The Residence Inn by Marriott Cincinnati Downtown/The Phelps is an all-suite hotel on East 4th Street in the eastern part of downtown, in the entertainment district beside Lytle Park. Every suite has a fully equipped kitchen, with a full-size refrigerator and freezer, a microwave, a stovetop, a dishwasher and cookware, which makes it the practical pick for longer stays, families and anyone who wants to keep some meals simple. Breakfast is part of the Residence Inn model, though the hotel describes it differently in two places, so confirm what is served when you book. The position is strong for visitors who want to walk: Lytle Park is a minute away, the Taft Theatre about three minutes, Heritage Bank Center five, and Great American Ball Park and Sawyer Point about six minutes on foot. Valet parking is the only parking, and pets are accepted for a fee.
Location and getting around
The hotel is in the same corner of downtown as the Lytle Park Hotel and the Taft Museum of Art, which makes it a quiet-feeling base while still being close to the riverfront. The nearest streetcar stop is a six-minute walk, linking you to The Banks, Fountain Square and Over-the-Rhine. The Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is a short drive, about nine minutes by the hotel's own information, and the airport is about 20 minutes by car.
Rooms and who it suits
The suites suit families, groups travelling together, baseball fans and travellers on stays of several nights, when a kitchen saves money and a separate living area gives everyone space. Couples after a more atmospheric property will prefer the boutique options elsewhere in this guide, but for practical value in the downtown core this is hard to beat.
Good to know
Valet parking is 48 dollars a day with height restrictions, so oversized vehicles should check first. Pets are allowed at 100 dollars per stay, with a limit of two pets of up to 75 pounds each, and service animals are exempt from the fee. Check-in starts at 4pm with a minimum age of 21, and check-out is at 11am. Check breakfast arrangements and any pool availability before you book, since no pool is mentioned.
Planning tip
With a kitchen in the suite, a stop at Findlay Market for breakfast supplies makes sense, and the streetcar takes you there. The neighborhood around the hotel is quieter at night than Over-the-Rhine, which suits families with young children, while baseball fans can walk to the ballpark on game days and avoid stadium parking altogether.
Ask for a higher floor if street noise matters to you, and compare rates against Reds home dates, which push prices up. The nearby Taft Museum of Art, with free admission on Sundays and Mondays, is an easy add-on to a stay here.
Why stay here
- ✓All-suite rooms
- ✓Full kitchen in every suite
- ✓Full-size refrigerator and dishwasher
- ✓Breakfast offered
- ✓Walk to Great American Ball Park
- ✓Walk to Lytle Park and Sawyer Point
- ✓Valet parking
- ✓Pet friendly with fee
Good questions
Do the suites have kitchens?+
Yes, every suite has a full kitchen with a full-size refrigerator and freezer, microwave, stovetop, dishwasher and cookware.
Is the hotel close to Great American Ball Park?+
Yes, about a six-minute walk, and Lytle Park is about a minute away.
Does it allow pets?+
Yes, up to two pets of 75 pounds each for a fee of 100 dollars per stay.
