Wondering about staying in the Marquette Hotel downtown Minneapolis. What is your opinion of this property? How is the restaurant at the Hotel...Basil's? What about a restaurant in the vicinity of the Marquette? Spanish or Cuban food would be great if there is a restaurant available close to the hotel.

Its a deluxe boutique hotel.I gather it is very popular with business travellers.On one visit there were several "executives" in the elevator.They were joking amongst themselves that they had never seen a room service employee(ME) out of uniform!!My personal preference is the GrandHotel.The health club is totally awesome.There is about $30 difference for me in the rates (Grand+) but its worth it.IMHO

You lost me...were you carrying a bunch of food or what?! If not, did you direct a sufficient amount of stink-eye their way? I can't imagine "execs" acting that way...

No food and no stink-eye.I just knew from the minit I walked into the lobby I was out of place.It is a very very nice hotel,but not for a 25y/o non bizzness type.They were NOt obnoxious and I even laughed as I deplaned the el.Dont get me wrong it was a nice experience but I was outa place.IMHO

No, I meant you *should* have directed stink-eye their way if you weren't carrying food. gt; Good for you to be able to laugh at it though...nice person. Sounds like you should be wearing the suit, not them!

Personally, I really like Basil's. It has been around for a while, and isn't usually recommended as one of the best restaurants in Minneapolis - but it is good. As the name implies, it's a kind of pesto/pasta place. If you go, try to get a seat on the balcony looking over the Crystal Court (the atrium area of the IDS Tower) for some people watching.

I can't think of a single Spanish or Cuban restaurant downtown (Chez Bananas and the Pickled Parrot both closed recently, unfortunately). There are a few restaurants that offer food with a little kick: Sawatdee (Thai food - not close, though), a New Orleans restaurant in City Center (very close, but I can't remember the name) . . . and that's all I can think of right now - maybe someone else can think of more.

Just thought of a Spanish restaurant - Solera (sp?, it's on Hennepin Avenue somewhere. I've never been there but have heard some good things.

The Marquette is well located and the rooms are quite a bit larger than standard rooms at most hotels, especially considering the era in which this hotel was built.
It's not a 'boutique' hotel. It's a very mainstream business/convention hotel. It is getting tired on the inside and really needs an infusion of cash to bring it back up to speed. Things like carpet stains, tattering fabrics on furniture, showers with corrosion and mildew in the grout, etc are bothersome, but very fixable problems if Hilton will ante up.

Cafe Havana is downtown, a Cuban restaurant. Ate there once, it was quite good with great Mojitos and nice atmosphere.

Cafe Havana is a very good Cuban restaurant on the edge of downtown Mpls. (you could walk there) 612-338-8484. Especially love their salmon stuffed with apples/avacado and crusted with pistachio nuts or the tres leche cake for desert. Another great Mpls restaurant is Campiello in the Uptown area - not far from Downtown. It is excellent Italian which specializes in a different region of Italy each month. www.campiello.damico.com The short ribs are to die for and the espresso martini is a desert in itself. Mpls. restaurant reviews can be found at www.mspmag.com/dining.asp