Griffin B.
Yelp
Any longtime Reno-ite will remember when this was Fitzgerald's. But now it is the first non-gaming, non-smoking hotel to have opened downtown. Upon arriving and exploring a bit, I was quite taken with the décor choices, with sort of minimalist approach, but lots of cool lighting fixtures, and pictures on the walls that celebrate local ski life, art, and views of the region.
The in-room amenities are pretty standard; a mini-fridge, safe, iron and board, hair dryer, and television. The inclusion of robes and slippers in the closet was a nice touch, but no little bars of soap or bottles of shampoo to purloin... I mean, to make use of... since those are now in dispensers in the shower. I also liked the Keurigs in the rooms, with the K-Cups from local coffee roaster. Pretty much all power outlets are built into the furniture, with the desk appearing to have television inputs in case you want to stream or play your own media. You can still clearly tell this is an older building, but I found the recessed window alcove to be a neat touch, and can give you some nice views up towards Mt. Rose. The only negative observations I could make on the room weresome damage in one window frame, some coffee splatters on the wall, and a few stains on the ottoman. The in-room WiFi is free, though there are options where you can pay for higher speeds than the standard connection.
As for the hotel's attractions and features, there are some good ones. First, this is a very pet-friendly hotel, having treats for your four-legged friends, and a block away from the downtown dog park. Soda vending machines, as well as dispensers for ice and filtered water are on each floor. There are several places to host meetings and events within the building, and on the first floor is their concert venue, Cargo. Most other amenities are on the second floor. Having things like the gift shop, guest laundry, and 24-hour exercise room. One thing I liked a lot was the inclusion of both a dry sauna and steam room with the fitness center, though these aren't open 24 hours. But the biggest draw is the climbing gym, with a full bouldering gym, and a separate room with walls more accessible to kids. And of course, you can't miss the giant climbing wall on the exterior of the building, at the time of this writing still the tallest in the country. The gym is open to guests and the public alike, and I'd have liked to have tried it out, but unfortunately access is not included in your stay. Instead, guests get a discounted rate, but you also need to pay to rent climbing shoes and gear, if you don't have your own.
Circling back down to Café Whitney, their in-house restaurant on the first floor, I was struck by the cool design aesthetic, with lots of quirky wood, plant, and rock accents. Open in the mornings for breakfast, it closes around mid-day, and reopens again in the later afternoon for dinner hours. For about $15, the basic breakfast sandwich is quite good, with very fluffy eggs, to which I added bacon, accompanied by yummy country potatoes on the side. But I found their happy hour, from 4:00-6:00, to be quite excellent, with food specials as well as half-off cocktails and draft beers. The Strawberry Fields, a sort of strawberry margarita, was delightful. But their Whitney Old Fashioned was simply outstanding! And as for the food choices, I must recommend the Onion Tart, with goat cheese and figs, topped with arugula salad and balsamic.
Getting here is very easy, as they are right downtown. Shuttle service is available, as is valet and self-parking. The garage is located kitty-corner from the hotel, so a tad inconvenient, but still very close at hand. Gusts do get free parking, but make sure that you ask for a parking pass at the front desk, as otherwise you will be charged $5 each time you exit the garage. One downside to the garage is that it appears to be in need of some refurbishments, but the upside is there also appears to be plenty of electric vehicle charging ports. And being in the heart of Reno, you are close to things like other restaurants, the Riverwalk, and the casinos, should you want to actually try your luck. Most of these are within walking distances, but just be aware there are tons of homeless setting up camps all over the surrounding area, and there is some confusing traffic patterns given the recent rearranging of Virginia Street.
As for price, I wound up paying about $190 for the room, which included the taxes and fees. Certainly not a cheap stay, but a decent price for a one-night getaway. And as a last note, I must say "thanks" to the very friendly staff, who made it a fun and memorable time.
I think it is safe to say I was impressed with what I experienced at Whitney Peak, and I feel good in recommending it for anyone wanting a place with a few less bells and whistles than the big resorts, or just looking for a novel change of pace. Definitely glad to have them in Reno.
