Arrival/Check-in: The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle for air travelers, although we arrived by car. Despite arriving early, our room was ready and a staff member quickly reviewed the room’s amenities with us. We had planned to meet a colleague at the hotel restaurant, but it closes between 2:00 and 5:30 p.m. Fortunately, our room included Executive Concierge Level access, so we were able to relocate the meeting to the fourth-floor lounge without issue.
Guest Quarters: Our spacious king room on the sixth floor featured an impressive bathroom and 14-foot windows that provided sweeping views of the Mississippi River. During our stay a thunderstorm rolled through, and lightning briefly lit up a passing tugboat — a memorable scene. Every guest room faces either the river or downtown Baton Rouge. The hotel, originally built in 1927 and once home to Louisiana political figure Huey P. Long, recently completed a $70 million renovation. Staff members offered a tour of the Huey P. Long Presidential Suite, a 650-square-foot two-room suite with separate living and dining areas, furnished with period reproduction pieces and family memorabilia. The suite recalls Long’s influence in state politics; local lore even mentions a tunnel that once connected this hotel to a neighboring property.
Services/Amenities: The on-site spa was closed during our visit, but guests can schedule treatments at a nearby spa less than two blocks away. The Executive Concierge Level is staffed by attentive professionals who assist with arrangements and hospitality. Although the complimentary breakfast was billed as Continental, it included a substantial hot offering: eggs, bacon, grits, biscuits and toast. From Thursday through Sunday, guests can sign up for classes at the Viking Cooking School Outdoors, located on the deck beside the outdoor pool. Weekly class topics vary and have included Barbecue Basics, Backyard Entertaining, Gumbo Basics and Southern Specialties inspired by the film The Help. This outdoor cooking school is the first of its kind from Viking Range Corp. and remains popular with meeting planners and leisure guests alike.
The Experience: The hotel’s downtown location places it within easy walking distance of two of Baton Rouge’s key landmarks: the State Capitol and Louisiana State University. The Shaw Center for the Arts (Shaw Performing Arts Center) and the River Center Convention Center are adjacent to the property, making the hotel a convenient choice for conference attendees and arts patrons.
GT Checklist
- Doorman/valet
- Less than 10 minutes for check-in
- Separate tub/shower
- Large vanity
- High-quality towels
- Large, flat-screen TV
- Large desk with convenient outlets
- Complimentary in-room WiFi
- Ample lighting
- High-quality bed linens
- Choice of pillows
- Powerful, unattached hair dryer
- Iron and ironing board
- Easy-to-set alarm clock
- On-site restaurant and bar
- 24-hour room service
- In-room coffeemaker
- Large, complimentary laptop safe
Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
201 Lafayette St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
tel 225 344 5866
http://www.hilton.com