Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Downtown — Hotel in Dayton

This is a beautiful historic building with gorgeous architecture and furnishings. But, the staffing was a bit of a disappoint.

We are not from the Dayton area, and knew nothing about the area. Apparently this building was converted to use as a mall in the 90s, but had been empty for decades. It has now been converted to a hotel, but has only been open a few months.

When I chose this hotel, I was looking for someplace with an actual restaurant on the premises so we didn’t have to drive around a strange city looking for a restaurant.

The website said only that they had a restaurant that was for casual dining. There were no pictures. What was posted was digital renderings, like what you show someone that a place is eventually going to look like once it is built. I wasn’t sure what to make by the phrase “casual dining” as that is a pretty broad term. Most restaurants these days advertise that they have a casual dress code. I assumed that being as they listed being open during supper hours that there would be some kind of entrées along the lines of steak and potatoes or some kind of grilled chicken. I guess that was my mistake.

The girl at the front desk was very pleasant and directed us to the second floor when we asked where the restaurant advertised on the website was. However, what we found was an unattended bar area. There were no staff members in site. There were two patrons at the bar, but they didn’t know how to order any actual food either. I had to call the front desk and ask. The girl from the desk asked if there was no bartender and I told her that we had been sitting here for a few minutes and didn’t see anyone. She came upstairs herself and waited on us. Another woman eventually showed up who was supposed to be a waitress. But, the front desk girl was the only one who actually waited on us. We were alone in this little area that had a bar and a tv and some tables in it.

The only food available was a chicken sandwich or cheeseburger, although there were drinks. The other items on the small evening menu they were out of.

The very kind desk person brought us both hamburgers and French fries and a bottle of mustard. But, for some reason, the ketchup came in these little half full dishes and I had to request more since there was only enough in them for a few French fries each.

So, suffice to say, I feel like this area should not be advertised as anything other than a bar. They do not have any kind of a menu that would qualify as dinner in my mind.

The worst thing was that the bill for a couple of hamburgers and three beers was $79.00! I’m sorry, but that is...

This is a five-star review for the type of hotel this is: a practical business hotel. But when I heard a Hilton Garden Inn had opened as part of the Arcade Square redevelopment in Downtown Dayton, I thought—well, that’s a change from the usual strip mall setting.||The Dayton Arcade is a 120+ year-old commercial development on the National Register of Historic Places, built during Dayton’s heyday and now lovingly restored. Its beautiful facade and glass-domed rotunda (look it up) anchor a complex of historic buildings that aren’t fully occupied yet, but new shops are opening every week. The hotel is nestled right in the middle of it all.||Everyone working there was extremely gracious, even during our awkward arrival. I’d been using a rental for a few days, but planned to have the valet watch the car while we checked in and took our bags to the room—then returned the rental, since everything we were doing in Dayton was within walking distance. That whole process took a good 15 minutes, and the staff handled it with patience and professionalism.||The restaurant is lovely, but there are also fantastic places to eat within the Arcade itself. While the hotel doesn’t have a pool (where would you put it?), it has one of the nicest, most efficient gyms I’ve seen. And the room? Amazingly comfortable during the hot and muggy August nights.||The location is phenomenal. You’re directly across from the beautiful Greek Revival courthouse, a block from the Schuster Performing Arts Center, a block and a half from the Levitt Pavilion (open-air concerts), two blocks from the Convention Center, a four-minute walk to the gay club/bar block, an eight-minute walk to Warped Wing and other breweries or the Neon Theatre, and ten minutes to the Oregon District, which buzzes until the bars close.||Now, one reviewer didn’t like the location—and I thought, what are they on about? Maybe it’s Dayton itself, a rust belt city, that they don’t like. But as someone who couldn’t wait to get away from that town when I was younger, I’m genuinely excited to see how much people there are doing with what’s left of the place.||I will say: though we walked everywhere, if you’re heading back from the Oregon District at 3 a.m., it’s very quiet. The streets are empty, save for a few other stragglers. If that makes you uncomfortable, grab a Lyft or Uber. But honestly, I’ve felt far more uneasy walking near other hotels in much bigger cities.||The hotel reflects the spirit of Dayton’s renewal—and if you care about the place, I’d urge you...

Lets be clear; this isn't "5 stars" compared to a Ritz. This is 5 stars compared to "like" hotels.||I'll be brief. Going forward, whenever I visit Dayton, I'll be staying at this new facility. Why? Location; cordial, competent, friendly staff (shout out to Mirabai at the front desk and Beth at the restaurant); quality food at the restaurant (truly) and fair pricing. My only complaint? The AC is fairly loud (you get used to it when running, but it may well wake you up when it starts and stops). Pro tip: Amazon sells a silicon wax plug for swimmers (just a few dollars) - it REALLY helps with noise when sleeping. Bottom line? The building is historic (1904 I believe), restaurants are close by, the staff is simply "nice", the hotel is clean and is truly fairly priced. If you have an event at the Schuster Center or the Victoria theatre, its a quick walk. The Dayton Dragons are a quick Uber or probably a 25 minute walk. While in Dayton, I would encourage you to consider visiting the nearby Packard museum, The Dayton Art Museum, and if time allows Wright Pat Air Force museum. In closing, this hotel is "solid". I think you will be well satisfied with your visit here ... ||PS: Food thought: consider The Pineclub for steaks and fish (1947 time capsule! less than 3 miles away. Arrive when they open; they accept no reservations and they only accept cash - no credit cards.) & Salar in what is known as the Oregon District (Peruvian food - high quality dishes, good service). I suspect that you will enjoy both choices.||PSS: Just MY opinion: Ignore the reviews that offer this location 1 star on Google or Tripadvisor. My perception: they have an ax to grind. If you are a average person, with reasonable needs, you will be well satisfied with your experience at this facility. This coming from someone that has had the good fortune to stay at some of the finest hotels / resorts in the world. Simply be reasonable with your expectations - I am confident you will not be...