. I was wowed by my room. I had a studio king suite, which had a living room with a sofa bed, sitting chair, desk with a work chair, coffee table, TV, and side table. In the little "hallway" to my room, there was a Keurig with decaf and regular coffees and green tea. My bedroom was amazing!! The king bed was so luxurious and the sheets and pillows were so comfortable! The bathroom was equally as nice. I'm not a huge fan of white subway tile, but The Raphael pulls it off quite well. The soaking tub is great size to really relax.The amenities they provide in the bathroom are your standard shampoo, conditioner, and soap PLUS a shoe mitt, earplugs, makeup wipe, sewing kit, bath salts, and mouthwash. Let's talk about how the towels were so thick and soft!!! The fitness center is basic but you can definitely get a good workout. It had a recumbent bike, an elliptical, 3 treadmills, dumbells, 2 weight benches, and a very versatile weight machine to do both upper and lower exercises. One thing I did notice (while I was soaking in the tub) is the caulking was done poorly and looked so sloppy. Some of it started to come up, which defeats the purpose of caulking and just looked sloppy in general. Yes, it's a minor detail, but in a hotel of this caliber, I feel it should have been better. All in all, I LOVED my stay at the Raphael and would definitely come back!

My stay here as always pampered. Very customer focused and service oriented with a nice touch of class makes the Rafael my favorite place to stay on the plaza.

Horrible experience. I trusted this hotel to provide an amazing experience for the first night after getting married. Front desk staff is incompetent and put us in wrong room because they didn't pay attention to details. Then they give you attitude when you ask them to fix it. Absolutely will never stay here again. They had one chance to make my stay an amazing experience and they dropped the ball. Complete waste of money.

I would leave 0 stars if possible. Stayed there with my wife and 2 daughters. The bed we slept in had a mattress pad that wreaked of urine!!!!! Woke up and the clothes my wife had on, I had on, and my 2 year old daughter had on smelled like urine. Horrible, horrible, horrible. To add to the insult, they paraded 4 employees into the room, including the manager Amy, and all of them conveniently smelled nothing. At least own it Amy. SMH. When they left, I pulled a housekeeping lady from the hallway who had no idea of the situation and asked her to smell the mattress pad. Her response, "smells like pee". Next time just own it!

The property is absolutely beautiful and almost every aspect of our stay exceeded our expectations. We loved Joe--- the valet/bellman and our server in Chaz. Both were caring, engaging and went out of their way to make sure our needs were met. If I owned a property, I would want employees like them. Room and Restaurant It appears that most if not all of the rooms in the nine story hotel are suites varying in size. We were in a smaller suite (rm 714) with a great view of the Plaza on the seventh floor. The bedding was extremely comfortable, the amount natural light was a real treat, and the Chaz Restaurant is located on the lower level. Front desk Experience As a regular patron of Marriott Properties, I am routinely treated as a valued guest. With same, I can not ever recall a time over the years where a bottle of water was not offered at check in at a 4 star+ Marriott property. When I inquired about a bottle of water at the front desk, I was informed bottles are only given "upon special request". I took that to mean asking once was not quite special enough. To add to the "upon special request" discussion, Supervisors Nancy & Aaron were talking with a guest about staffing changes as I approached the counter. The parties continued their conversation as I stood there which seemed a bit inappropriate and interestingly, no one said "I will be with you shortly" nor did either of them step away from the water cooler type discussion to assist me. The guest even looked back and stepped to the side , but it seems both in position of authority were too entrenched to notice. Funny enough, I stopped at the counter to pick up a breakfast voucher in the place of points as a PE member. Traditionally breakfast or points are offered at check in. It seems at The Raphael, the choice is made for you or at least for us it was. When Aaron acknowledged me and asked how he could help, his initial tone was less enthusiastic than it was when he engaged the other guest or my partner (who has a very different physical appearance) as he approached while I was being helped. However, he instantly became accommodating and attuned after realizing I was a PE member. .... An hour later (after breakfast), I stopped by again to inform both supervisors of how I perceived the interaction and their disposition upon seeing me. It goes without saying they were caught off guard but did apologize. IMO, all guests should be valued no matter how they look physically or their reward status level and I sincerely hope that no other person is treated in this manner at this property ever again. That aside, the property is beautiful, reasonably priced and a place I would return.

