SmarterTravel Spotlight: Magnolia Hotel Houston

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at sschlichter@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Sarah Schlichter

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Located in a 1926 building that once housed the Houston Post Dispatch newspaper, the 314-room Magnolia Hotel Houston is one of the city’s largest boutique properties. Its central location, spacious rooms, and useful perks make it a good choice for both leisure and business travelers to Houston.

The Location

magnolia hotel houston exterior at night. — Marriott International

Magnolia Hotel Houston is located right downtown, within walking distance of attractions such as Discovery Green, Minute Maid Park (where the Astros play), the Downtown Aquarium, and the cultural venues of the Theater District. The hotel is also near a pickup point for all three lines of the METRORail, which can take you to the Museum District and other parts of the city.

The neighborhood is safe and easy to explore on foot, with plenty of restaurants and green spaces nearby. The hotel runs a first-come, first-served shuttle offering guests free rides throughout the downtown area between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

The Rooms

magnolia hotel houston guest room. — TripAdvisor

The Magnolia Houston’s rooms and suites have a boutique feel, with décor that’s both stylish and comfortable. In addition to free high-speed Wi-Fi, thoughtful touches include oversized tubs in the bathrooms and dimmer switches on the bedside reading lamps. Standard rooms measure up to 400 square feet and feature one king bed or two queens. Large windows let in plenty of natural light.

For more space, upgrade to a studio suite with a sitting area and a kitchenette, or to a signature suite with a full kitchen and generous living area with seating for up to six people.

Stay on the hotel’s top-floor Executive Level for the best views in the house, plus perks like larger work areas and a bedtime cookie buffet.

Dining

magnolia hotel houston restaurant. — TripAdvisor

Magnolia’s second-floor restaurant and bar, The Lounge, serves a breakfast buffet each morning, as well as a la carte meals for lunch and dinner.

Hot items at breakfast include both regular scrambled eggs and “special” eggs (with additions such as mushrooms or spinach and cheese), sausage and bacon, pancakes, potatoes, and oatmeal with a variety of fixings. Cold items include bread and other baked goods, packaged cereals, yogurt, and fresh fruit. Note that breakfast is not included in standard room rates.

Lunch and dinner options range from salads and steaks to burgers, pasta, and grilled fish. Room service is available from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

There are usually some freebies on offer in the lobby: Think coffee in the morning, infused water and fruit in the afternoon, and milk and cookies in the evening.

Amenities

magnolia hotel houston rooftop pool at night. — TripAdvisor

One of Magnolia Hotel Houston’s best features is on the top floor: its rooftop pool and hot tub. Come during the day for a respite from Houston’s heat and humidity, or take a swim after dark to admire the city’s glittering towers around you. Also on this floor is Magnolia’s 24-hour fitness center.

Public spaces off The Lounge include a billiards room and a library; note that the latter is often used for meetings, and the books are for display only. There’s a small business station on the second floor where guests can use a computer and print documents for free. Next to the computer is an ATM machine.

The Magnolia is welcoming to pets, starting with a hydration station right outside the front door. There are no restrictions on size or breed.

Price and How to Book

Rooms start around $130 a night and can be booked on the Marriott website or on TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s sister site). The hotel is part of the Marriott International portfolio, so you can earn Bonvoy points for your stay.

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Sarah Schlichter was hosted by Marriott during her stay at the Magnolia Hotel Houston. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

Editor’s note: This story originally stated that the Magnolia Hotel Houston was a Marriott partner property, rather than part of the Marriott International portfolio. This has been corrected.

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