The Lytle Park Hotel, Autograph Collection

The Lytle Park Hotel occupies a classic 1909 building in the Lytle Park Historic District, the corner of downtown where Cincinnati's elite once lived and where the Taft Museum of Art still stands across the park. Now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection and rated AAA Four Diamond, it has been transformed into the city's most refined small luxury hotel. Rooms have spa-like bathrooms and Italian linens, and service includes 24-hour room service, turndown and a concierge. The restaurants are a reason to stay in themselves: Subito serves Northern Italian cooking with an a la carte menu and a monthly prix fixe, and hosts afternoon high tea; the Lobby Bar pours craft cocktails to live jazz piano; and Vista at Lytle Park, on the roof, is a glass-enclosed restaurant with small plates, a rooftop fireplace bar and panoramic views, plus private Alpenglobes for winter dining. A complimentary fitness center, a gallery, a marketplace and a car service within a short radius round it out.

Location and getting around: the hotel is at 311 Pike Street, at the eastern edge of downtown and about a block from the Taft Museum. The riverfront at Sawyer Point, the Taft Theatre and the Aronoff Center are all within a short walk, and Fountain Square and the business district are about ten minutes away on foot. The free streetcar loop is a short walk west, linking you with The Banks, the Freedom Center, Over-the-Rhine and Findlay Market. The hotel offers a luxury SUV service within about three miles at limited hours, which covers most of downtown and Over-the-Rhine. There is no airport shuttle, but the hotel can arrange a paid transfer from CVG.

Rooms and who it suits: this is the pick for couples on a special trip, travellers who value quiet over nightlife, and anyone celebrating, since the hotel runs proposal and romance packages. The surrounding park makes evenings peaceful compared with Over-the-Rhine or The Banks. Ask about the suites if you want more space.

Good to know: valet parking costs around fifty dollars a night, with a higher rate for oversized vehicles. Pets are welcome, up to two per room and fifty pounds each, for a one-time fee. Check-in is at 4pm and the minimum check-in age is 21. Book Vista and Subito ahead on weekends, and reserve an Alpenglobe early for a winter dinner. Expect top-of-market rates for Cincinnati.