My wife and I came here for our honeymoon, because she had always wanted to stay here since she was a little girl. For this review, I will be detailing the Premier Suite with whirlpool. It has a living room/dining room, a three-section bathroom, with a separate bedroom and a chaise lounge. We arrived on Friday, May 17th at around 9pm. After a busy day with our wedding, plus a long trip, we were tired and wanted to retire for the night. Upon parking in the front, we were met by Phil Martin, a most excellent valet. Rick, the Bellman, gathered our luggage for bringing to our room. My wife and I are asthmatic, so as we were just getting through the doors we encountered some cigar smoke (a smoker's patio area is the ONLY smoking area) and had light trouble. The desk clerk, Curtis, immediately perceived our trouble and had bottled water waiting for us at the counter. He didn't even ask, he just had it waiting. Very astute! He quickly had us checked in and we quickly made our way to our room, which was very close to the front, so not much walking was needed. Upon entering our room, Rick, the Bellman, began to give us a history of the hotel. It was most illuminating, as was his service. He explained the breakfast card to us so we could have a tasty meal the next morning. After refreshing ourselves, we decided on a quick bite at Chaz on the Plaza. Upon arrival, we met the most amazing waiter, Tiago. My Yelp review is posted for Chaz, so more can be read there. Upon retiring for the evening, we relaxed with the whirlpool and then a cozy bed waiting for us. The next morning, we had a lovely breakfast. I had steak and eggs with OJ, where my wife had the Raphael omelette with some tomato juice. It was wonderfully yummy! There were thunderstorms most of the day, so we decided to spend it indoors relaxing since the barometric pressure change affects us negatively. That night, after we returned from dinner and some city driving, we decided some dessert was in order. So delicious I would would have had three bowls if I could. While the stay was, in many ways, perfect, we did experience some unfortunate glitches. But Craig, the General Manager, was gracious and generous in responding to our concerns and ensuring we departed happy guests. We had another yummy breakfast Monday the 20th and then proceeded to return to our home city of Omaha. Such a magical experience, one that I will never forget.

Our stay at The Raphael Hotel was above and beyond; I'd called about a week before our stay, inquiring if they'd be able to hold a cake in a fridge before room was ready. Tracee was more than happy to help and did so with white-glove service! This was a particularly busy weekend in KC with a two-night concert in-town and they went above and beyond in checking us in early and even provided us with a complimentary upgrad.

The Raphael is a landmark hotel in the popular Country Club Plaza.It blends Kansas City history with Marriott Autograph Collection service into a beautiful and convenient stay. My family booked three rooms with varying lengths over a weekend. We also had three different experiences with check-in, parking, housekeeping, and billing. Consistency of service seems to be be the biggest issue, but the only one that I'm dinging the Raphael Hotel on is the billing because it took numerous phone calls and 4 weeks to figure out. The structure is a historic apartment building that opened in 1928 so it has a lot of charm of bygone times. That's a nice way of saying it's old. The rooms and layouts definitely speak to a different era and hotel experience. In the future, I'd stay at the Raphael Hotel again, but more for it's convenience and Marriott Rewards Points than for its history and charm.

The Raphael is a great place to stay in KC. It's located downtown close to the power and light district. There's lots of shopping and dining opportunities located close by. The rooms are small but that is due to the historical architecture of the hotel. Located downstairs is a great restaurant that features a great menu, offers live music, and has a speakeasy style decour. The restaurant also has a variety of top shelf whiskies including multiple whiskeys from Japan. I highly recommend the Raphael. The staff is very accommodating, the hotel is conveniently located, the rooms are first class, and the dinning is first rate.

