Hotel Indigo Jacksonville Deerwood Park

Updated in late 2015, this strikingly stylish hotel is warm and inviting. The lobby is a cornucopia of bright colors, textures, and shapes. Oval lines -- white armchairs with big black circles, oval rugs, a circular front desk and round tables, including some made to look like oversize film reels -- give the space a sense of flow and movement. Jacksonville was a hub of the silent movie industry, and the hotel pays homage to that colorful history in various ways. Film-theme murals decorate walls, and an old-fashioned movie spotlight rests in one corner of the lobby. The movie theme, designer-quality furniture in lavender, lime green, and burnt orange, and red oak hardwood floors create an energetic ambience without feeling forced or misplaced. 

The Hotel Indigo sits on a large lake in Tapestry Park, an upscale lifestyle community with brick-lined streets, lovely residential units, boutiques, offices, and restaurants. It’s a quiet and clean area, with a boardwalk that leads to a bridge across the lake. Several restaurants are within a five-minute walk, and a cinema complex is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The St. Johns Town Center for upscale shopping is a nine-minute drive. Downtown Jacksonville and such attractions as Jacksonville Landing, EverBank Field, and Jacksonville Arena are approximately are a 15- to 20-minute drive. Jacksonville International Airport is a 30-minute drive from the hotel.

The 90 rooms at the Hotel Indigo Jacksonville Deerwood Park have such tasteful touches as designer-quality wood furniture, curved walls, and frosted-glass partitions, which give a distinctive look. The rooms are spacious, with single king or two double beds. The most striking feature is the rich hardwood floors in a red-oak finish that matches the wood headboards and other furniture. It creates a warm glow that contrasts nicely with the white walls and duvets. Pops of color come from bright-blue-and-green drapes, lime-green upholstered chairs, and blue, movie-theme murals on curved walls. Bathrooms are equally modern and attractive. Wood vanities with the same red oak finish are topped by black granite, and large mirrors have a matching wood trim. Roomy walk-in showers have lovely white tile and clear glass doors. Standard amenities include mini-fridges, Keurig coffeemakers, desks with media plug-ins, free Wi-Fi, and 42-inch flat screen TVs. The hotel’s four suites add sleeper sofas in separate living rooms, kitchenettes with sinks, microwaves, and dining tables. Suite bathrooms feature separate showers and soaking tubs. Some rooms overlook the lake. 

This hotel has a boutique feel, but its features equal those of a larger, full-service hotel. The 98 Forty restaurant and bar serves American classic cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also has a deli counter with grab-and-go items. Breakfast isn't included in the room rates. The fitness center is small but includes a few cardio machines and free weights. The outdoor pool is also on the small side, but it overlooks the picturesque lake and has an adjacent whirlpool. Meeting space can accommodate up to 120 people, and the dedicated business center has two computers, printers, and a long table with several stools and media plug-ins. Wi-Fi is free, as is parking. Valet dry cleaning and laundry are available, as are vending machines, an ATM, and free newspapers. In honor of the area’s colorful history as a silent film mecca during the 1920s, the hotel shows silent movies on select Sundays, with donations benefiting a local silent movie museum.