The William Fell Baltimore, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

The front desk staff were helpful and friendly, and the white sheets, both over and under the cover, made the bed feel clean and reassuring. It’s a historic building with some nice updates. Our bathroom door was warped and wouldn’t shut completely, though it wasn’t a big issue for us. The bed is quite firm, so you’ll sleep well if that’s your preference. Valet parking was steep, but there wasn’t really another option; luckily, we could walk to everything we wanted.

For $623 including the base rate, taxes, and overnight valet, I expected the basics to work. The room was tiny, with odd little staircases along the floor, and the lighting was so poor that packing was hard without an overhead light. There was no conditioner in the shower, and turning on the A/C in the stuffy room didn’t seem to help. The place looks polished, but those basics were a problem. The staff who assisted me were wonderful, though.

The William Fell is right in the middle of Fell's Point, which means plenty of little shops and taverns to explore. I ate at the Alexander Tavern and really liked its Maryland Vegetable Crab Soup. My room was clean, comfortable, and a standard size, with a nice bathroom and very comfortable beds. Maid service came daily, which I appreciated. The William Fell Tavern had tasty food at reasonable enough prices, though they ran out of crab halfway through my stay, which was disappointing in Maryland. The tavern’s loud background music also comes through into the lobby and feels out of place with the hotel’s dignity. Separate soundtracks would make sense. The neighborhood has its drawbacks. It can get rowdy at night, when police make a visible show of force, though that presence brings the threat level down to “Acceptable For Adults.” Daytime seemed fine, but I’d still call it adults only, since it’s hard to avoid people playing profanity-filled music out loud. I chose heat because it was in the 50s outside, but only noticed it working once in the early morning. Still, it’s a nice base for Baltimore, especially if you’re here for downtown attractions.

Nick at the front desk is wonderful, one of the kindest and most accommodating hotel people I’ve met. Fran was a terrific host too. The room was beautiful, and with everything so close by, it’s easy to enjoy yourself here. Thanks to the staff for being so great!