Highlights: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

•The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis is located in an upscale and fashionable suburb of St. Louis near the airport, corporate centers, and some of the city’s best restaurants and shops

•Attentive and gracious service evident from check-in to departure, ensuring a smooth and pleasant stay

•From the warm inviting Lobby Lounge to the quiet and beautifully adorned guest rooms, every aspect of comfort is anticipated

•Pleasurable dining with quality food, excellent presentation, friendly staff, and efficient service

•Full-service business center is well equipped, and staff is both knowledgeable and eager to assist with guests’ needs

Amenities: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

• 301 rooms, 18 story. Pets accepted; fee. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Two restaurants, bar. Fitness room. Indoor pool, whirlpool. Airport transportation available. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

Centrally located in the suburb of Clayton, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis is within walking distance to many of the city’s best shops, restaurants, and art galleries. In addition, many of this city’s great heritage and cultural sites, such as the Gateway Arch, are within a short drive of the property.

Business travelers will find easy access to the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis, located just 10 miles from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The hotel is ideally suited for the business crowd; it has a definite adult vibe and well-equipped business center. Family travelers will be disappointed to discover that this location doesn’t offer scheduled activities for children, but they can take advantage of nearby activities and attractions.

Situated in one of the most chic suburbs of the city, the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis has the look and feel of a graceful, genteel mansion rather than an upscale hotel. From the large circular fountain at its entrance to the liberal use of marble, crystal, flowers, and embroidered chairs in the public areas and Lobby Lounge, all of the design elements combine to give the property an elegant and colonial feel. Each of the rooms is posh with well-coordinated textures and linens, spacious bathrooms, and private balconies with great views of the St. Louis skyline.

The 301 rooms are divided between the 530-square-foot deluxe accommodations and the larger and pricier 1,060-square-foot suites. The latter comes with a choice of either one king or two queen beds and a few extra amenities. There is a Club Level on the 17th and 18th floors that offers complimentary food and beverages throughout the day as well as a dedicated concierge.

The Lobby Lounge is a popular spot for sushi, martinis, and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. But for leisure and romantic travelers who want to get out and about and explore the city, the hotel’s central location is a good place from which to explore the greater St. Louis area.

(+) Excellent central location makes this hotel ideal for all types of travelers
(-) No scheduled children’s programs offered, but hotel is near many attractio

Guest Services: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

Travelers expecting the best service will not be disappointed at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. As I exited the car when I arrived, the doorman immediately approached me with a welcoming greeting, addressing me by name. I casually mentioned that I’d had a long trip and, showing genuine concern for my comfort, he recommended that I take a relaxing steam bath in the fitness center. The front desk agent was attentive enough to recognize that I had a long trip and swiftly processed my check-in so I could go to my room to relax.

Throughout my visit, the entire staff, including housekeeping, greeted me with a smile and frequently responded to my questions with, “My pleasure.” Overall, the service was excellent, with the only small imperfection being that the reservation agent didn’t quite provide enough descriptions of the property and nearby attractions.

(+) Top-quality, refined service on all levels
(-) Reservation agent could have “sold” me more on the property and things to do

Guest Rooms: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

Each of the 301 rooms and suites come with standard upscale amenities, such as marble bathrooms, two-line telephones, private balconies, plush terry cloth bathrobes, and twice-daily maid service.

My room was luxurious and stylishly decorated with classic Ritz-Carlton features, such as crystal and porcelain lamps, a five-drawer armoire, a comfortable seating area, and a desk for working. The furniture tastefully matched the décor and was in excellent condition. While many hotels have thin walls, this one was soundproof, which was conducive to getting a good night’s sleep, as were the Italian Frette linens, four king-size pillows, and feather bed atop the mattress.

The well-lit bathroom was generously sized, allowing for two people to get ready at the same time. I never worry about forgetting toiletries when I stay at a Ritz-Carlton because the group’s hotels always have a nice selection of amenities in every bathroom. At the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, Parisian Trevie soaps, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and mouthwash were thoughtfully placed on a silver tray. While I noticed a small amount of wear on the bottom of the tub, the showerhead water pressure more than made up for this slight blemish.

(+) Comfortable guest rooms with beautiful décor, bathrooms that exceed expectations

Facilities & Activities: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

Keeping in shape on the road is a concern for many travelers, and the well-equipped fitness center at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis makes this a little easier. The cardio room is well equipped with treadmills, exercise bikes, and elliptical machine, and a full Nautilus room and free weights. The attendant was polite and seemed to have his attention focused entirely on the guests. While I was on the treadmill, he noticed that I had dropped my towel and gave it back to me along with some water, asking me if I needed anything else and if the TV station was to my liking. Upon my departure, the attendant wished me a good day.

Beyond the hotel, the Clayton district is one of the St. Louis area’s top venues for shopping and dining, with many attractions located nearby and easily reached by car, taxi, or short walk. The Gateway Arch, honoring Thomas Jefferson, offers commanding views of the city and is one of the most popular tourist spots. You can enjoy a hot dog and watch the St. Louis Cardinals at the new Busch Stadium in the downtown area, or take a relaxing stroll among plants, flowers, and trees at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, one of the world’s largest. Whether you have music, art, dining, theater, or recreation in mind, you’ll easily find it during your stay at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.

(+) Well equipped fitness facility with helpful staff, wide range of attractions within close proximity to the hotel

Dining & Lounge: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis offers five dining options within its walls. Mobil Three-Star-rated The Grill combines a contemporary ambiance with classic American and seafood dishes. You’ll also find an extensive wine list here. The Restaurant is the main dining area for breakfast and lunch, serving continental cuisine, while The Lobby Lounge is a gathering spot for late-night fare, sushi, and an impressive martini selection. There is also The Cigar Club for quaint conversation and spirits, and the Wine Room for specialty dining.

While I was not offered a choice of tables when I arrived in The Restaurant for brunch, I was offered coffee or juice as soon as I was seated. My server was very nice and was focused on my needs. My breakfast table setting included lovely Rosenthal china and Hess silverware. The coffee was served in silver coffee pots and the tea in a white china teapot. My breakfast arrived promptly and looked appetizing. Although the chef forgot to include mushrooms for my omelet, the rest of the meal was beautifully served with a red tomato slice, colorful fruit cup, and sliced grapefruit and strawberries.

Ordering room service was effortless, and my food arrived on time accompanied by a polite and smiling attendant. My tray included the same quality of dishes that I had found in the restaurant, along with tableware that kept hot things hot and cold things (sorbet) cold until ready to be eaten. Upon his departure, the room service attendant thoughtfully gave me a phone number for pick up and asked if I needed anything else or would like an after-dinner drink.

(+) Good selection of restaurants, elegant and lovely settings and plating of food

Business Services: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis

Business travelers staying at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis will be pleased to find a well-equipped business center with secretarial services, personal computers, and workstations if they need help with a project or business gathering. And, a Technology Butler can be called to help with any computer or technical problems.

During my stay, the staff in the business center was helpful and able to answer questions and handled most requests. What was most impressive to me was that staff stood up from behind the desk and approached me as I entered the center, making me feel that they were genuinely concerned about my needs. Each time I came into the business center, I was greeted, once again reflecting this hotel’s top-tier status.

(+) Well-equipped business center and amiable service by well-trained staff