Best Fitness Hotels in Milwaukee

First opening its doors in 1893, The Pfister in downtown Milwaukee maintains its Gilded Age glamour, sporting period decor and Victorian artwork. However, that doesn't mean this hotel is stuck in the past. The Pfister's 307 guest rooms, though vintage in appearance, offer contemporary amenities such as LCD flat-panel TVs and wireless internet access (for a fee). Visitors praise the hotel's luxurious facilities, which include the WELL Spa + Salon, as well as the delectable Mason Street Grill and swanky Blu lounge. Many diners highly recommend sitting down for Sunday brunch at The Rouge dining room. Though a few recent guests mentioned they had issues controlling the room temperature, most agreed the staff gives everyone the star treatment while here. Guests also recommend making time to meet The Pfister's Artist-in-Residence; through this residency program, the hotel sponsors up-and-coming artists who, in turn, work right on the premises.

The Iron Horse Hotel is perhaps Milwaukee's trendiest hotel: Guests are welcomed into a space decorated in cow print, exposed pipes and one-of-a-kind artwork. Rooms are spacious and feature exposed brick walls and custom furnishings, as well as oversized rain showers, 42-inch LCD flat-screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi. But what really sets The Iron Horse apart from other Milwaukee hotels is its dedication to the biker crowd. Sitting within walking distance of the Harley-Davidson Museum, this property shows its love for two-wheelers with amenities like on-site motorcycle rentals, a washing station and on-call maintenance staff. For non-bikers, The Iron Horse Hotel impresses with its spa services and easy access to art and performance venues like the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Florentine Opera. No matter how you spend your time, recent guests highly recommend taking advantage of the hotel's dining spots and watering holes – Branded, The Library, Smyth and The Yard – which offer palatable sips and bites for morning, noon and night. Visitors are also quick to praise The Iron Horse Hotel's staff with such superlatives as "wonderful" and "delightful," saying the employees only further enhanced their stays. However, some say a stay here is on the more expensive side.

The Ambassador Hotel surrounds its visitors with art deco decor (from a neon sign outside to the original bronze elevator doors inside), and guests love it. Rooms here are spacious, and though hints of the 1920s can be seen in the decorative accents, amenities like Bluetooth-enabled media hubs and complimentary internet access keep guests connected to the 21st century. While visitors appreciate the hotel's charming decor, many say the accommodations are in need of some upgrades. Consistent with the hotel's theme, Caffé Deco serves up healthy doses of morning joe while the Envoy Restaurant & Lounge dishes out American fare in a bistro-style setting. Although you may not want to leave the property, one of the best things about this hotel is its location near major Milwaukee attractions, like Miller Park.

The InterContinental Milwaukee is perched along the Milwaukee River in the heart of the downtown area, boasting enviable views and easy access to performance venues like The Pabst Theater and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. While this property clearly caters to theater buffs, business travelers will also feel welcome thanks to 13,000 square feet of meeting space and tech-friendly amenities like complimentary Wi-Fi. This hotel also has some neat features for non-suits. For one, there's CLEAR. This morning-time coffee shop turns into a bar by night and hosts weekly events like Bocce Ball Tuesdays, Wine Craze Wednesdays and live music on most weekends. Some recent visitors felt the guest rooms are showing wear and tear and could use some updating, but they appreciated the conveniences like the pretheater dinner menus and 24-hour room service from the on-site restaurant Kil@wat.

The Hotel Metro strives to be trendy in order to fit in with artsy downtown Milwaukee. The hotel's 63 suites are spacious and stylish with cream and green hues and hints of art deco, but some visitors feel that the accommodations would benefit from a facelift and warn of the loud slamming of doors. The bathrooms – large enough to fit big whirlpool baths (accompanied by Aveda bath products) – provide a place to take a load off after a day on the town. In case the in-room tubs don't do the trick, visitors are welcome to take advantage of Hotel Metro's saltwater hot tub and sauna. And when it's time for a bite to eat, travelers have great things to say about Pastiche at Metro, the in-house restaurant specializing in casual American fare.