Glidden House Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay (2024)

Pros

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Bottom Line

The upper-middle-range Glidden House Inn offers a memorable stay fortravelers who appreciate historic hotels. The former home of the GliddenPaint family, the 1910 mansion is located on Case Western ReserveUniversity’s campus near several museums and the Cleveland Clinic. Free parking,free breakfast, and a fine-dining restaurant are attractive amenities. Its 60 guest roomsinclude eight unique suites, but standard rooms, while tastefully decorated, area bit small and dark and, unlike suites, don’t offer mini-fridges. Rates arereasonable, but another nearby historic hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton TheTudor Arms Hotel, typically offers better rates.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Glidden House

Scene

A quiet and sophisticated converted mansion in a universitysetting

This French Gothic-style mansion, built in 1910 by FrankGlidden of the Glidden Paint family, offers a memorable stay for people withuniversity-related business or those visiting the nearby museums or ClevelandClinic. Guests often spend time admiring the hotel’s extensive contemporary artcollection or just relaxing on the period furniture atop Oriental-style rugsand fine hardwood floors. There are several cozy and quaint sitting areas,including the small lobby bar framed by a skylight that looks out upon anoutdoor patio and the hotel’s lovely grounds. The Cleveland Botanical Garden is just around the corner, lending a lush, natural atmosphere to the property. Even the breakfast setting is a visual treat: in warm months it's served in the mansion’s sunroom with archedwindows providing ample sunshine; other times, it's in the original parlor with ornately-carved woodwork, fireplace, and dark-wood ceiling beams. It’s a classy setting to start any day, and indicative of howthis boutique hotel celebrates its long history.

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Location

On Case Western Reserve University campus, near several museumsand Cleveland Clinic

The hotel is located on a corner of Case Western ReserveUniversity’s campus on Cleveland’s East Side, approximately four miles from thedowntown business district. The area is called University Circle or theCultural District due to its proximity to colleges and several museums. TheCleveland Clinic is a seven-minute drive, while walks are brief to the ClevelandBotanical Garden (two minutes), Museum of Contemporary Art (five minutes),and Cleveland Museum of Art (seven minutes). Cleveland State University’s campusis within a 15-minute drive, and the Cleveland School of Architecture and Design is asix-minute drive. Most major downtown attractions can be reached in a drive of 15 to 20minutes, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Quicken LoansArena, Progressive Field, and First Energy Stadium. The Cleveland HopkinsInternational Airport is approximately a 25-minute drive or about an hour onthe Red Line light rail system, which has a University Circle stop abouta 10-minute walk from the hotel. There are a couple of restaurants within a fewminutes’ walk, but numerous dining options are a brief drive away.

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Rooms

Upscale suites; tastefully decorated standard roomsa bit dark and small

There are eight upscale suites in the original mansion, with52 standard rooms in a newer addition. Each spacious suite has a king or queenbed, separate sitting area, and kitchenette with mini-fridge, sink, andmicrowave. Suites are individually named and decorated in distinctivefashion. The Frances Kavanagh Glidden Suite, for example, has angled ceilings,a black leather headboard, designer-quality wood furniture, a plush velour sofa,and large walk-in shower with rainfall showerhead and clear glass door. Standard rooms are uniformly decorated in classic, tasteful style and come in king, queen, or two full-bed options. Long, narrow,and a bit small, these rooms are comfortable nonetheless, each with a corner upholstered armchair andaverage-size desk and office chair. Decor includes blue and gold wallsand drapes, two-tone green carpet, and traditional wood furnishings. Collectively, the heavy decor makes the rooms abit dark. Pieces from the hotel’s extensive art collection grace some walls,and a 42-inch flat-screen TV is wall-mounted opposite the bed in each room. Bathrooms are muchbrighter with light tan wallpaper and tile, and come with shower/tub combos, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and Gilchrist and Soames toiletries. All rooms are quiet and includeair-conditioning, coffeemakers, robes, free Wi-Fi, ironing facilities, and limited room service. Views are the hotel’slovely grounds or the university campus and surrounding areas.

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Features

Free breakfast and parking, fine-diningrestaurant, tapas and co*cktail lounge, and fitness center discount

Free, private parking is available on-site. Standard roomrates include buffet-style continental breakfast that’s served in the parlor.The fine-dining restaurant, Trentina, is located in a carriage house next to the hotel and serves Northern Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner. Palette Lounge in the lobby offers tapas and co*cktails in the evenings. The hotel showcases anextensive contemporary art collection featuring many local artists. There's eventspace for up to 150 people and a business center with a printer and one computerstation with Internet access. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, although many guests report it's spotty, especially in guest rooms. Conciergeservices are available, as are valet dry cleaning and laundry. Guests have discounted access to a fitness center at Case Western Reserve University. Special rates for families of Cleveland Clinic patients are available.

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