Step back in time at the charming Mariemont Inn of Mariemont, Ohio. Though this quaint historic inn is only about fifteen minutes from Downtown Cincinnati, geographically speaking, it’s delightful, old country elegance is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the inner city. The village of Mariemont is a planned community, named for its founder Mary Emery, who funded the project near the end of her life after being left the fortune her husband earned in candle-making and real estate. Visitors of the Mariemont Inn will not lack for adorable shops, sharing the same English Tudor-style architecture, and splendid restaurants within walking distance on the tree-lined streets surrounding the inn.
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My husband and I stayed at the Best Western Mariemont Inn for our 21st anniversary after touring the nearby Chateau Laroche (Loveland Castle). The castle is Cincinnati’s best kept secret and a steal at only $5 per person. Definitely check out our post on that as well. The historic Best Western Mariemont Inn was a fitting choice of accommodations to accompany our castle adventures. Potential visitors should not be fooled by the association of the inn with a major hotel chain, as the Mariemont is anything but standard. Painstaking efforts have been made throughout the years to retain the integrity of the original design of the inn while still updating to modern conveniences since the inn’s construction in the 1920’s.
Our room with a king bed and fold out couch was extremely spacious. There was a small coat closet and a desk area as well in a separate area. We also had a balcony which I believe was the only balcony in the entire hotel, so I’m not sure how we managed that. I can’t even find this particular room if I try to search for reservations, so maybe we just won the guest room lottery that day.
The room was equipped with a discrete refrigerator built into the wall. Unfortunately, our leftovers from Mio’s Pizzeria (which may 
arguably serve the best calzone in the whole world) didn’t fit very well in the tiny fridge. We did put some drinks in the fridge, but it did not cool those well. The refrigerator was very cute but not very practical. It was fine though because we had a cooler, and there was an ice machine near our room.
One of the most outstanding features of the room was the hidden television screen. In order to maintain the sophistication of the decor, this modern convenience was covered by a framed picture which rolled away at the touch of a button. As you can see in the photo, the room also included a fireplace which we did not use because it was July.
This suite had one of the largest hotel bathrooms I’ve seen. There was a small bathtub which seemed to be left from bygone days, but the shower was amazing with a separate shower head built into the ceiling. There were small toiletries that I’m sure were a fancier brand than I’m used to seeing in hotels. I didn’t try them. I brought them home to the girls who get very excited about tiny shampoo bottles and shower caps. The small coffee maker was also housed in the bathroom vanity. Coffee makers in the bathroom always bother me. That isn’t a unique issue I have with just this hotel. They all put the coffee maker in the bathroom, and I cringe a little when I see that. We admittedly do not keep the cleanest house, but even I would never dream of putting a coffee maker in a bathroom at home, so I’m not sure why hotels find this acceptable. Of course, that didn’t keep me from trying the coffee which was Wolfgang Puck brand. The decaffeinated was disappointingly bland. Apparently, all the flavor is in the caffeine because the caffeinated was excellent.
The careful attention to detail throughout the common areas of the hotel is spectacular. From the signage to the display cases, to the doors and the seating areas, every feature adds to the unique theming of the inn. The multiple mounted dead animal heads that met us in the foyer made us feel right at home.
The inn houses a nice business center (The Exchange), a workout area (The Gymnasium), and an onsite high-end restaurant (The National Exemplar). We did not try the restaurant. The prices were more than we prefer to pay for food that didn’t sound very appealing to us. We walked across the street to Mio’s Pizzeria instead, and we are ever so glad we did. You can read my full review of Mio’s Pizzeria.
Several shops, most exhibiting the same Tudor style, are within walking distance of the Best Western Mariemont Inn. The nearby toy store is a must-see. We tried Graeter’s Ice Cream but were not impressed. We honestly agreed United Dairy Farmers (UDF) appeals to us more if we had to choose a favorite ice cream venue in the Greater Cincinnati area.
The Best Western Mariemont Inn on the outskirts of Cincinnati is a great choice for an enjoyable, romantic stay. This hotel probably appeals more to couples than to children. Our children would have been satisfied with an overnight stay because there’s so much to explore inside the building and on the surrounding streets. Any stay longer than a day probably would have left them wishing for a swimming pool. The Mariemont Inn does not have an indoor or outdoor pool. We usually book somewhere with a pool when the kids are with us. We also normally book accommodations that include a free breakfast when we bring the kids. I say that as if we often go away without the kids, but in actuality, we’ve left them for a total of four nights in the almost nineteen years since the birth of the oldest. Only in the last two years has it been feasible to leave them overnight, since they are finally old enough to stay alone. The Mariemont Inn is not a place I would bring my children for an entire vacation. For one, the hallways are very, very quiet. If I walk into a hotel and hear absolutely no noise, I know that’s somewhere not suitable for my particular children. I’m sure calm, quiet children would have a lovely time, so I wouldn’t want to discourage others from bringing children here at all, but like I mentioned before, the Mariemont Inn is a fantastic place for a cozy couple’s weekend.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve stayed in any unique and charming hotels.
Best Western – Cincinnati, OH
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