Located inside of a National Landmark the St. Louis Union Station Hotel is unlike any hotel I have stayed at previously. In 1985, with the first major renovation of Union Station, the “headhouse” was converted into a 539-room hotel which at the time was operated by Omni Hotels. Over the years, the hotel has transitioned to a Hyatt Regency, a Marriott, and most recently a Doubletree by Hilton. Today, Hilton announced the St. Louis Union Station Hotel will be the 29th hotel to join the Curio Collection. Below is a short review of my stay when the property was still operated as a Doubletree by Hilton.
Check-In
Prior to our arrival we received an email notifying us we could check into the hotel. When we opened the check-in page we were delighted to have the opportunity to pick our room much like you would pick a seat on an airline. I rarely stay at Hilton properties so am not sure if this is common for Hilton Hotels or if this was a unique feature offered by the hotel. Either way, we ended up selecting a room as far away from the main lobby as possible for noise concerns. With such a large hotel we were worried the hallways would be quite noisy.
We arrived by car and pulled up to the Market Street entrance where the valet took the car and handed us complimentary waters. It was over 100 degrees in July on the day we checked in so the waters were well received. After ascending the main entrance stairs to the main entrance we were greeted by the grand hotel lobby. The lobby of the hotel was once Union Station’s Grand Hall and features 65-foot ceilings on which a laser light show is projected ever hour on the hour.
At the check-in desk we were handed our famous DoubleTree cookies and special St. Louis Union Station Hotel keys and a welcome packet providing a brief history of Union Station.
Hotel & Room
The St. Louis Union Station Hotel is constantly reminding guests they are staying in what used to be a full service train station. The walls are lined with pictures of trains from years past, the hallways are referred to as “tracks” and are laid out as such, and the custom keycard and welcome pamphlet features a picture of a train. While on-site superior service was offered throughout and I was overall impressed with the DoubleTree brand. I am curious to see if there will be noticeable changes now that the hotel is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection.
Our room, located at the far end of the new wing, offered wonderful views of the large koi pond located just beyond the hotel. The room itself was quite large with plenty of free floor space. The bathroom at times felt cramped, but I appreciated the door which separated the toilet from the rest of the bathroom. Overall, the room seemed fresh, modern, and recently renovated.
Amenities
Prominently featured, the Grand Hall is the centerpiece of the hotel and offers a full service bar and lounge. Also onsite, the Station Grill is a full service upscale restaurant and bar which offers traditional American fare. The hotel is also home to the Grand Hall market which proudly serves Starbucks coffee and various snacks. Room service is also offered everyday from 6am to 11pm.
A large outdoor pool is located between two “tracks” of the new wing of the hotel. The pool is mostly covered by the natural roof of Union Station, but is mostly open to the elements. The hotel also offers a generous fitness center located between the Old and New wings of the hotel.
Just beyond the hotel, Union Station is home to several restaurants, but I would highly recommend taking the short trip to Pappy’s if you are looking for offsite dining.
Bottom Line
I loved my stay at the St. Louis Union Station hotel. I was impressed with the DoubleTree soft product and look forward to staying at this hotel again in the future as a Curio Collection. I was disappointed by the lack of parking options in the area and always cringe at outrageous valet fees, but that was the only complaint I had during my stay. Even if you do not have the opportunity of staying at the hotel, if you find yourself in the area at the top of the hour be sure to check out the laser show in the Grand Hall and have a drink from the bar.
