Hotel Magdalena

The rooms are beautiful, and the shower is especially lovely. The bathroom door is right beside the bed, which is an interesting layout. A very sweet woman greeted us. Valet seemed a bit unbothered about providing service, and there’s no parking at the property. The lot across from the hotel costs $70 a day, and I would have liked another option. Housekeeping knocked three times between 8 a.m. and about 10:30, even though checkout was at noon. Being woken that early and repeatedly was a bummer.

The first two nights went smoothly: nice room and balcony, a cool pool area, and friendly staff. On the third night, my boyfriend and I lost track of time talking on our balcony. It was Friday and we were on vacation, but we were talking too late and our neighbors complained twice. We’re sorry we disturbed them and would have come inside right away if the hotel had called our room or knocked to let us know how late it was. Instead, actual police came to our door. We weren’t playing music, had no devices on, and weren’t yelling, threatening, or making a racket. Calling the cops without trying to reach us first scared the crap out of us and wasted police time. It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. The hotel is nice, but the people running it are clowns. Who calls the cops over a conversation?

We stayed at Hotel Magdalena for three nights in August of 2025, booking through Chase Sapphire Reserve because the hotel is now in Chase’s “the edit.” That got us some extra perks, and it shaped what we expected. This was a very good stay, close to great, though a couple of things kept it from being five stars. I think leisure travelers will probably really like it. The location is a highlight: SoCo is buzzing, and the hotel is close to it but one street off the main drag, which gives you a little more peace and quiet. The place has great vibes and feels hip without being pretentious. I spent hours at the pool every day. There were great chairs, it wasn’t too crowded, and there was a nice balance of sun and shade. The soaps and lotions feel premium. The biggest letdown was the amenities. Bikes were advertised and we were looking forward to using them, but only three were operating, and other guests had them the whole time we were there. With no reservation system, getting one was basically a lottery. Yoga mats we asked for were similarly unavailable, and other small items also seemed in short supply. The room had no ice machine, nowhere to sit except the bed, and no iron or board. At the price we paid, that was disappointing. I’d book for the atmosphere and pool, but wouldn’t recommend it for a business trip if you need proper amenities.

The rooms are lovely, and the pool has a really distinct feel. It almost gives me Lake Tahoe vibes, strange as that sounds. It’s a cool place, quiet and clean, in a great spot on South Congress.