Arrival/Check-In: The Raphael Hotel has a prime location in Kansas City, Missouri, directly across the river from the popular shopping area, Country Club Plaza.

My husband and I arrived ahead of check-in and our room was not quite ready, so we opted to visit a nearby museum. Shortly after we arrived at the museum, I received a call that our room was ready. Once back at the hotel, check-in was swift, and the friendly front desk attendant directed us toward the elevator closest to our room. We visited right after Christmas and the property was still decked out in holiday décor, which made our stay feel extra festive.

Guest Quarters: Our room on the seventh floor faced Country Club Plaza, also still decorated for the holiday. The room featured a comfy king bed, large desk with multiple outlets and a sitting area with a chair, small couch, minibar and television. The closet had a window, which I had never encountered. I thought this was a nice touch for looking at clothes in natural light. The easily-accessible WiFi is complimentary, which I always appreciate during a hotel stay. Despite being close to the elevator, we weren’t bothered by any noise.

The bathroom sat across from the closet at the back of the room, which provided extra privacy. It boasted a combination shower and tub. The sink and vanity were located just outside of the bathroom door. The Raphael offers oversize towels. As someone with long hair, I appreciate this type of towel when drying my hair. We enjoyed turn-down service during our visit, complete with chocolates on the pillows.

Services/Amenities: On the first night of our stay we stopped for a drink at the on-site bar and restaurant, Chaz on the Plaza. Kansas City boasts a lively jazz scene, and the bar hosts nightly live jazz performances. We enjoyed sipping our cocktails while listening to music.

We also utilized the property’s 24-hour room service one night of our stay. We ordered a late-night burger after enjoying live music downtown. The service was swift and the burger was really tasty.

As we indulged in plenty of Kansas City’s famous barbecue during our visit, we knew we wanted to make time for the gym. The property’s fitness center, located on the second floor, features several cardio machines, free weights, medicine balls and other equipment. There were plenty of towels, plus a basket of granola bars and a mini fridge stocked with water. You will need your room key to access the fitness center.

Throughout the day The Raphael offers complimentary beverages in the lobby including coffee in the morning, fruitinfused water in the afternoon and hot chocolate and cookies in the evening. We enjoyed each of these options.

We felt at home during our three-night stay. I would recommend a stay at The Raphael whether you’re visiting Kansas City for business or leisure.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ Stop by Chaz on the Plaza for a great weekday happy hour and nightly live jazz.
◆ Walk across the street to Country Club Plaza for shopping, dining and other entertainment options.
◆ Check The Raphael’s website before your stay for special offers. A Winter Blues Jazz deal kicked off just two days after our stay ended, which we were disappointed to miss.

THE RAPHAEL HOTEL

325 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64112
tel 816 756 3800
raphaelkc.com