Meh... it is beautiful here but there a few flaws. Namely, the sink is broken in our room and only allows us to use the hot water. Also on the topic of water, there is no complementary water and since I can't drink the super hot sink water, I'm stuck having to pay $4 for the water from the mini bar. I am just super thirsty mostly. And hot... the room felt warm to me. Overall, it's very cute but could be better.

My parents have been staying at the Raphael for years for anniversaries weekend getaways and to enjoy the plaza lights at Christmas and have had nothing but great things to say about the hotel. My girlfriend and I got engaged over Valentine's Day weekend and decided to celebrate by staying the night at the Raphael. We had be to the attached restaurant Chaz many times and love the place! When we arrived at the Raphael we were impressed with the lobby and the luxurious Decor. Nick checked us in and didn't really offer much in the way of customer service or amenities of the hotel. Like I said we had just got engaged and may have been interested in any packages or spa services the hotel offered but nothing was offered other then her is your key and you can park out back. The room was nice enough and I explored the hotel and found the gym which I used twice during our stay. It's nice has great modern equipment and towels and a fridge with bottled water. The room was nice and clean but in the morning the walls were paper thin and I could hear people on the adjoining rooms getting ready. Every cough, fart and every time the toilet flushed next door I could hear. We did again eat dinner at Chaz during our stay and will continue to go there but for the price of the Raphael and what you get I don't know that we will stay there again.

We went to The Raphael for lunch to celebrate my mom's birthday. It was not busy, we may have actually been the only people there. The service was awesome and the food was delicious. My 10-year-old daughter, who complains about almost everything except McDonalds raved about her meal. My sandwich was stellar. Then, at the end, they brought out a special balloon and treats for my mom's big day. Very impressed.

This hotel was pretty close to perfect. Location, beds, low noise level, gym, staff, onsite delicious restaurant with nightly entertainment, low cost valet, water pressure, and large rooms. We were in KC for two nights and this location was perfect. You can walk to the plaza for shopping/dining or jump in your car for a short trip to other locations. The gym had a Peloton which and allowed me to get in 2 spin sessions while on vacation. That was a huge plus. We had breakfast at Chaz, in the hotel, and the eggs and bacon were some of the best I have ever eaten! Service was spot on during the entire stay. It was nice to see they did not use single use plastic garbage bags in the cans. Go Green! Only con was the a/c system blew right on us at night. I realize this is a perk to many, but we don't like the airflow on us and there was no way to redirect it away.

Such a great place, old world charm. Reminds me of boutique hotels we frequent in Europe. Amazing service. Clean, love it.

This hotel room was awful. I'm not sure why but we were unable to breath in the room. This was a handicap room set up improperly.

Fantastic location in the Plaza area of Kansas City. Extremely friendly staff. This is an old history apartment building that was transformed into a hotel back in the 1970s. It's old but very cool. Nice rooms. Easy access to a lot of what you'd want to see in KC.

I booked a reservation at The Raphael Hotel the morning of, having traveled form St. Louis earlier that day. I secured a phenomenal rate and was impressed by the overall appearance and quality of the hotel. The check in staff was exceptional, quickly retrieving my reservation, and bringing our bags to our room. Our room featured a comfortable king sized mattress, a premium bathroom, and generally upgraded amenities. The hotel was located within walking distance of dozens of restaurants and shops. The hotel staff was able to provide several recommendations for dining options within a five minute walk. Overall, our stay at The Raphael Hotel was exceptional! The attentive staff, premium rooms, fantastic location, and value make this unique hotel desirable for an extended stay.

If you have a chance to visit this hotel, highly recommend! Ask about its history! The rooms are always clean. Everything is kept up to date. If there are any changes due to covid, the staff lets you know when you check in. Even during the worst of covid, room service was available through The Chaz. The food has always been excellent! We'll continue staying at this hotel when visiting KC! 5 stars always!

