Loews Minneapolis Hotel

Design is front and center at the Loews Minneapolis. The large, high-ceilinged lobby feels sleek and modern, with long leather couches, shiny copper-colored walls, and geometric screens flanking the entrance. The lobby itself isn't a place for lounging -- it tends to get crowded with guests passing through, and checking in and out -- but both restaurants, the champagne bar, and a Starbucks can all be accessed from it.

The hotel goes out of its way to accommodate guests of all kinds, from business travelers to couples to pets to young children (as demonstrated by programs such as Loews Kids and Loews Loves Pets).

The Loews Minneapolis has an excellent downtown location. The Target Center is just across the street, and Hennepin Avenue is just on the other side of the hotel. The main Nicollet Mall is just a block away. Famous music venues like First Avenue and 7th St Entry are just down the block. The Target Field Station & Rail Platform is a five-minute walk away, putting the rest of the city in easy reach. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is about a 25- to 30-minute drive away. Most attractions in downtown Minneapolis are within walking distance.

The Loews Minneapolis is still a chain hotel, but it's part of a small, upscale chain, and the welcoming, modern decor in the rooms could just as easily belong in a more boutique spot. Until a few years ago, the hotel was the Graves 601 Hotel Wyndam Grand, but the rooms have been entirely redesigned to fit the Loews brand, with design elements like wood floors, etched-glass headboards, and five-head walk-in showers. The sea-foam green walls create a calming atmosphere, contrasting pleasantly with the crisp white bedding and clean-lined pinewood furniture. The bathrooms are similarly modern, with chrome fixtures and glass vessel sinks. The Deluxe King Room we saw had a walk-in shower, which some may find sleeker than a shower/tub combo (though others may find they miss the tub). Rooms start at a spacious 375 square feet, and all have flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, minibars, and Keurig coffeemakers; higher-floor rooms have views of the city, and some higher-tier rooms have whirlpool tubs.

"Minnesota Nice" is the rule of thumb at the Loews Minneapolis, which sacrifices neither style nor comfort in its many features. The hotel’s concierge can help with anything from booking theater tickets to reserving a table at the city’s newest restaurant. Both Cosmos and Cask Cookhouse serve farm-fresh cuisine in addition to creative cocktails and extensive wine lists. Relevé, the champagne cocktail lounge, comes across as glamorous without feeling pretentious. The fully outfitted fitness center is open 24 hours a day and there's even a full-service spa -- a feature which neither the Radisson Blu or the Westin offer (though the Westin does offer in-room treatments). There are also a 24-hour business center and free Wi-Fi throughout. Children and pets are catered to. Parking is available, but for a fee.