Embassy Suites By Hilton Madison Downtown

Javier, the Guest Services Manager, deserves a special thank you. He's helped me more than once with tricky family bookings that needed his expertise, and his knowledge of Hilton's booking system is astonishing. He's efficient, friendly, and personable. He even remembered me more than six months after one booking. I've stayed at plenty of high-end places, including Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Four Seasons, and Park Hyatt, and Javier is the best front desk professional I've met. I'm local to downtown Madison, and friends and family often stay in nearby hotels, so I've gotten to know the options. Embassy Suites is one of the best in town. It's less than a block from King Street and its bars and restaurants, which tend to be a little more upscale and less university focused. State Street has more of the college bar and restaurant scene and is about a five-minute walk through Capitol Square. For such a central spot, it's surprisingly quiet, since most nearby buildings are residential and there isn't a loud bar scene outside your window until 2 a.m. It's one of the newer downtown properties as of this writing, and the team has kept it in great shape. I haven't stayed overnight myself, but I've visited many times while family and friends were guests. The rooms aren't huge, but they're thoughtfully arranged for several people, with a bedroom and living room separated for real privacy. Every room I've seen has been clean, quiet, and comfortable. Breakfast has a good selection and an omelette station. The bartenders are friendly, and the cocktails are genuinely good, above average for a town with lots of good bars. At check-in they give out free drink coupons for happy hour at the bar, I believe from 5 to 7 p.m. Valet parking seems reasonably priced and very efficient. There's also a City of Madison underground garage across the street if you'd like to save a few dollars, but city garages have a 48-hour rule. You may be towed if you don't move your car after 48 hours, so check the signs. Hilton status probably won't get you much of an upgrade, since most rooms are similar except for bed setup and accessibility. The views aren't a major selling point either, but you're staying in one of Madison's best areas, and there are great views within a five-minute walk. If I were visiting Madison, this is where I'd stay.