I'm here for the week and so far not impressed. The late night manager has no customer service or customer edict what so ever. Next time you want to remove the mini bar from the room make sure you wipe the furniture clean so that your customer doesn't have to see the dirt from where it was. LONG STORY SHORT the next day night I walked in and was greeted by the same manager. Without hesitation he called to me and as I walked over he handed me a beautiful box of chocolates and flowers with such warmth . We had a great conversation about what had happened and we both apologized. I wanted to give HIM the chocolates just for taking the time...... It wasn't just "sorry" but a great conversation. Thank you again for wanting to make things rights and better.

I've been a frequent visitor to Kansas City over the past few months, and primarily stayed within Crown Center. However, I recently decided to stay at the Raphael based on a number of my co-workers recommendations, and it was a great experience. The hotel itself is fairly small (compared to the Westin Crown Center), but comfortable. The service is top notch, with a front desk staff that really appreciates each and every guest. The rooms are well appointed, and although they're a bit dated, they've made some minor modifications to them to support modern lifestyles (extra plugs in easily accessible places). The bathroom, though a bit small, is well appointed and the bath products are superior to what you find in most hotels. And you will definitely get a great nights rest here. Even better, you're within walking distance to country club plaza, full of great food and shopping. This is by far the best place to be in KC when visiting.

The hotel is in a great location and with Marriott owning it the staff and overall experience is very good. The staff are great, food very good and in a great location. We had a suite that had a bathroom you would expect in an efficiency. It is tiny and could have been brought up to today's standards easily but wasn't.

Stayed here for 2 nights and thoroughly enjoyed our time. They definitely live up to their great ratings! I highly recommend them.

Came here on business in KC for 2 nights. Excellent service from check in to check out. As a Marriott platinum memeber, my room was upgraded to a corner suite (probably why I enjoyed this hotel so much). Here are some highlights of my stay: - Self parking available around the corner if you don't want to valet - Nightly turndown service - Old building means slow elevators - Guest folio under door upon checkout day - Friendly and prompt service all around Room and bed were very comfortable. This hotel is in a great location and would recommend to anyone visiting the area. And if you're a foodie, it's close to Joe's BBQ!

A delight. A friend of mine and I love to meet here for girls weekends in KC. I've stayed here a few nights, and love the sweet, elegant, old-is-new-again atmosphere. The valet service is part of the experience--I highly recommend. Warm and efficient gentlemen. You feel like you just came home. Driving up the last time, a jazz band played on the front lawn, and drinks and appetizers were being served outside. Fun!!! Lovely and welcoming. Our rooms are always beautiful. Some seem much larger and more modern than others, but all the rooms that I have seen are lovely. A plaza view is the best--went at Christmas time last year and watching the snow fall on the Plaza from the cozy room may have actually brought a tear to my eye. Magical. The service and company at The Chaz are excellent. Really enjoy the clientele also as we usually end up in interesting and casual conversation. Classy. The manager seems to truly enjoy his job and comped a burger for us the last time we were there, just because. The bartender remembered us and our champagne order from 7 mos earlier! 4 stars instead of 5 because, ugh, the last time I stayed, a few little things were off, valet did not help with luggage as before etc, and I could be wrong, but the bed did not seem clean. At any other hotel, I would rate this way down, but that has never happened to us at the Raphael. It was the middle of the night, and for some reason I had decided to eat steak tartare and wash it down with an Elvis inspired cocktail, and I kind of felt awful, otherwise would have called downstairs, and I'm sure they would have made it right. Just not the thing you want to see when you are having your Graceland moment and you pull back the sheets at 1 am. I just said a prayer and fell in. Showered. Survived. Overall, this is one of the sweetest hotels I've stayed in. The front desk staff is a little brusque, but all other staff make you feel like family. The crowd is upscale but relaxed, not pretentious. If you like a classic, you'll love the Raphael.

