The Cottonwood Hotel

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A Kimpton hotel in the heart of the Blackstone district in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Cottonwood Hotel is a stunning hotel in Omaha, Nebraska’s Blackstone District. With its historic architecture, excellent restaurants and bars, beautiful design, and superior rooms, read on to discover why I adore this hotel.

The Tale

“I’m leaning toward the Old Fashioned,” I say to the bartender.

“I have to say it’s about the best I’ve ever had,” she replied.

I had to go for it.

I was at The Cottonwood Room, the bar on the lower level of The Cottonwood Hotel. After working all day at one of the casinos across the river in Council Bluffs, I was ready to relax and enjoy the beautiful ambiance of this hotel.

I had just been upstairs in the lobby sipping on a Plush Horse, a tasty vodka cocktail with cherry and ginger flavors. The name comes from a bar that used to be in this hotel a long time ago. This drink was a fun addition to the complimentary wine they served during happy hour, something Kimpton hotels are known for.

The Hotel

The desk clerk told me that The Cottonwood Hotel took five years to renovate. She mentioned it was a labor of love. Originally built as The Blackstone Hotel in 1916, in the 1970s, developers converted it into an office space. When Kimpton acquired the property to transform it back into a hotel, they had to redesign it appropriately to create hotel rooms. As it is a historic building, they made a concerted effort to preserve it as much as possible. You can see this on the lobby floor, which is original to the building.

I’ve visited this hotel twice during the holiday season, and it is truly spectacular. My favorite feature is the hallway filled with Christmas trees—the best I’ve seen in any hotel during the holidays.

The two-sided fireplace in the lobby provides a cozy spot to enjoy complimentary wine during happy hour.

The front desk is always staffed, and the valet service is quick and efficient.

The Room

I have stayed at this hotel several times, and each room I’ve experienced has had a different layout. While most rooms feature that fabulous headboard, not all do. The overall design is similar, so you’ll feel comfortable no matter your room. This time, I stayed in a corner room with a view of the pool, covered with a platform for the season and the Holiday Pop-up bar. I also had a view of the main street.

The bed was incredibly comfortable, topped with the best down comforter that kept me warm and cozy on a winter’s night.

The bathroom was bright, featuring tile designs with motifs reminiscent of the original tile in the Orleans Room, the bar off the lobby.

The Food and drinks

The Cottonwood Hotel offers plenty of food and cocktails. I often choose my hotel stays based on the amenities available, and this one has a lot to offer. If I didn’t have to leave, I could easily spend the entire day here without a problem.

Orleans Room, located off the lobby, is an excellent spot to begin your experience. Each time I’ve visited, I’ve noticed groups of people gathering to catch up, enjoying a happy hour while chatting over cocktails.

Petit Orleans is a French-inspired café; they are open for breakfast most mornings, welcoming you with a pot of coffee at your table.

The Cottonwood Room or The Committee Chophouse is perfect for dinner. I sit at the bar at The Cottonwood Room and watch the sunset on the other side. It’s incredible how they’ve managed to create a view of the river from down in the basement. They project a stunning image of a river sunset on the wall. At one time, the sun would move and provide a real sunset, but the bartender said the hotel had some issues with that system. While they work on fixing it, I sit and enjoy the beautiful image of the still sunset.

Of course, I’m sitting under a cottonwood tree. Well, it’s fake, but it’s beautiful, quirky, and fabulous all at once. I’ve never reached the main restaurant since I always stop at this bar to enjoy the sunset over the river and dinner under the tree. However, the food and the menus are identical.

What else?

I’ve stayed at several hotels in Omaha, but this one’s my favorite! I love it here! The old building has been nicely updated, and the service, comfort, and convenience are top-notch. Plus, the bar and restaurants are huge reasons why I keep coming back to this hotel, The Cottonwood Hotel.

If you like this hotel, take a look at more hotel reviews, such as: Hotel Deco, The Art Deco Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, Four Chicago Boutique Hotels, and Things to do in Omaha.

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