The Marquette, Minneapolis
Having recently re-achieved my long languishing Diamond status at Hilton Hotels, there was a property in Minneapolis I had been looking at since 2008 as a place I really wanted to review. I got a one-bedroom suite in 2021 and in 2022 the opportunity that I couldn't refuse arose with the presidential suite, which now is a double room post for the Marquette Minneapolis, and it was so worth it.Then in 2023, I got the final suite, the Foshay. I keep staying here, because it's great.
Arrival
I drove up I-35W into downtown, navigating the maze of one-way streets to Marquette Avenue, and then parked in the heated underground garage (this is worth whatever it costs when the winter temps dip to -18F).The Rooms
Being upgraded on each visit, I will start with the Premium King Suite, a very nice spacious suite next to the elevators on most floors.
3D interactive room tour, use your mouse or fingers to move around and see other rooms.
Dining and Drinks
The Joliet is the restaurant, upstairs, on a balcony overlooking the Crystal Court of the IDS complex. The bar downstairs, is called The Marquette Lounge, and around it is called Basi's Cafe, which is a much much lighter affair.Amenities
The gym, while small, has all the required items for workouts. Most people seem to just use the treadmills or yoga balls these days anyways. The ice "machines" are actually freezers with bags already filled for you; just take one and go. This is so cool.
Comfortable waiting space
Understated entrance to a different world
Massive bedroom, two chaise lounges, floor to ceiling wardrobe with entertainment center, and the corner view of the IDS center
What a great place to sit and enjoy a cocktail in your room
Crazy big, and what are there? 7 bath towels? Wow!
A jet tub and shower combo, yes it does work, fill it up high for the sensors in it to turn on
I don't even know if I have enough friends to fill up this area
This gives you a better sense of how large the room is, the pictures on the hotel site are not adequate to impart that to you
As snow falls during the night on the city
The Foshay is a little easier to view from up here"
The northwest corner of the hotel's view
Sweet!
Entry foyer
Living room, with lots of seating
The bedroom, with the desk and more seating
A dressing room! If anyone reads me regularly, they know this is a huge perk to me
The Shower/Tub
Lockwood brand amenities, changing over from Crab & Goyle to this, and it smells like travel to me"
By far the largest room on the floor and btw, second largest in the hotel
This seemed standard now, instead of only weekends
From the buffet, I had to taste it first to make sure it was worth sharing...
Non buffet breakfast
Not sure how to get these anymore, but I also didn't ask which I probably could have
The entry to Jolliet House, very stark and purposeful difference in decor
The weekend buffet spread, above your average one, decent selection
Looking out along the entrance
Now transitioned back to lunch and dinner service too, this is a great spot
Ground level dining is currently where you get full-service food experience in the evening
The bar! The wings here (of course in a separate post) are yummy
Not the biggest room (actually the same size as a king suite) but covers the needs of several hotel guests
Look at that, I mean come on, isn't that just awesome presentation and convenience?
The business center is open should you need those last-minute dinner searches or to print a boarding pass
And many meeting rooms, if you are doing a family reunion, utilizing one of these for a private breakfast gathering seems like a grand idea
Golf suite, You can have drinks and food in here while smashing balls at the screen, or kids have ball games here too they can play
Summary
Listed as a 4-star hotel, it is blurring the line towards a 5 star. Such a great and restful place, but connected via the skyway to the entire city, also dead center location to everything downtown in every direction. I really enjoy staying here with service provided by the employees that was exceptional.The suites are truly great rooms at this hotel and worth the extra cost over a regular room.