Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City is a Michelin Key Selected property known for its distinctive blend of historic charm and contemporary boutique luxury, offering a delightful and comfortable stay in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City is overwhelmingly positive, with an average rating of 8.2 on Agoda and 8.7 on Trivago. Guests frequently describe their experience as excellent, emphasizing comfort, exceptional service, and a prime location. The hotel is recognized for providing a luxurious yet affordable experience, proving that Salt Lake City offers a cosmopolitan appeal for well-traveled guests.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise the hotel for its outstanding service, central location, and unique design. Key highlights include:

• Service: Exceptional, dedicated, and friendly staff who are often described as gracious and professional.
• Location: A highly convenient and walkable downtown location, providing easy access to major attractions and public transportation.
• Design: A contemporary boutique aesthetic housed within a historic 1924 building with Victorian bones, featuring bold decor, jewel tones, and large mirrors. The hotel underwent a property-wide renovation, including public spaces, rooms, and dining areas, completed in late summer 2023.
• Amenities: Notable "Kimpton extras" such as a pet-friendly policy with no additional fees, a complimentary evening wine hour, a 24-hour fitness center (including Peloton bikes) with access to a larger nearby facility, and on-site dining at Bambara and The Vault cocktail bar. Free bicycle rentals are also available.

3. Room Quality

The 225 beautifully appointed rooms and suites are designed for comfort and sophistication.

• Comfort: Guests frequently highlight the comfortable and oversized beds with plush bedding, luxurious linens, and hypo-allergenic pillowtop mattresses. Rooms are generally clean and offer a serene retreat.
• Design: Rooms feature bold and whimsical decor, with a residential and urbane feel. Expect jewel tones, geometric patterns, and large mirrors.
• Amenities: Standard in-room amenities include private bathrooms, desks, in-room safes, deep soaking bathtubs, and quality bath soaps and shampoo. Accessible rooms are available, offering features like modified bathtubs with bars or roll-in showers.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers a notable culinary experience:

• Bambara Restaurant: Located in the striking former bank lobby, Bambara offers an elevated dining experience with a modern twist on traditional European fare, emphasizing local and seasonal ingredients. Dishes such as the Black Garlic Koji Aged Ribeye are mentioned. It serves brunch and dinner.
• The Vault Cocktail Bar: Considered one of the city's finest cocktail bars, offering a great atmosphere with craft cocktails, fine wines, and local brews.
• Breakfast: Often cited as a highlight by guests, featuring inspired entrees, fresh pastries, fruit, and specialty coffee. Breakfast is available daily, typically with a surcharge.
• Room Service: Available for guest convenience, with food generally receiving positive remarks. Private dining options are also available in a historic private room.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City are consistently praised for their excellent, dedicated, and friendly service. They are described as professional, gracious, attentive, and knowledgeable, striving to create "ridiculously personal experiences" for guests. Guests appreciate details like the selection of citrus-flavored water, cold water, and coffee at reception. The concierge team is also noted for being very knowledgeable.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts an enviable location in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, making it highly accessible and convenient for exploring the city.

• Neighborhood: Situated in a vibrant and walkable area, close to numerous restaurants and shopping options.
• Attractions: Within steps of major landmarks and attractions including Temple Square, the Salt Palace Convention Center, Eccles Theater, and City Creek Center. Other nearby points of interest include Harmons City Creek, art galleries, antique shops, and The Gateway shopping center.
• Transportation: The hotel is a short 10-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). The TRAX light rail Green Line also provides an affordable connection from the airport to downtown, with a stop just a few blocks away. Most downtown train stops are within a free fare area, making local travel easy. Valet parking and an onsite car park are available, though charges apply.

7. Value & Pricing

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City offers a blend of luxury and affordability.

• Pricing: Rates can start from around $132, with an average price of $299 per room. Weeknight average prices were recently around $265, and weekend nights around $253.
• Value: Many guests consider it to be a good value for the quality of service and amenities provided. The hotel often provides packages that can include breakfast and parking, adding to the overall value.
• Seasonal Fluctuations: Prices can vary significantly by season, with November typically being the cheapest month to stay and May being the most expensive.

8. Common Complaints

While generally highly rated, some guests have noted a few recurring issues:

• Parking Costs: Dissatisfaction with the cost of parking, particularly valet parking, is a common complaint.
• Limited Amenities/Gym: Some guests have mentioned limited amenities or issues with the gym facilities, describing the gym as "smaller" or equipment feeling "old and unstable." However, the hotel does offer access to a larger, nearby 24-hour fitness center.
• Noise: Guests staying on lower floors have occasionally reported noise from the street and adjacent rooms.
• Lobby Scent: A strong, synthetic scent in the lobby has been off-putting to some visitors.
• Surrounding Area: A few reviews mention the presence of homeless individuals and drug use in the immediate surrounding area.
• Room Views: One guest noted their room overlooked waste bins.
• Restaurant Temperature: The on-site restaurant, Bambara, was described as "super cold" by one reviewer.

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