ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: I’ve visited close family friends in New Haven, Connecticut, many times, but I usually stayed with them and rarely explored the city’s hotel scene. This trip was different: I traveled with my mom and my one-year-old daughter, so we decided to try a local hotel. Hotel Marcel stood out immediately—not just for its striking architecture, but for its thoughtful design and family-friendly touches. We arrived in the evening around 7 p.m. after some traffic.
On-site parking was straightforward (don’t be confused by the adjacent IKEA; the lot belongs to the hotel). Check-in was quick, and we were soon on our way to the room. Since our daughter was born, we’ve stayed in many hotels and always requested a Pack ’n Play or crib. Hotel Marcel was the first property to actually have the Pack ’n Play already set up in the room when we arrived, which made settling in much easier.
© Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
GUEST QUARTERS: The 165-room hotel is notable for many reasons: its distinctive structure (including a two-story void that frames a city view from the highway) and a strong emphasis on sustainability. Our deluxe two-queen room suited our multigenerational, two-night stay perfectly. A small foyer with a full-length mirror provided an open entryway, convenient for a stroller. The room’s generous proportions gave us plenty of space to spread out and move around comfortably.
To the left of the entrance was a bathroom with a single sink, a separate water closet and a stall shower. The décor favored a clean, muted palette that felt modern and calming. A dresser blended into a desk along the right wall, with a TV mounted above. A small sofa, a round end table and an ottoman created a cozy seating area in the corner. Three windows looked out over the water, and the two queen beds were set against leather headboards with integrated lighting, each flanked by nightstands.
SERVICES/AMENITIES: The hotel’s location worked well for our plans. It was about a 10-minute drive to our friends’ house, conveniently close to downtown New Haven without being in the middle of heavy traffic. That made it easy to pick up some famous New Haven pizza to take home, and quick access to the highway simplified day trips.
© Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
The hotel offers more than 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space. During our stay, a Yale event was held in a room opposite the elevator bank. The gathering spilled into the elevator lobby, which briefly complicated entering and exiting the elevators—with or without a stroller—so keep that in mind if you have tight timing during events.
We enjoyed brunch at BLDG on the first morning; the sweet potato biscuits with cinnamon-honey butter were a highlight and worth trying.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
- Iconic architecture: The building was originally conceived by Marcel Breuer for the Armstrong Rubber Co. It’s a striking example of Brutalist and Bauhaus design that remains instantly recognizable.
- Artful atmosphere: A curated art collection is displayed throughout the hotel, focusing on contemporary, local and emerging artists, with notable representation of women artists.
- Leading sustainability: Hotel Marcel is among the most eco-conscious hotels in the United States. It is fully electric and fossil-fuel free, holds LEED Platinum certification, and is on track to become the nation’s first Passive House-certified hotel and first Net Zero hotel by the end of 2025.
HOTEL MARCEL NEW HAVEN, TAPESTRY COLLECTION BY HILTON
500 Sargent Drive
New Haven, CT 06511
tel 203 780 7800