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The Tudor Arms Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio’s University Circle is a majestic beauty. Opened in 1933 as the Cleveland Club, a private men’s club of industrialists and businessmen, the building is now a DoubleTree by Hilton.
A Bit of History
Between its first life as an exclusive club and its DoubleTree status, The Tudor Arms has had several lives. They include: a hotel and shops combo, a 1950s nightclub, a dorm for Case Western Reserve students, and a Job Corps center.
These days, The Tudor Arms is a shining example of how historic status can lead to transformation and new life. Today, what had become a run-down building of neglect reflects the grandness of the past and urban modern.
Design Elements
Architect Frank Meade designed this Gothic-Revival 12-story building to include tall ceilings, large leaded glass windows, crystal chandeliers and Art deco details. Those features remain. The entrance has the original ceiling and decorative elements. The lobby that doubles as a business center has a modern gas fireplace paired with the original rich wood paneling. Modern furniture of neutral fabric is jazzed up with pillows that change with the seasons. When we stayed, St. Patrick’s Day was reflected in a cheerful shamrock design.
Throughout the hotel, artwork showcases Cleveland. Paintings and photographs highlight Cleveland landmarks and cityscapes. Although the vintage pool is gone, there is a 24-hour fitness center. The Crystal Ballroom with its original crystal chandeliers is a classic beauty. Lawrence Welk played here during the hotel’s jazz and supper club days. Now, it partly serves as a wedding venue. The hotel’s original Tudor Ballroom is also impressive.
Hotel Staff
When we arrived for our one-night stay, we were greeted by the helpful staff who checked us in and gave us our parking pass. The in and out privileges parking lot is next to the hotel. We opted to pay the $20 parking fee due to the easy convenience.
This is when we found out the elevator worked, but the staff had to work it. The “brain” of the elevator was broken. Due to the building’s age, “the brain” is being built. After we snagged our warm DoubleTree chocolate chip cookies and our luggage, we headed up to our 7th floor with one of the staff members. Once on a floor, guests call the main desk for staff to bring or send the elevator up. As clunky as this sounds, it’s a smooth operation.
Hotel Room Details
Our king bed guest room, one of the options of this 157 guest room DoubleTree was spacious and sleek. I loved it. However, my husband thought it needed an extra chair. Another chair, specifically an armchair would be a great addition. The space between the bed and the dresser/desk combination on the opposite wall was unusually expansive, and the only chair was one for the desk. Watching TV was a sitting on the bed for one person and sitting on the chair for another.
Other than that, the room was bright, cheerful and relaxing. Amenities included: a large flatscreen TV, a small refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, iron, ironing board, safe and a hair dryer.
Like the room, the bathroom was stylish. Gold marbled tile walls, the vessel sink, the simple wood framed mirror, and walk in shower with its glass wall was sleek. My husband’s complaint was the glass shower wall had an open end, so the floor became wet. I wasn’t bothered. Still, be aware.
Room Service Breakfast
Because we were meeting friends for brunch, I ordered the continental breakfast to be sent to our room. I never order room service, but the $8 price was reasonable. I did add a tip, and with the delivery fee, the price was closer to $12. Still worth it. At 8:30 am, our food was delivered with a smile. The sesame seed bagel was warm, the fresh fruit was fresh, the yogurt was creamy, and the coffee was hot. Breakfast included oatmeal and hot water. Cream cheese and butter were bagel additions. The cranberry juice made this a very robust meal that I would order again. There are hot options for breakfast as well.
If dining in a restaurant is your go-to in the morning, there is a buffet breakfast of eggs, breakfast meat, potatoes, yogurt, various breads, fresh fruit and pastries. The hotel’s Tudor Bar & Grille serves order off the menu American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also has a bar that closes at 10 pm.
Of course, the lobby has a coffee and tea bar 24/7. This DoubleTree has hot chocolate with various toppings. It was a Christmas holiday treat that has held on.
Location
I’ve stayed in several hotels around Cleveland, and the location of The Tudor Arms is good for several reasons. It was a quick drive downtown to the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game, our reason for going to Cleveland. It was also close to Little Italy where we met friends for Sunday brunch at Presti’s Bakery. Great pastries and breakfast sandwiches draw people from out of town so come before 10:30 am on a Sunday.
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Symphony, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Cleveland Botanical Garden are within walking distance. For those using public transportation, University Station Circle and East 105th -Quincy Station are just minutes walks away. If you don’t want to walk, The Tudor Arms Hotels has a shuttle that will take you within a two-mile radius.
We booked our room through the Hilton website at the AAA rate for $197.00, including tax. Other rooms include two queen bed to a two queen bed, two room suite. Check Hotels.com or other online booking sites for room deals.
Post and photos by Jamie Rhein
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