21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati

We had a really nice stay, and the quirky feel made for a unique first visit to a 21c hotel. The art gallery was incredible, and we loved the penguins. The showers were fantastic, with just the right water pressure, and we also enjoyed a massage at the spa. Valet arrived promptly. There are other parking options, though they’re definitely farther away. We were surprised and disappointed that the room didn’t have a mini fridge, especially given the other amenities.

The location is great for walking around downtown, and the gallery has really cool, high-quality art. We got a comfortable suite upgrade through the Amex Hotel Collection program. The breakfast voucher was $60 per day, more than enough for the Metropol restaurant, and we put the $100 credit toward valet, which cost $40 a day. The room was comfortable, though the shower pressure was on the weak side.

The bed and pillows were the best part of our Valentine’s stay. The front desk staff were very kind and tried to make up for a disappointing experience, and we appreciate the effort. We usually stay at Hotel Covington, but came here because I wanted a bathtub. I didn’t realize there was no mini fridge until we returned from dinner with leftovers we couldn’t keep. For the suite price, it was frustrating that food service shut down by 10 p.m. on a sold-out Friday, and breakfast we ordered an hour before checkout never arrived. The bar is so small that ordering feels awkward if there’s nowhere to sit. The museum area also felt underwhelming, with a lot of empty space. It could be put to better use, maybe as another bar open later, so guests could get a drink or a Sprite without leaving the hotel. I think it’s a decent hotel, but the early shutdown and missing Valentine’s morning breakfast made the stay feel underwhelming for the price.

The room was spacious, with nice downtown Cincinnati views, and the bed and pillows were so comfortable that I slept really well. The hotel is lovely to look at, with beautiful art around the lobby, and the front desk staff were warm and welcoming. Still, the cleanliness and attention to detail fell well short. There was a strong cat urine smell when I entered. The reading lamp didn’t work, and there were no water bottles. The bathroom glasses had toothpaste residue and looked used; the ones by the coffee maker also seemed to have been put back after use. The mugs weren’t dirty, but had obvious water marks. I found a lot of dust behind the TV when plugging in my phone, and there was only a thin blanket, with no extras in the room, despite the major snowstorm that weekend. Someone else’s Neosporin was on the floor by the bed, and a robe tie was left on a closet shelf. It made me question whether the room had been cleaned properly at all. I brought these issues to the front desk. For such a beautiful hotel, I expected much better housekeeping. With more care, it could be a great place to stay, but the experience didn’t match the presentation.