Element by Marriott St. Louis Midtown

The nearby Tacos 4 Life was really good, and you can get a discount by downloading its app. The hotel itself was spotless, with comfortable rooms and well-kept common areas. The staff were friendly and welcoming throughout, which meant a lot after long days of work travel. Amanda gave me a warm welcome at the front desk, Teresa from housekeeping kindly brought extra towels, and Jim at valet was always pleasant to deal with. Erin at the desk also helped make my nights go smoothly. Valet parking was convenient, though next time I’ll probably self-park since the garage is close and that’s my personal preference. I had a great stay at Element by Westin and would happily come back.

The food was good, but Colisha and Dre are what made breakfast such a nice experience at the Element Hotel in St. Louis. Colisha kept the area stocked with coffee and tea, stayed on top of things, and made sure guests were looked after. Her chicken and egg quesadilla was amazing, and she did it all with a big smile and upbeat energy. It was clear she wanted to make everyone’s morning better. Dre kept the tables cleared and the space tidy, which made the room feel calm and welcoming. Thanks to both of them for such a good start to the day.

The location is convenient, close to everything around the area, but that didn’t make up for the lack of basic service. We stayed five nights and wouldn’t return or recommend this hotel to anyone expecting even minimal hospitality. It seemed badly understaffed, though that doesn’t excuse what happened. Our room phone didn’t work, so when we needed towels we called from our own phone and waited on hold for over 10 minutes. We gave up and went downstairs. Housekeeping never cleaned the room or offered turndown service during the entire stay. We had no “Do Not Disturb” sign up, yet trash accumulated in the bathroom and kitchen. Trash we left outside our door sat there for nearly 24 hours. Towels were a repeated problem. Twice we were told the hotel had run out and we’d have to wait until housekeeping came the next morning. Another time, we were told nobody could bring them, so we had to collect them at the desk. The one bright spot was a front desk attendant who washed towels herself so we’d have some before our early checkout. No one apologized for any of these hassles. The stay was unlike any hotel experience we’ve had, and cleanliness and service both fell far short.

There’s a taco place next door that gives you free chips and queso, and the rooftop bar has a lovely food and drink menu with a stunning view. Breakfast was a pleasant surprise too: the usual choices plus fresh frittata, biscuits and gravy, a yogurt bar, and a good range of coffee and juices. Our standard king room was huge, with a full kitchenette, silverware, plates, a microwave, a roomy mini fridge, and a single-serve coffee maker. The bed was soft and the pillows were wonderful. The hotel is modern and clean, with an unusually well-stocked little sundries shop and excellent front desk staff. It’s handy to Foundry and a Fresh Thyme across the street, and downtown is a quick drive or Uber away. Though it’s listed as a 3-star hotel, I’d put it closer to 4. I can’t think of a complaint and would stay again without hesitation.