Romance Weekend at the Elliot Park Hotel

I had a wonderful Valentine’s weekend at the Elliot Park Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, with my sweetie. The EP is an Autograph Collection hotel . We were treated to their Romance Weekend package, and found it to be one of the most romantic hotels in Minneapolis.

Autograph hotels are a curated collection of handpicked, independent boutique hotels located in more than 32 countries around the world, each valued for its originality. Autograph Collection hotels are a member of Marriott Bonvoy.

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Perched on the edge of the historic Elliot Park neighborhood, convenient to the U.S. Bank Stadium and the Minneapolis Convention Center, this downtown Minneapolis hotel and restaurant is a chic urban oasis.

We headed over to the Elliot Park after a nice Valentine’s dinner in Uptown. The romance weekend package included valet parking. Whee! We removed our luggage (we had rather a lot considering, two nights) and a valet whisked our car off to their garage.

Upon check-in, we discovered our room was on the 7th floor. The EP has 8 floors and we suspected we’d have a great view.

A room with a view

The rooms at the EP feature large, floor to-ceiling windows, and we arrived just in time for blue hour after sunset. We were pretty darn excited, since our room was AMAZING! A corner suite, with a full living and dining area and a separate bedroom.

I took a video. In fact, I took 2 videos, neither of which turned out. Apparently I didn’t actually press the “record” button. I really must write a post on my epic technical fails. But I’ll show you photos later!

Hygge is happening

The EP seeks to create a culture of comfort, or hygge, a Danish and Norwegian concept. While not easily defined, hygge engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.

Our time at the EP had many hygge moments. Perhaps my favorite was luxuriating in the morning sun on our window seat. The coffee and croissant helped, too.

Room amenities: Can I move in?

The Elliot prides itself on offering rooms that generate a warm and welcome feeling, capturing the essence of hygge.

Our room had a full counter with a sink, mini frig, and Keurig coffeemaker. The living area was plush for lounging with a big couch that had one of those chaise sections you can stretch out on.

The giant bathroom had a large walk-in shower and two sinks—what a luxury! If only I could have two sinks at home, that would solve so many irritating cohabitation problems. Or perhaps we could live here? But the Elliot seems to prefer we not move in permanently. Sigh.

From a huge flat-screen television in the living area or another, slightly smaller one in the bedroom, we could access our Netflix and other online accounts. We may have binge-watched a few shows. That couch was dangerously comfy! Add to that a full dining area and a fabulous window seat, and you have the recipe for a luxurious and relaxing stay.

Other amenities include Wi-Fi, Amazon Alexa, and a 24-hour business and fitness center. Turndown and concierge services are available upon request, along with a complimentary newspaper in the morning.

The romance weekend begins: champagne and strawberries

Shortly after we arrived, one of the wonderful employees delivered a bottle of bubbly and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. We cuddled up in the big cushy white robes we found in the closet.

Note: I don’t drink alcohol. When I mentioned this, a bottle of sparkling water appeared! Just one example of the gracious service at the Elliot.

Now I’ll tell you, I purchased a selfie stick just the day before to better record these events. We were laughing hysterically trying to use the thing while clinking glasses and so forth.

Being in a fine hotel, wrapped in a fabulous robe, the prospect of a couple days R&R away from everyday cares made us just a bit giddy. To tell truth, I’m often giddy. Once I get going on the laughing, forget about it.

Blissful sleep

As you’d expect from an hotel of this caliber, the bed was sumptuous, with deliciously soft, high-thread count white sheets and lots of pillows.

We have a full-sized mattress at home (I’m very fond of my antique bed frame), so for us, the king-sized bed was pretty much like sleeping in football field. A super cozy football field.

There was another huge window next to the bed, but the soundproofing is excellent and we couldn’t hear a thing. The blackout curtains kept the room dark all night. Blissful sleep!

In the morning we opened the curtains and light flooded the room.

Breakfast at Tavola

Our romance weekend package included breakfast at Tavola Italian Kitchen and Bar, the gorgeous restaurant on the hotel’s main floor. When you enter you see the restaurant’s enormous wood oven, the bar, and booths all along the walls. The beautiful table settings placed at each booth were a really nice touch.

The staff are terrific, too. We mutually ordered waffles and an omelet. We decided on fruit for our side and boy, am I glad we did. I have never seen such a nice bowl of fruit as a breakfast side. With the waffle, besides butter and real maple syrup, there was a little pot of cherry jam.

That stuff was ambrosial! Our server told us the pastry chef makes all the jams in-house. After I’d scraped out as much as possible with my spoon, I considered licking the little container. You’ll be glad to know I restrained myself.

What a delicious malted waffle and a perfect omelet. For the cheese we recommend the 2 year cave-aged cheddar. Yum. We had mushrooms and Brussels sprouts in ours as well.

The formal dining room is to the back of the bar, and we had to sneak a peek. A beautiful room, representative of the sophisticated design throughout the hotel.

