Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown — Hotel in Phoenix

One big plus of this Hilton in Phoenix, Arizona is its location—just one block away from what I consider the best Mexican restaurant I’ve ever eaten at. Everything there is made from scratch and truly authentic. However, when it comes to getting around the rest of the city, the hotel is slightly off the beaten path—only a few blocks, but enough to notice.

One issue I can’t overlook is the large number of homeless individuals and people clearly under the influence in the area. It made me uncomfortable to walk outside the hotel, especially at dusk or after dark.

The hotel itself is a beautiful historic building with a grand lobby and several cozy, semi-private sitting areas. I originally chose this hotel thinking it had a full-service restaurant, but that wasn’t the case. They offer a typical Hilton breakfast, with a few à la carte options, but I didn’t see a full kitchen. Prices were, in my opinion, excessive for the quality. Just a few blocks away is a fantastic farm-to-table breakfast spot, also making everything from scratch, and charging less. For me, the convenience of eating in the hotel doesn’t outweigh the price or quality tradeoff.

The room was spacious and clean, with no musty odors—something I appreciated in an older building. I was also relieved that they didn’t use heavy perfumed cleaning products. However, the provided toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, lotion) were very heavily scented. Some might enjoy that, but I’d prefer unscented or lightly scented options.

Staff were generally neutral—not rude, but not overly warm either. The exception was checkout. We needed a bit of extra time to shower after a morning outing, and the staff was very accommodating, which I really appreciated.

Valet parking is the only option, but it worked out well. The valet team was excellent—efficient and professional. Most of the larger cars seemed to be parked right in front of the hotel, so there was little to no wait for vehicle retrieval. That was a big plus.

The rooftop bar was something I looked forward to trying, but it was a bit of a letdown. It doesn’t open until 5 PM (and only until 10 PM on weekdays), and there’s really not much of a view anymore due to taller buildings going up around it. Unfortunately, the drinks were also nothing special—basic and forgettable. By contrast, that nearby Mexican restaurant had a phenomenal bar with fresh fruit purées, house-made simple syrups, and creative options. It would’ve been great if Hilton’s bar offered something more unique or higher-end.

Lastly, one major factor that’s changed my loyalty to Hilton overall is the change in their rewards program. As a personal (not business) traveler, it’s now nearly impossible to maintain Diamond status. I used to stay almost exclusively at Hilton properties, but since they changed their rewards structure, I don’t see the benefit in being loyal. I’ve actually discovered other hotels I now prefer—places that offer more value, better experiences, and more accessible loyalty perks for the average traveler.

Overall: This Hilton is a solid hotel if priced right. The building is beautiful, the valet service is top-notch, and the rooms are comfortable and clean. I wouldn’t bother including breakfast with your stay, and I’d skip the rooftop bar. While the surrounding area feels a bit sketchy, that unfortunately seems to be a broader issue in parts of Phoenix. I’d consider staying again if the rate is reasonable—but Hilton as a brand no longer holds the same appeal...

I'm a diamond member and recently stayed in room 1217 for 4 nights to visit my brother who lives in Phoenix. I've had good experiences with Hilton Garden Inn properties, and am happy that this location rose to the occasion. The building used to be a bank and some scenes from Hitchcock's "Psycho" were filmed here. Very fun facts that aren't heavily advertised on the hotel's website, so a bit of a surprise to learn when we arrived.

You'll have to pay for parking one way or the other, either with their valet or at a nearby parking garage. As someone who lives in downtown Houston, the thought of paying for parking in a downtown area does not surprise me, but it may surprise some, so be aware of that. Thankfully, my brother was my chauffeur, so we didn't need to worry about this, personally.

The room (2 queen) and amenities were nice and clean. The Keurig machine came with some pretty decent coffee, and the mini fridge was spacious enough to accommodate several leftovers. Never used the microwave, but I'm glad it was there. Only small things I would nitpick are that 1) the thermostat in that room was quite wonky and difficult to control. It seemed to have a mind of its own no matter how we set it. We weren't uncomfortable, though, thankfully. 2) The bathroom sink had a small leak which would drip on the floor. We dealt with it by placing a trash can directly beneath the pipe. To me, at least, these weren't issues that interfered with my enjoyment of my stay, but hopefully they will be fixed for the next guest.

As for the staff, the ones I encountered were all very knowledgeable and helpful. I'm a diamond member and everyone was thankfully aware of how the benefits for that work. Believe it or not, I have stayed at a Hilton property before--The Resort at the Peak, not far from this Garden Inn--where none of the staff seemed to know how any of that worked.

The breakfast in the lobby and room service from Monroe's were both delicious and reasonably portioned for the price point. Only small thing I would nitpick here is that, among the charges on my final receipt, there was a tray fee for room service but my meal was brought in a Styrofoam to-go box, not on a tray. I even remember saying to the person who delivered "oh, I was about to ask you do I just leave the tray in the hallway when I'm done, but I see there is no tray." The fee was very small, but maybe consider relabeling the "tray" fee on the statement or doing away with it if the meal won't be on a tray. I didn't care enough to fight over it, but you know there will be some customer at some point who will 🤣

All things considered, I would definitely stay here again and would recommend...

The hotel welcomes you with a grave art deco look. After all, the building is about 90 years old, the former home of the Valley National Bank of Arizona and, I was told but did not check personally, the vault that used to host the safe is still there in the basement. If my informant/valet is reliable, it lived also as Hotel Monroe before opening as a Hilton hotel in 2015. The lobby with its marble and brass is a testament to the materials and the architecture of the period. The lobby is austere to some extent, but pleasant. I liked the fireplace room since it was a bit cold at the time we stayed here (around low 40's during the morning hours). Valet parking in my opinion is a must, in particular if one is new to the town. They should keep more room free of cars. When we got there, there was really no space and one cannot park along the street without blocking traffic. Valet attendants were professional and prompt, though. Reception clerks were also very nice and helpful. I got a good impression overall, in some locations employees can be kind of "stuffy", not at this hotel. The location at the corner of Central Ave. and Monroe Street is conveniently located to visit downtown, to attend meetings at the Convention Center and fairly close to gain access to the highway system. The rail system has several stops around this area, but I walked from this place to the Heard Museum along Central Ave, which is about 2 miles, going by the ASU Phoenix Campus and other neighborhoods and it felt safe and a good way to "learn" the town a bit. The place is also reasonably close to several restaurants, although to either visit Phoenix attractions and dive in into the restaurants scene, one needs a car or some kind of transportation (car rental, taxi, Uber, horse carriage, etc.). The rooms, I believe about 170 of them, are well appointed, it is not a luxury hotel, but it was clean and well-kept. Our room had fridge and a microwave as it is typical of Hilton Garden Inn hotels, however no safe was available, also typical of most Hilton Garden Inn hotels. Beds and mattresses were comfortable. Area to work is also adequate. We were upgraded as Hilton Honors Members to a corner room and those rooms have more space with a large bathrooms. There is a bar on the roof-top, but we did not visit it as we wanted to explore Phoenix and what it has to offer in terms of restaurants. Overall, a very pleasant experience, one that both my wife and I did enjoy. It served as our base of operations for trips all over (Sedona, Scottsdale, Chandler, the Desert Botanical Garden, the Musical Instruments Museum, Heard Museum, and...