Take a Sneak Peek at the New Hotel Inside the Dayton Arcade

Just in time for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly taking place in downtown Dayton, the Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Downtown inside the Dayton Arcade is opening Monday, May 19.

I had a chance to tour the hotel a few days before it welcomes its first guests. Take a look:

The Exterior

The outside of the hotel is actually two buildings side by side. The buildings are part of the Arcade complex, which is basically an entire city block. One entrance to the hotel is also the entrance to the North Arcade on Third Street.

The Lobby

This is not one of those sad beige hotels! The design of this Hilton Garden Inn is modern with interesting art throughout. The colors are also very serene with lots of blue and green. Valet parking will be available and there’s easy access to the lobby through automatic doors that open to Third Street.

The Rooms

The rooms have everything you could need amenity-wise but most importantly, they did a fantastic job keeping so much of the character intact – especially the windows. Every room seems to get a lot of natural light. Plus, some of the rooms have a view of the North Arcade.

The Suites

For the most luxurious experience, there are four suites available. They have more space, unique features, and even more historic charm.

My favorite room is the Andrews Suite, named after the Dayton Arcade designer, Frank Andrews. The suite is located inside the top peak of the North Arcade facade. It has a taller ceiling and separate sitting area. The view in the sitting area overlooks the glass ceiling of the North Arcade.

I also love that some of the art featured throughout the hotel is by local artists. The Andrews Suite has beautiful images of the Arcade captured by local photographer, Tom Gilliam.

The Restaurant

Located on the second floor, the restaurant will serve breakfast and dinner daily. The bar is located on the second floor as well and shares the same seating.

For breakfast, guests can choose the buffet or order from the menu. The menu has plenty of classic options like omelets, pancakes, and French toast.

The cocktail menu features classic hand-crafted cocktails like a Moscow mule and margarita with some tasty twists on old favorites like a caramel Manhattan and cucumber gin and tonic. It’s a full bar, so they’ll be able to make cocktails that aren’t on the menu.

For dinner, guests can order small plates like flatbreads or crunchy avocado wedges to share or entrees like burgers, short ribs, or grilled vegetable primavera.

They aren’t currently serving lunch, however, guests can take their pick of one of the restaurants inside the Arcade or nearby. Plus, retail businesses will be opening in the North Arcade soon, including Luke’s Custom Cakes and Smales Pretzel Bakery.

The History

Some of the best parts of this new Hilton Garden Inn are in the small or even hidden details. The original early 1900s terrazzo, the woodwork around windows and doorframes, the ironwork on the staircase, and the wear on the stone steps all tell the story of these buildings that mean so much to Dayton. I was so happy how lovingly they were protected and celebrated throughout the hotel.

General Manager, James Bailey, once worked as a valet attendant a block away at the old Doubletree Hotel. He remembers looking over at the Arcade and imagining a hotel in that space, making this project an exciting, full-circle moment. After working in hospitality in places like Napa Valley and Sarasota, he’s excited to bring his experience back to where his career began.

The Future

The exposed-brick basement under the hotel could one day be renovated to function as a speakeasy-style bar. There are also early ideas to utilize a small area of the roof to create a rooftop balcony for one of the suites.

These developments may be a ways in the future, but it’s exciting to imagine how this beautiful hotel will grow and change from here.

Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Downtown
18 W Third St, Dayton
(937) 343-1050

Want to see even more great places to stay in Dayton? Check out these boutique hotels.