Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore Inner Harbor

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore is the hotel for travelers who want history and personality in equal measure, and our mid-range pick downtown. It fills the former headquarters of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, America’s first common-carrier railroad, a grand Beaux-Arts building from 1906 on Charles Street. The building was restored with more than 65 million dollars of preservation work and reopened as a hotel in 2009, and the National Park Service has counted it among the enduring landmarks of the downtown business district. The lobby is the showpiece, with soaring ceilings, a marble staircase and original Tiffany stained-glass windows, and upstairs the 202 rooms mix high ceilings and tall windows with bold, colorful Kimpton design. In true Kimpton style, guests get a complimentary daily social hour and a warm welcome for pets of any size with no extra charge. The on-site brasserie serves American food all day. It is a short walk to the Inner Harbor, the aquarium and Camden Yards, and Mount Vernon is a stroll north up Charles Street. For couples, design lovers and anyone travelling with a dog, it is a fun and characterful base.

Location and getting around: the hotel is at 2 North Charles Street, at the corner of Baltimore Street in the downtown business district. The Inner Harbor and the National Aquarium are a few blocks south, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and the Babe Ruth Museum are about 15 minutes on foot to the west, and Mount Vernon, with its Washington Monument and walking tour, is a 15 to 20-minute walk north up Charles Street.

Rooms: rooms have high ceilings and large windows thanks to the old office building, with bright, playful decor and comfortable beds. Room sizes vary, as in many historic conversions, so check the layout when you book.

Who it suits: couples, design and history lovers, business travelers and anyone with a pet. It suits families less well than the Inner Harbor hotels, because there is no pool.

Good to know: check-in is at 16:00 and check-out at 11:00. There is no pool. Valet parking is charged per night with in-and-out privileges. Breakfast is not included as standard and is served in the on-site restaurant. The complimentary social hour is a good chance to meet other guests before dinner.