I recently had the opportunity to spend a couple of days in Kansas City and the Raphael Hotel was kind enough to offer me accommodations. I have to say whether you are looking for the best Boutique Hotel or the best Luxury Hotel in Kansas City, look no further than the Raphael which is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
The Raphael is located just a few steps away from the Country Club Plaza, Kansas City’s premier shopping district, and a convenient location from which to explore this fabulous city. My first impression upon arriving was that this looked like a grand throwback to a time when elegance and style greeted guests.
The historic Raphael Hotel was originally opened in 1928 and started out as the Villa Serena Luxury Apartments, attracting the most affluent of Kansas City residents. In 1975 the building was reborn as the Raphael Hotel preserving its historic features. In 2006 the Hotel underwent extensive renovation that included all new infrastructure and decor which culminated in the Hotel being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. In 2011 the Raphael partnered with Marriott Hotels and was designated as an Autograph Collection property.
The Hotel has 126 rooms and over half are suites consisting of two or more rooms. While the trend in boutique hotels seems to be trendy and minimalist in design you definitely don’t get that here. From the time you enter the lobby with chandeliers to the luxurious appointed rooms you are catered to.
Whether you opt for a standard room or a suite it is the little things you notice when staying at this beautiful hotel. The comfortable beds with 300 count bedding and the monogrammed robes and oversized towels pamper you from the start. All rooms come with brewing systems and gourmet coffees and teas, complimentary high speed WiFi, dual line telephones with voice mail so you can conduct business, lighted closets, safes, mini refrigerator and microwaves.
The suites are spacious starting with studio suites that have separate bedrooms with sitting areas and a large living room. The business and boardroom suites come with a table that seats up to six for a meal or an executive conference, writing desk with speaker phone and data ports and two telephones with voice mail. For a real treat try the Presidential Suite, favored by romantics, executives and celebrities.
The Hotel has everything you need to conduct business including a Business Center with Fax, copy & printing capabilities, The Plaza Meeting Room comes with cutting edge technology and is perfect for classroom or conference style meetings. The Blue Beacon Boardroom is configured for the more formal board meetings with an executive conference table, leather chairs and offers a full array of presentation and video conferencing capabilities.
If you are looking for a great meal, then the Chaz is only a few steps away from the main lobby. Executive Chef Sean Leventhal is the man in charge of this culinary team that serves up breakfast lunch and dinner to guests and those in Kansas City that know where to go for fine dining. The Chaz focuses on local and regional sourcing of food and quality for the food prepared and it shows, the meals are great. The restaurant can arrange for a private dining experience for groups.
The Chaz Lounge serves up Single Malts, Bourbons, Cocktails and Specialty drinks from the skilled mixologists on staff along with a vast array of wines. The Lounge also has live entertainment nightly that includes classical, jazz, blues, and pop.
A few steps away from the front of the hotel lies the Country Club Plaza. The plaza was the first open air mall and was built in 1922 by J.C. Nichols. The 55-acre site was designed with a Seville Spain theme and houses 18 buildings consisting of 804,000 square feet of retail space and 468,000 square feet of office space.
The Raphael Hotel is the perfect place in which to enjoy all the city has to offer from shopping to sports to all the various attractions and do it in style and comfort.
I think one of thing that sets this Hotel apart from others is the staff. From the moment I arrived until I left the staff was friendly, attentive, ready to assist in any way and give information about various things to see and do in the area. I spoke to several members of the staff and they have a genuine pride in the hotel and providing an exceptional guest experience.
Although the Hotel sponsored my stay I made it clear I would write an honest review and all views are mine. If I had found a problem with my stay I would definitely tell you but I didn’t. You can see by reviews other guests have had that they also agree that this is a great luxury hotel and one you need to consider if you are in Kansas City.
Contact the Raphael Hotel at
325 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64112
Phone 816-756-3800
Reservations 816.997.9267
lily kate says
Looks like such a luxurious place to stay, and if the staff were lovely that just makes it even better! As hotel gyms go, this one looks fab. As does everything tbh!
lily kate x
jolihouse.com
thetravellingfool says
The Raphael is a great Hotel I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and everything there.
Andreea says
Well, it does look quite luxurious 🙂 Nice entrance and lobby!
Carlie says
Wow, that suite looks sooooo spacious! I bet it was the perfect place to relax after sightseeing!
Sheena Yap says
I’m a huge fan of Marriott Hotels and it seems like they’ve hit the mark with this one as well! I know where I’ll be staying if I find myself in Kansas City (: