The Best Hotel in Minneapolis

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Graves 601 Hotel, Minneapolis, MN. Pic: Flickr. More at http://www.madmikesamerica.com.

As a former guest services supervisor, I am a horrible hotel guest. I demand the same service that my staff extended our guests, and I am hyper-aware when that expectation is not met. I have been known to write scathing letters to the corporate headquarters of major hotel chains, and receive, laughingly, offers for free or discounted stays in return. If your hotel was so abysmal the first time, what on earth makes you think I want to visit again?

When my husband, Jim and I decided to attend the Collective Soul concert June 22nd, I spent three days researching hotels. I knew exactly what I wanted: a boutique hotel with a stellar reputation, lovely rooms and a close proximity to the venue. I found The Graves 601.

Upon check in, we were asked what brought us to Minneapolis. I told the gentlemen behind the front desk I was there to attend and review the Collective Soul concert and presented him with my business card. He promptly upgraded us. I had no idea that was going to happen, I just really love my business cards. After receiving our key cards (I do miss actual keys, but that’s neither here nor there), he directed us to our room.

We opened the door to the 15th floor room and were greeted with a stunning, modern motif. No hotel paintings here; the artwork consisted of photographs that lit up when you flipped the light switch for the room. It was a subtle and lovely effect. The king-sized bed was adorned with huge pillows, exquisitely soft sheets and a fluffy comforter. We padded about on hard wood floors, gazing out of our window at the streets below. We were happy.

Jim and I chose to wander for an hour or so, finally coming to rest at an outdoor pub. We ate lunch-I had a chicken, mango, pineapple and strawberry salad with mint mango dressing while Jim had a half portion of real fish-and-chips, accompanied by a chilled hard cider served in ice-filled mugs. All in all, a delightful repast. I noticed, as I sat, that my feet were starting to hurt just a bit. I was wearing new shoes, purchased expressly to fit my duck feet, and although they were not supposed to cause blisters, they were doing just that.

We ducked into a coffee shop, grabbed an iced something filled with caramel and calories, and wandered back to the hotel. Arriving back in the room, I took off my shoes and realized I needed a Band-aid, or 6, to make it through the rest of the evening. So, back down to the front desk I went, limping slightly. I approached a young man behind the desk, and asked if he by any chance had a Band-Aid. In a delightful British accent, he told me that there was a first-aid kit in the mini bar, but as it only contained two Band-Aids, he would fetch more from the office. He disappeared, only to return with two Band-Aids in his hand.

He didn’t have to do that. He simply could have told me about the Band-Aids in the mini bar and been done with it. He went above and beyond to make me comfortable. I liked that. When I opened the door to our gorgeous room, my equally gorgeous husband had made himself comfortable on the bed and was flipping through the television menu. I checked the time and jumped up next to him. We watched “Hardball with Chris Matthews” for a bit, then I realized I needed to start getting ready for Collective Soul.

It was time to decipher the shower. Let me explain. A normal hotel shower has one shower head out of which lukewarm water flows at a strange angle which you cannot change. The Graves 601 hotel has showers in the upper level rooms with FOUR shower heads, a handle that controls the temperature and a shower wand. And granite tile floors. Oh, there’s a television and a phone near the toilet, just in case. I was in heaven. After a long car ride and meandering around the city for close to two hours, I wrestled with ever actually getting out of the shower, or simply sitting down and living there forever.

We did leave, and remembered someone telling us we could get to The Brick via an elevator. As we entered the lobby, we met Stacie Rogge, a front office supervisor. Stacie said we could travel through the skyway, but both she and the concierge agreed it was simpler and faster to simply walk a few blocks outside. Stacie’s attitude was perfect; she was kind and empathetic, offered assistance and had the expertise needed to make our evening more enjoyable. Both she and the concierge were incredibly helpful.

We checked out Saturday morning, the valet bringing our car around. The staff of The Graves 601 hotel is everything you want a hotel staff to be. They anticipate your needs, then meet or exceed those needs, and they are extremely informed and gracious. If your travels bring you to Minneapolis, I highly recommend The Graves 601 hotel. Trust someone who is obsessed with perfection in a hotel-The Graves 601 is as perfect a hotel as it can be.

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About Post Author

Erin Nanasi

Erin Nanasi is an avid underwater basket weaver, with a penchant for satire and the odd wombat reference.
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