Gratz Park Inn

The Gratz Park Inn is the hotel to pick if you want Lexington to feel like a place rather than a convention. It stands beside Gratz Park, a pocket of old trees, brick mansions and cast-iron fences that served as the heart of the city's early cultural life, with Transylvania University and the Carnegie Centre for Literacy close by. The inn is small, intimate and traditional in style, with a lobby that feels like a private sitting room and guest rooms furnished in a classic manner with antique-style pieces, comfortable beds and the sort of quiet that makes sleeping in easy. The location is hard to beat for a first visit. From the front door you can walk to the courthouse square, the Mary Todd Lincoln House area and the restaurants of downtown in a few minutes, and the Distillery District is a short ride away. Rooms and suites vary in size and character, so ask about the type that suits your trip, whether you want a simple room or a suite with extra space. A restaurant and bar on site, depending on the season and current arrangements, add convenience for evenings when you would rather stay in. The scale is an advantage and a limit. Service tends to be personal and attentive, and the atmosphere is calm. But there are fewer amenities than at a large convention hotel, so if you want a big fitness centre or a pool, look elsewhere on this list.

Think of the inn as a base for walking. A typical day might begin with coffee in Gratz Park, continue with a visit to Ashland or a horse farm tour, then return for a stroll to dinner downtown. In the evening the park is lovely, with soft light on the brick and the sound of the city fading. Couples, history lovers and travellers who value character will be happiest here.

Book early for race meets at Keeneland in April and October, for university graduation weekends and for football and basketball weekends, when small hotels fill first. Parking and amenities should be confirmed when you book, since a historic building may have a limited number of spaces or a daily fee. Accessibility varies, so ask if you need a ground-floor room or elevator access.

The inn is not the cheapest option in town, but it offers something chain hotels cannot, which is a sense of place. For a romantic weekend, a milestone anniversary or a quiet working trip, it is one of the best choices in the city. Families with small children may find it quiet and formal, so consider a larger hotel instead.