The Raphael Hotel is an elegant hotel, near the Country Club Plaza, in Kansas City. It is thoroughly an old school hotel, with helpful staff and spacious rooms. I visited for two nights during a work trip and enjoyed my time at the Raphael. I was given a corner suite overlooking the river, which was terrific. I choose to self-park and found the rear lot spacious. If I am in Kansas City, the Raphael is on my list of top choices for a hotel.

I recently proposed to my girlfriend right in front of The Raphael Hotel on the bridge, with rain pouring from the sky. The only thing that made it even better was that we were staying at the hotel and had a quick and romantic escape from the approaching thunderstorm. The location really is ideal, located in the Plaza, next to the river walk, and only a short distance from Loose Park Rose Garden. The staff went above and beyond helping me make the evening perfect. Even though the rain ultimately led me to make the proposal in a more spontaneous fashion, I appreciated their help, which included coordination of my dinner reservations at Stock Hill, planning an in-room couples massage, and continual input as to which nearby locations were more romantic for a proposal.

Beautiful hotel in a great location if you're hanging at the plaza. Room was great and actually very large! We had a small living room, coffee bar and separate bedroom. Staff was great. If you don't feel like walking to one of the many Plaza restaurants, they have an onsite restaurant. There are 2 sitting areas in front with gas fire pits to keep you warm on a chilly night.

This has been one of our classier stays. Perfectly located in the Kansas City plaza. I was thrilled to see a "real room" The room is set apart by a hallway / vanity area and closet with the bathroom at the end. There is a real tub, one that is deep and one you can relax in, real shower head and great water pressure for the 8th floor. There was also bath salts! Staff is friendly and check In was so easy. Hubby was happy to see a mini bar, and room service wasted no time in bringing him his lines for his drink. Real bedding and pillows. No short cuts on making it class and comfortable. Loved it.

Simply stunning! Following a four day, three night stay, I am hooked on this location on the Plaza. First impressions are key and although the location is unimpressive, the front entrance is truly whimsical! Guests are welcomed by glittering lighted arches over the driveway and two outdoor seating areas on either side of the lobby entrance. The fireplaces provide warmth and a place for gathering that feels tucked in amongst the foliage and landscaping. The front overlooks the beautiful architecture of the Country Club Plaza. The lobby is a work of art with glittering chandeliers and gallery furniture. Complimentary treats await the weary traveler. The reception staff were service elite and super efficient. My room was a junior suite on the northeast corner of the 5th floor. The room was surprisingly spacious given the overall size of the hotel. The suite included a conference table which seated six, a desk, a sleeper sofa and two chairs. The bedroom was the picture of calm with down pillows and fluffy bedding. My favorite "specials" in the room included a two foot deep soaking tub with arm rests and bath salts, a keurig coffee maker with real creamer cups, and chocolates on the pillows. I took advantage of room service of course! I indulged in bananas foster french toast, bacon, maple oatmeal, and fresh orange juice for breakfast. I also enjoyed creme brulee nightly as it is my most favorite dessert. One late evening I ordered pita chips with crab and brie dip. As you might imagine, everything was wonderful. The vanilla bean butter added the perfect touch to the French toast. The room service attendant was engaging, warm, and eager to ensure every detail was perfect. I highly recommend this location for a romantic getaway...take advantage of one of their many room package options.

I LOVE this hotel! So glad to be here again in awesome Kansas City. No issues with the parking garage this time, and the stay has been perfect so far. Few great things I noticed this time around: -Bath salts! -Bathtubs that are clean and shiny enough to trust in taking a bath -The gym is full of natural light and great machines, and there's even water, fruit, and granola bars -The staff is the friendliest ever and had two foam pillows up to me in less than three minutes (I'm allergic to feathers) -Healthy yet delicious breakfast items like old fashioned oatmeal and an egg white omelet -I figured out today that I can get to anywhere I need to be in KC within 10-15 minutes So pumped to be here again. This is definitely my top hotel choice in KC!

