Hotel Review – The Omni Charlotte Hotel
Omni Charlotte Hotel Review
We dropped our bags as we entered our executive suite at the Omni Charlotte Hotel and immediately ran to one of the windows that flanked the walls of our hotel room. I say “windows” because the room was so massive that my wife and I had a choice of which one we thought provided the best view of Uptown Charlotte. I opted for the point, looking down on the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets, the hub of Charlotte.
My wife then flopped on the king size bed and let out a loud, “Ahhh!!!”
This was our home for the weekend as we enjoyed a rare look at our hometown as tourists.
Uptown, Baby!
After a brief admiration of our room, acting like children as we sat in each chair and sofa in our sitting area, trying to find the best angle from which to view the Charlotte skyline, we decided to start exploring Uptown. So much had changed since we lived in Uptown nine years ago that it was almost like learning the city all over again. The Omni’s central location made our learning easy.
While many luxury hotels in Charlotte brag that they’re located in Uptown, few of them are. For proof, review a map of the hotel. If it isn’t within a few blocks of the intersection of Trade and Tryon, then it’s located on the fringes of Uptown. The Omni, however, is located right at the crossroads that defined Charlotte when the city was founded in 1768.
We began our exploration by heading south on Tryon towards Charlotte’s arts district, located only three blocks away. Our walk led us past several historical markers that illustrated the history of our adopted hometown.
The hotel’s central location also aided with our evening plans. We had reservations at Roosters Uptown before Motown at the Belk Theater. Both Roosters and the Belk can be reached through the city’s skywalk that connects buildings via indoor bridges throughout Uptown. However, as long as the weather is nice (which it normally is in Charlotte), there is no need for the skywalk as the city is safe for nighttime strolls.
Nearly everything else guests might want to explore is within easy reach of the Omni. The Epicenter, Charlotte’s downtown entertainment center, is across the street. Time Warner Arena, BB&T Ballpark, and a plethora of restaurants and bars are within a few block radius.
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A Taste of the South
Regulars of my blog know that I have a disdain for hotel restaurants. As a former traveling salesman, I’ve been forced into many late night dinners after checking into hotels in the dogged hours of the night. Most hotel restaurants take advantage of the fact that they have a captive audience and serve food that is a corporate imitation of fine dining. Don’t even get my started on the overpriced breakfast buffets suffering (yes, I said suffering) rubbery eggs.
The Omni Charlotte Hotel was a refreshing exception to the rule. In all my journeys, I haven’t encountered a better hotel breakfast buffet than their Art of Breakfast. To quote the Trade Restaurant & Bar’s menu:
“Omni Hotels believes that breakfast should be a stimulating and healthy start to your day. So we are committed to providing a culinary experience that tempts your palate and challenges the traditional breakfast fare. Combining national trends with regional flavors we have sourced cage free eggs, organic fiber rich cereals, steel cut oats, gluten free breakfast breads and our signature blueberry maple sausage patty that does not contain hormones or other additives.”
The hotel takes pride in what they serve customers, and the local Southern flavors like steel cut grits and biscuits and gravy, were a delight.
While we didn’t have a chance to dine at the restaurant, we did enjoy an afternoon snack care of room service. Our Southern Sampler featured an assortment of local snacks, each of which was prepared to perfection. We were treated to candied bacon, crisp prosciutto, chicken cracklings, pimiento cheese, house pickles, and candied pecans. I washed mine down with an Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Captain Jack Pilsner, one of the many local beers the hotel features.
Notice I Haven’t Said Much About the Hotel Itself?
That wasn’t on purpose. I’m not trying to hide anything. The ideal location of the Omni Charlotte Hotel tends to overshadow all the other perks of staying at a luxury hotel. There’s little reason to spend time at the hotel.
The hotel does have so much to offer though in terms of amenities and luxuries, which makes it a great place to wind down after a day of exploring or a pleasant retreat after a long day of work (Charlotte is the nation’s second largest financial town hosting many business guests). While the rooms themselves looked a little tired, the bedsheets were soft, the beds were comfortable, and the towels were fluffy. The hotel provided a peaceful nights rest with a shower strong enough to wash off the day’s activities.
The Omni Charlotte Hotel is one of the few hotels in Uptown to boast a pool. Hotel management makes the most of this advantage with a fun poolside bar and entertainment on the weekends. The pool also has a stellar view of the Uptown skyline. The Omni Charlotte Hotel pool was the perfect ending to our staycation. It was a great way to kick-back after a weekend of activity.
Hotel Highlights
- Located at the intersection of Trade and Tryon, the Omni Charlotte Hotel is without a doubt the most centrally located luxury hotel in Charlotte. Everything you wish to access in Uptown Charlotte is within walking distance. This is the best feature of the hotel for our Omni Charlotte Hotel Review.
- The Omni Charlotte’s Trade Restaurant & Bar is cranking out high caliber food for a hotel. The chef uses local ingredients to inspire dishes with an ode to the South.
- Even though the hotel is located in the center of a major city, it still has a pool. Guests enjoy a view of downtown while sipping boat drinks poolside in comfortable lounge chairs.
Special Considerations
- The hotel is located in the downtown of a major metropolitan city. Thus, some noise does come with a stay here. However, it’s nothing worse than you would hear in any other big city. If it’s too bothersome, the front desk will send up earplugs. We slept like babies without them.
- While the rooms offer all the amenities one would expect in a luxury hotel, they could use a face-lift.
Disclosure – Muchas gracias to the Omni Charlotte for hosting us. Regardless of the Omni’s generosity, readers receive my honest feedback as my opinions are not for sale.
Looks like Dick and I will have to try out this hotel. Excellent write up