This Marriott-operated hotel is housed in a classic 12-story Georgian-style brick building. The ground floor's wall is composed of large windows shaded by awnings. Complimentary airport transfers make the 4-mile trip hassle-free. Built in 1919, the hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The entrance is off a quiet side street. Registration is located at the far end of the boldly colored, royal parlor-designed lobby. With its majestic chandelier, Victorian carpet, elegantly drawn drapes, circular sofa and candy-cane-striped wallpaper, the lobby's brightness matches that of the staff's attitude.
The basic sit-down-style Iowa Room serves Midwest fare among historic artifacts and
art. Monihan's Speakeasy, located in the lobby, is a low-key martini bar that features live jazz every week. On the Go @ 401 serves fresh pastries and Starbucks coffee throughout the day.
A large rectangular pool is surrounded by a spacious deck and two triangular whirlpools. The decor of the area is whimsical, with optical-illusion-causing mirrors and ceilings patterned after old-fashioned hard candy. There are also two midsized fitness rooms, a hair salon with a eucalyptus inhalation room, tanning beds, and wet and dry saunas. The small gift shop's emphasis is on Iowa arts and crafts.
The hotel has plenty of meeting space and is connected to the Des Moines business district via the citywide 
skywalk system. The boardroom seats several dozen around a dark-wood table with leather executive chairs. The main meeting room seats up to 550 people and can be broken down into 11 separate rooms. Ample audiovisual equipment and other presentation tools are available. Wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel, and valet parking is in a ramp across the street.
Rooms and common areas show antique styling. The guest rooms are large but rather bare, lacking wall art or other decorations, but they have ample natural lighting from the two large windows in each. They have king beds with custom floral duvets, clouds of pillows and soft linens. All rooms are furnished with small desks, TVs, phones, daily newspapers, coffeemakers, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, and alarm clocks. The baths offer shower/tub combinations 
and are spacious and stocked with basic amenities. The hotel is surrounded by high-rise office buildings and therefore lacks meaningful views.
The hotel is entirely smoke-free, and several wheelchair-accessible rooms are provided. Room service is available for lunch and dinner. Pets are not allowed. Rooms have magnetic locks, and a security guard is on the premises at all times.
This is a classic hotel providing luxurious facilities, but also basic rooms. The location is perfect and the service exceptional. Another classic downtown option is the Hotel Fort Des Moines.
