Hotel Phillips Kansas City, Curio Collection by Hilton

Rooms and decor

Picture a 20-story Art Deco tower that has risen over downtown Kansas City since 1931 — once the tallest building in the city, and today Hotel Phillips, a landmark in Hilton's Curio Collection. The character starts the moment you walk into a lobby that proudly keeps its 1930s feel: deep walnut woodwork, finely embossed metalwork, geometric Art Deco lighting and the highlight everyone stops to look at, the gilded Goddess Dawn statue standing front and center that has become the hotel's signature. Stepping in feels like going back to the Gatsby era — plush but moody and full of charm. The rooms have been refreshed in warm, contemporary tones that blend tastefully into the original structure, with comfortable beds, the basics covered, and the building's classic feel kept intact. Many reviews praise the lobby and common areas as photogenic from every angle. If you like a hotel with personality and a story rather than identical rooms on every floor, this is an easy place to fall for.

Food and amenities

Another thing guests talk about most sits beneath the hotel: P.S., a speakeasy-style cocktail bar that's cleverly hidden away. Head down and you find a classically decorated, period room that really does feel like slipping into the 1930s. Sipping a cocktail in that dim, moody setting is the experience many call a highlight of the stay. The food holds its own too — downstairs there's an Italian spot called Tavernonna Italian Kitchen serving pasta and contemporary Italian dishes in a stylish Art Deco setting, good for both a dinner with a glass of wine and an easy start to the day, without hunting for somewhere far off. What comes up often in reviews is the warm, attentive staff, which makes the overall feel of the hotel both friendly and a touch upscale — like staying in a classic building where someone is looking after you throughout.

Location and getting there

Location is another strong card for Hotel Phillips. The hotel sits in the heart of downtown Kansas City, just one block from the Power & Light District, the popular dining-and-entertainment zone packed with restaurants, bars and live-music stages — a few minutes on foot. Most convenient of all, you can walk to T-Mobile Center, the big arena used for concerts and sporting events, and to the Convention Center if you're in town for a meeting or trade show. Better still, there's a free Kansas City Streetcar stop nearby that runs along downtown, taking you to both City Market, the old market district, and Union Station, the historic train station, without needing a car or paying for parking. That makes it work for people coming in for events, business travelers and couples who want to get around the city center mainly on foot and by streetcar. Simply put, if you want to wake up and walk to the fun of downtown in a few steps, this spot lands very well.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, Hotel Phillips is a historic 1931 building, so rooms come in many layouts and sizes that follow the original structure — some are spacious and lovely, others fairly small or with windows that don't open onto much of a view. A few reviews suggest flagging your preferences or asking for an upgrade when you book to get better light and space. Second, resort-style facilities are limited and parking is valet-only with an extra nightly charge. If you're driving yourself or want a big pool and gym, keep that in mind, because the focus here is the building, the hidden bar and the location more than a packed facility list. Last is the heart-of-downtown location near the entertainment zone — very convenient by day, but Friday and Saturday nights get busy, so some rooms may pick up street noise, and a few reviews note that upkeep on parts of the old building isn't always as polished as it could be. Light sleepers should ask for a higher floor.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real reviews, Hotel Phillips Kansas City is a hotel that sells one distinctive package: the charm of a 1930s Art Deco landmark, a speakeasy bar, and a heart-of-downtown location you can walk everywhere from. If the trip in your head is sleeping in a historic building with walnut woodwork and a gilded goddess statue, heading down for a period cocktail at P.S., then walking a few steps out to the fun at Power & Light District or a concert at T-Mobile Center without a car, this is a memorable choice — especially for couples, business travelers and anyone who loves classic architecture. But if you're after a brand-new hotel with a pool, a big gym and identical standard rooms throughout, the old-building charm here may not be your thing. Overall we give it 8.4/10, best for travelers looking for a stay in a storied historic building in the city center where the fun is a few steps away.