Too-cool-for-school Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee

Milwaukee’s  re-purposed 100 year old mattress factory is knocking them dead ever since its transformation out of the Industrial era into an urban, luxury hotel. At first glance the  Iron Horse Hotel, in Milwaukee’s happenin’ Fifth Ward nabe (just a short walk from the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum) makes you think it’s going to be too-cool-for-school, but it manages to stop just short and surprise you by being all about warm, friendly hospitality and cozy comfort.

This uber-trendy, loft-styled boutique hotel manages to pull off an industrial chic, bad-boy biker vibe (complete with iron chandeliers fashioned from motorcycle gears, 300-year-old pine ceiling beams, exposed brick walls, boxing bags in the fitness center, and massive iron hooks in the room for hanging up heavy bike leathers) while getting in touch with its feminine side. Luxe-loving ladies will appreciate the sophisticated neutral palette, marshmallow pillow top king-sized beds, floor-length velvet drapes and the oversized bathrooms complete with a whirlpool or gargantuan rain shower built for two.

Don’t miss the bedroom’s sepia-toned wall murals of seductively posed local women, painted by Wisconsin artist Chuck Dwyer, who’s goal was to dispel the myth that women from the mid-west aren’t as attractive as women on either coast.

But they also cater to motorcycle fans by offering secured covered motorcycle parking, rag bins, an on-site bike wash, road trip maps and in-room storage areas for boots, helmets and heavy riding leathers. And if you forgot to pack your motorcycle, no worries, they’ll even rent you a bike, complete with a packed saddlebag lunch!

The edgy lobby is appointed with an eclectic collection of memorabilia such as library chairs from the Bank of London, a 100-year-old billiards table, and another work by Dwyer, the “Americana Flag,” which was created from over 30 pairs of jeans.

Dining Choices

The hotel offers an exciting range of  authentic Wisconsin style eateries:  the bar at Branded, the regionally inspired Smyth restaurant (which received  the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the 100+ bottle list) the iconic Library, or The Yard, a seasonal patio venue.

Bonus points for the fun-filled, tasty, Route 66-inspired brunch, which features signature dishes  (think Flannel Hash, Chicken Fired Steak, and Biscuits and Gravy) from fabled truck stops along the nostalgic highway.

Services and Amenities:

♦24-hour Fitness Center with on-call spa services

♦Complimentary wireless Internet

♦Custom furnishings and original artwork

♦Luxury linens, bedding and bath products

♦Oversize, tiled walk-in showers

♦24-hour valet parking

♦Manager of Desires personalized concierge service

♦Large and small dog-friendly policy

Iron Horse Hotel

500 W. Florida Street

Milwaukee, WI 53204

Region: Downtown

Phone: (414) 374-4766(414) 374-4766

Toll Free: (888) 543-IRON

Website: theironhorsehotel.com

All photos courtesy of Iron Horse Hotel.