The best hotels in uptown Charlotte, based on vibe

I recently toured and reviewed nearly every hotel in Uptown Charlotte for an assignment. At first, I thought the assignment would be *yawn* boring as I compared and contrasted fitness centers, valet parking prices and flat-screen TV sizes. However, I quickly learned how vast the hotel options are in Uptown Charlotte.

Whether you’re traveling with family, looking for a bed and breakfast, or a comfortable hotel near the convention center, there’s a hotel in Uptown Charlotte for you. Here are the best ones, based on vibe.

Best hotel for families: Hyatt House Charlotte

Coming to town with a family of four (or more) and don’t want to splurge on two Uptown hotel rooms? Then the Hyatt House Charlotte is your hotel. The recently renovated hotel sits adjacent to the Spectrum Center and offers larger-than-average accommodations and suites — many of which come with a kitchen to help save on your food budget. The Hyatt House also has a pool to keep the kiddos busy.

435 E. Trade St., Charlotte.

Best hotel for Uptown fun: Marriott Center City

Located at the crossroads of Trade and Tryon, you’d be hard pressed to find a hotel more centrally located than the Marriott Center City. Besides a location convenient to everything Uptown, the Marriott is also brand-spanking-new inside, from their state-of-the-art fitness center (I’ve never seen anything like it) to Stoke Restaurant and Bar to hotel rooms which have finally shed the outdated Marriott color-scheme.

100 W. Trade St., Charlotte.

Best hotel for a traditional bed and breakfast: Duke Mansion

Nestled into a quiet residential neighborhood just a touch outside of the I-277 loop is the stately Duke Mansion. The century-old house turned bed and breakfast is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places and maintains much of its historic charm. The hotel’s biggest draws are the sleeping porches off the second floor rooms, seasonal made-to-order breakfasts and recently renovated gardens (a great place for a cup of coffee in the morning or glass of wine in the evening).

400 Hermitage Road, Charlotte.

Best hotel for a quiet Uptown stay: Doubletree by Hilton

For travelers wanting the quiet of the Duke Mansion, but something closer to Uptown, the Doubletree by Hilton in Uptown’s Gateway neighborhood is a great choice. The Doubletree’s off-center, yet still convenient locale makes it a great place to stay for travelers wanting to be close to Uptown but without the noise. Given that there are plenty of apartments in the neighborhood, there are several worthy local restaurants and bars only a few blocks away (like Cedar Street Tavern).

895 W. Trade St., Charlotte.

Best hotel for a swanky night on the town: Ritz-Carlton Charlotte

Yeah, you probably already guessed this one … The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte. This hotel has it all, from luxurious rooms to a relaxing spa to some of the best food and drink in Uptown (BLT Steak, Punch Room and Bar Cocoa). You almost don’t need to leave, the Ritz-Carlton offers so much, but you’ll want to take full advantage of the hotel’s central Uptown location, including its proximity to the Spectrum Center and the Epicenter.

201 E. Trade St., Charlotte.

Best hotel for if you’re in town for a convention: Westin Charlotte

While The Westin Charlotte’s location may not be great for those looking for central Uptown access, it is a great option for those attending an event at the Charlotte Convention Center. The Westin has everything one looks for in a high-end, luxury hotel, like a spacious fitness center to work off all those conference calories, a pool to relax in at the end of the day, and a spa to take full-advantage of during the conference sessions you don’t want to attend.

601 S. College St., Charlotte.

Best hotel for art lovers: Le Méridien

Everything about the Le Méridien – Sheraton Charlotte’s other half – oozes art. The lobby resembles an art museum more than a stuffy hotel, the rooms feature wall murals and food from Evoke is art on a plate. In addition, Le Méridien’s keycards allow hotel guests access to not only their hotel room but also free admission to the Mint Museum Uptown.

555 S. McDowell St., Charlotte.

Photos: Mark Hames; Bryan Richards; Robert Lahser/Charlotte Observer; 

This story was originally published December 20, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "The best hotels in uptown Charlotte, based on vibe."