Some of the links in this post go through an affiliate. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I might receive an affiliate commission which does not affect your prices at all, it isn't a lot but it helps me get more places posted. All opinions remain my own

Hotel Ivy, Minneapolis

I had a couple of free night certificates for Marriott expiring in June and then discovered I could add points to them to use at higher category properties. This opened a lot more options, including some really fancy ones, and I found a weekend where the points and my schedule worked for Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis, a 5 star property at the top of the Marriott chain.

Arrival

I drove up I-35W into downtown, taking the 11th street exit which brings you to the front of the hotel. I booked the public ramp the next block over for $30 for the entire weekend. I didn't plan on needing my car at all, and this is much less than $48 a day for valet at the hotel.

Pretty close to the airport compared to a lot of places I stay

Common area, waiting area. Whenever I see coffee table books, I know I am in the right place

The Room

I had used Marriott Suite night awards and acquired a one bedroom suite, and then found I was double upgraded to what is called a grand suite. This, well, is an understatement. 1200 square feet including a foyer, entrance, guest bath and closet, living room, dining room and office, and of course the king bed and master bath. It's based in the old tower of the building and takes up the entire floor of that tower as well as some space in the attached new tower, so that means windows in 3 cardinal directions.

The entryway to the suite, which while completely unneeded due to the way it's laid out but really awesome to have

Lovely wine and fruit sent up by the manager for being an elite status member

In the foyer, the guest bath and guest closet

A long shot from the foyer through the living room to the bedroom. You can see how large this place is

Very comfortable room. I could live here a while

Personalized screens and weird Marriott branded videos

Where I setup my computer and didn't do room service for dining, well, because I had other plans

This is the tower the premium suites are in. I'm on the 6th floor up (if you're counting windows, you cannot see the ones for the 4th floor)

Largest on the floor, 2nd largest in the hotel, and I don't think there is any way I could afford the regular price listed here

Dining

There are three locations onsite to drink or dine. The Lobby Bar, which is nice and calm. Monello, the high end Italian restaurant, and Constantine the irreverent gothic drinking establishment underground.

This is a great spot for a conversation and drink, right next to the front desk

You think this looks more intimate, but actually it's not, the main area was

A fair sized fancy dining restaurant, which I have gone to many times but this was my first time while staying here

Dinner was even better, but this is not a cheap place to eat

The dark take on a cathedral (the building was originally a church that ran out of money before completion). Years of candle drips cover the place

Bar #3, and this one... this one is quite something

The Whiskey Chapel, available by private rental, but I think it's probably worth it

Amenities

The gym is super large, I believe because they also have a residence wing where people own condos and have access to these facilities.

If you run out of water in the room, you can grab one here quick

Insanely big, so many machines in a expansive arrangement

Side rooms for classes and other workout options

And there is also a full spa onsite with a lot of things you can't see that I'm actually tempted to try (but bring your swimwear which... again I forgot).

Lots of fancy and nice products for your needs at home

Nails and feet, quite a few seats for that here

Would any high end hotel be complete without event spaces? It appears the answer to that question is no.

Event sitting space outside; I wouldn't mind a drink here!

The entrance from the skyway leads right to the event spaces

Summary

Outstanding property. I have never seen anything like this in Minnesota before. It's at the level of a Ritz Carlton and service is exquisite. The cost is not cheap, but they seem on par for the quality of the hotel and comparable to other luxurious places I have stayed before. I kinda loved it here.

NAME

MESSAGE