Tavola’s dinner menu features wood-fired pizzas as well as signature dishes and comforting pastas, all enhanced by their specially blended extra virgin olive oil. The mostly Italian wine list complements the Tuscan-inspired fare, while handcrafted cocktails use locally distilled spirits.

Things to do in the area

Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Elliot Park is less than 2 miles from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Sculpture Garden is beautiful in the summer, and I’m happy to report it’s fun to visit in wintertime as well.

In winter it’s easy to park right on the street, stroll over and see the sculptures more up close and personal than in the warmer months. Best of all, there’s hardly anyone else there!

We lucked out with a warm day, for February in Minnesota, that is. I was able to capture the spoon and cherry from pretty much every angle. I am very fond of the sculptures Walking Man and Without Words. Add in the LOVE sculpture and the big blue chicken, and you’ve got a delightful art experience, free of charge!

Take a stroll in the neighborhood

Elliot Park is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, so get out and take a stroll. We walked west from the hotel along 8th street to Marquette (just head towards the tall buildings). You’ll pass the impressionist mural below and some nice historic architecture, including the United Way and the Minneapolis Club.

The Neo-Classical United Way Building, located at 404 8th Street South, completed in 1927 (below).

Built in 1908, the Minneapolis Club (below) exemplifies the Neo-Gothic architectural style.

The Foshay Tower and a variety of historic architecture

Continuing towards Marquette Avenue, you’ll see the Foshay Tower, once the tallest building downtown. The Foshay has the only public observation deck in Minneapolis, so be sure to go up if you have the chance.

The lavish Art Deco building, constructed between 1927 and 1929, has a unique obelisk-shaped design (it’s the most prominent obelisk-shaped skyscraper in the world). The Foshay was the tallest Minneapolis building until 1971, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Architecture buffs also should check out the Medical Arts building (1924, below left) at 74 South 9th Street. The Medical Arts is the tallest Neo-Gothic building in Minneapolis and has a lobby painted entirely in faux marble.

Directly across from it you’ll find a 1926 Renaissance Revival building, originally the Young Quinlan department store (opened by the first female clothing buyer in the United States).

I worked in the building as a young woman and once saw Prince and his considerable entourage come through to visit an upscale decorating business on the 5th floor. The Young Quinlan is adjacent to the former Schmitt Music.

The Music Wall

The iconic music wall is a well-known mural and a downtown Minneapolis landmark since 1972. The music wall is just off Marquette and 10th street on the former headquarters of Schmitt Music.

The first professional photos of Prince were taken against this backdrop, and pianist Van Cliburn had a photo session here as well. The score for solo piano by French composer Maurice Ravel is a famously difficult piece of music to perform.

To take this walk as we did, take 8th street from the hotel to Marquette, passing the impressionist mural, the United Way, and the Minneapolis Club. Turn left on Marquette (Foshay), right on 9th street (Medical Arts and Young Quinlan), and left on Nicollet (music wall).

We walked back to the hotel on 9th street, which is where I saw this striking stone apartment building, the Oakland. The pair of ornate, circular leaded glass windows surrounded by elaborate stonework caught my eye.

A beautiful Gothic Revival church, Gethsemane Episcopal (1884), comes next on the corner of 9th and 4th Avenue. The facade is on 4th, so take a short detour to have a look. The adjoining parish house is lovely, too.

Lush lobby

The Elliot Park Hotel’s lobby is actually a very nice place to hang out. Seating areas, both on the main floor and the mezzanine, offer cozy spots for a small group or a party of two. Head toward the back of the lobby to bask in the glow of a cozy fireplace.

Ending our romance weekend with room service breakfast

I didn’t want to end our stay without ordering room service. We ordered the continental breakfast our last morning, and it was so much fun. Delivered with the customary warm service, everything was delicious.

In addition to croissants, scones and cinnamon rolls, the pastry chef (famous for cherry jam) also makes a signature granola! Served with yogurt, local honey and a bowl of berries, it was the perfect way to start the day.

In conclusion: It’s all in the details

A dedication to thoughtful and attentive service sets the Elliot Park Hotel apart. The EP proves you can combine stylish modern décor with unparalleled warmth and comfort.

After our adventure here, I’d love to visit other Autograph Collection hotels. Their originality makes for a unique and memorable experience.

Oh nooooo. Time to say goodbye

You may have guessed we didn’t really want to leave. *Sobbing inconsolably* Goodbye, Elliot Park Hotel, thanks for the memories!

More information about the hotel

For more information, please see the Elliot Park Hotel website and the Tavola Italian Kitchen and Bar website.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay at the Elliot Park Hotel. All opinions and recommendations are my own.

more lovely and Romantic places to stay:

• Check out this lovely Wisconsin Rapids Bed and Breakfast
• See the amazing interiors of the Colcord Hotel in Oklahoma City
• Enjoy a view of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin

More Things to Do in Minneapolis:

• Things to do at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis
• The Best Restaurants Near Lake Nokomis
• Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
• Eat your way around the Minnesota State Fair

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