3.75. Wow. I embarrassed myself by writing that. But, yeah. Not quite 4 stars, but I am rounding up. This is a charming hotel. The boutique feel fits the Plaza location but I don't know that Eloise would be giving this place her seal of approval. It's the little things. I didn't have shampoo in my shower. The front desk missed my wake-up calls. When i arrived, there were long black hairs on the bathroom floor. As much as I whip my hair back and forth, I am quite confident that I have not grown a 'Cher-do' in the past year or so. Not my hair. Nasty. One of my coffee cups was dirty. Again, none of these are deal-breakers but they aren't the mark of the bestEST hotels evAr. That said, the lobby was fantastic, check-in/out was easy, staff was polite. I had a two-room suite with desk, chair, overstuffed chair, coffee table, couch, butler closet, lots of window-space, two closets, queen bed with pillows, blankets and comfy stuff, and a pretty snazzy old-time bathroom (well, except for the witch hair and all that). I had a couple nights of satisfying rest. I enjoyed my time. I thought it was cool enough. I don't know that I would rush back to stay here or tell others to rush to stay here. It's a cool hotel. I wouldn't pity anyone for staying here. But... you know. Witch hair.

I'm pretty fussy and I must say this old school hotel was spectacular. We splurged on a " Presidential Suite", that's the ambitious title given to a series of rooms that this hotel offers with a large Jacuzzi bath tub and flat screen tv on the wall, big shower, marble tiles, indirect lighting, etc... Lots of fancy little products including a mending kit...haven't seen one of those in years! Lots of attention to detail, black out curtains, fancy pens, soft neutral colors, the couch is comfortable, the clean plentiful linens are plush, lots of pillows! Immaculate service at every turn, posh coffee service in the lobby, then cookies in the evening with hot cocoa. This is a great hotel with a highly professional amiable staff. , but I do have a few quibbles: 1. As an Autograph Collection, they are affiliated with Marriott in a marketing sense, but it's not run by Marriott. So while the bed was firm but comfortable , don't expect a Marriott dream bed (Jamison Mattress). 2. The room service menu is truly ridiculous! Page after page with rules upon rules. For instance, you can't get a burger anytime but after 10pm on a Friday and Saturday only. Really? I think they are trying to force you into a $35 steak during dinner hours. It's too confusing . 3. This is more about local government but get this: room rate is $303, then a city tax of $22.73, then a state tax of $25.30, then a development tax of $1.50, then another fee tax of $.011, food tax of $.92, city food tax $.22. These onerous taxes will prevent me from returning on leisure. Obviously they are trying to take advantage of visitors rather than add taxes to their local citizens. Your fiscal indiscretion should not be my burden if I choose to visit your city.

When I asked Joi B where I should stay during my recent trip to KC, the Raphael was her first suggestion... I took her up on her recommendation, and I was certainly pleased. I would definitely stay here again on future trips and recommend it to others. Here's why: The employees were friendly, the room was a substantial size, the bed was comfortable, the amenities were nice, the water pressure in the shower was awesome and the hairdryer was strong! There's an impressive fitness center, complimentary coffee service in the lobby each morning (and fresh fruit too), and the location can't be beat. (It's walking distance to restaurants and shopping in an adorable area of town). Of course, my visit was quick, so I didn't get to explore as much as I would've liked. My only complaints: the bar/restaurant closes early during the week and the late night room service menu is extremely limited. The walls were kind of thin, and the elevators are really slow. Even so, the overall experience at this Marriott owned hotel was stellar and as I said above, I'd gladly return next visit to KC!

I always stay at The Raphael when in KC and I love the service and staff. However, the last couple of years I have noticed the hotel needs a refresh. I'm guessing since it's a Marriott property it's in the works for some later date. It's a historic hotel and just lovely but the beds are so worn out that I leave with a backache. Great restaurants downstairs with live jazz and good food.