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Hotel Icon
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Downtown
220 Main St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 223-5577
220 Main St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 223-5577
- Price Range:
-
$$$
15 reviews for Hotel Icon
My husband and I travel a lot (he's a consultant & I'm a flight attendant) and the hotel was absolutely top-notch. We went to Houston for the U2 concert October 14th. Super nice front desk personnel, room was absolutely lovely and free wine happy hour at 5:00. Great location! Only complaint was the $28 charge per night to park your car (hello? this is Texas, you can't get around without a car) Our usual hotel in D.C. doesn't even charge that much. We just parked our car on the street for the night.
Great place, would recommend it highly!
We stayed only one night, after spending the night out for our 1st Wedding Anniversary. I was very impressed! We got such a good deal I think that helped it too!
The room was much nicer than I expected! We LOVED the window that was between the bathroom, by the tub and the room! I liked climbing through it, I know Silly, but it was a good effect!
Also nice I'm sure for a lone traveler taking a bath in the nice jet tub and wanting to watch some television.
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Although I've never stayed in this hotel overnight, I did attend my sister's wedding shower/bachelorette party/meet&greet the new family gig at the Icon last year. The designer used modern touches, with a dash of classic elegance in the decor. The lounge in the room had a certain seductive, relaxed appeal. It never hurts to have exceptional customer service. From what I understand, the amenities were superb in quality. I would definitely book a room here in the future. Even as a native Houstonian, it's nice to 'get away' without going away... so, yes, the Icon would be one of my first choices. The name says it all.....
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I really love this little boutique hotel. I was only there one night, but had a wonderful experience. The huge shower had a massage head and a rain shower head. The toilettries were Gilchrist and Soames, which I love and they had full sized ones on the shower, not the tiny ones. The bathroom was large. The bed was sooo comfy. The lobby, bar, restaurant area were lovely. Great decor - the lobby was a contemporary and clssic mix, while the room was classic. When I mentioned that the valet was a little pricey ($27) at check-in, they provided me with 2 complimentary bar drinks. The house wine was very good. A great experience, very friendly, knowledgeable staff. I'll definitely be back! Also Mia Bella around the corner was a terrific Italian bistro.
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Sometimes getting away even in the same city is a really good thing. We decided that something different was in order for New Years Eve. While in theory this idea rocked, waiting until the week of NYE to book did not. Each hotel that I called was full and things were not looking good. As I crept further into the dog house, things were looking grim. Fortunately a Yelp'er came to my rescue and recommended that I call Hotel Icon.
I prepared myself for another "we're full" conversation and was not happy about the prospects of looking for a new place to live. The cheerful reservation lady answered the phone which I took as a good sign. With a bit of trepidation I asked about the availability for NYE, she said that I was in luck as they just had a cancellation. With in seconds of hearing this I was locking in the reservation.
The day before NYE the hotel called to again confirm my reservation and check to see if I had any special request for the upcoming stay. This was a pleasant surprise, a hotel actually exhibiting signs of good customer service. Nice.
When we arrived the valet was polite and extremely helpful in getting our car checked in and bags situated. At the front desk the clerk was wonderful, as she talked about our accommodations and gave us a rundown of the nights festivities.
We promptly dropped our bags off in the room and headed down to the bar. The bartenders were not bad, but you could tell that they were a bit indifferent about working on NYE and it reflected in their service. While I can't blame them, I have higher expectations for a fairly expensive hotel. Drinks were good, but then again it's rare when cocktails aren't.
Our room was top shelf all the way, in fact it was more of a mini suite. The jacuzzi tub was a nice touch, along with the ability to pull back a hinged blind and watch TV while lounging in the tub.
While I will not review Voice (the restaurant in the hotel), I'll mention this - the staff needs a bit of polish. Our dinner waiter and waiter in the morning were both sub par at best. They were about as friendly as bristly cactus, with manors to match. On the other hand Michael Kramer (head chef) knocked it out of the park with the food. It was outstanding.
As we prepared to check out the next morning, a small problem happened with our bill as they overcharged us for the stay. It was an error that happened with all the guests. Their timing was a bit rough as they were at 100% capacity for NYE, so there were lots of freaked out people. To our amazement the staff handled this issue with class and quickly resolved the error.
All and all it was a good experience. If you are willing to drop the bucks and looking for a unique place to stay, Hotel Icon is worth checking out.
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My friend Arnab was getting married and I was excited to go. I'd never been to Houston, having been almost everywhere else in Texas at some point.
I didn't want to stay at a Marriott or Holiday Inn or some other generic place, as I worried that Houston itself, from what I had been told, was generic enough. I have no idea about Houston really, as it seems to spread out in several directions as far as many horizons along roads so huge that I think Houston is more paved than any other city I've ever been. Houston, in short, seemed like a big road.
But the Hotel Icon was lovely! A nicely appointed room that made me feel vaguely Imperialist in the 19th Century tradition of the word and a bathroom where one could prepare for a wedding in without muss, fuss or travail. The bed was out of this world comfy and I wrote several letters from the writing desk because I felt it so pleasant to write upon.
My friend Arnab married a lovely girl and the wedding was out of this world, and later we had the reception at another hotel - a glass and steel container that crawled to the sky with no thought that it was man that put it there, and I was even more glad that at the end of the evening, I would leave that place, and go back to a quiet, intimate room where I could fold the events of the night quietly away, and fall into a comfortable sleep and in the morning walk to the ball field to watch the Astros play.
The staff was consistently polite and attentive. I felt at all times as if they knew which of the guests I was and they were always helpful in making suggestions for places to eat (which were excellent) and ways to get various places - which in Houston usually means three highways, four stateroads, a few random streets and lanes and a sidetrip through something that looks nothing like a city - so the fact that I didn't get lost is testament to the skills of those fine people.
As for reports that others have had problems with them, I find this sad and hopefully isolated, as if I have reason to go back to Houston, I will stay at this hotel again and expect a perfectly comfortable and charming stay.
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I visited this hotel during a very busy weekend (Madonna concert). Maybe it was the fact that they were busy on a Sunday night, I'm not sure, but my experience did not come close to other people's reviews.
We were put in a room for 2 and it should have been for 4. They would not/"could not" accommodate a room for 4. Said they would bring two "blow up mattresses" instead of a roll-away bed??. We received one. We had to call the front desk over and over for pillows and blankets. The kicker: we ordered room service that never showed.
I will agree that the room was nice and the bathroom was large, but the customer service was horrible. The next morning, we spoke to the manager who offered us breakfast for TWO 10 minutes before the restaurant was about to close. Very odd.
Hopefully our experience was an anomaly.
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I stayed here about a year ago.
My room had a HUGE bathroom with a double vanity, jacuzzi tub, and a separate shower with double shower heads. I LOVE bathrooms so this made the trip for me. The other perk was the hotels London Cab. They will drive you anywhere with in a 4 mile radius, complimentary. Don't forget to tip the driver of course!
I have not been to the spa or restaurant here.
I would give 3 stars, but the company discount values this hotel at 4 stars.
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My husband and I stayed at Hotel Icon the night of our wedding, because we didn't (and still haven't, 6 months later, grumble) go on a honeymoon directly after the big day.
We didn't get there until like 11:30 that night due to our wedding reception being extremely far away. I was interested to see this hotel because the photographer that did my wedding portraits had an AMAZING shoot taken at the hotel that was so gorgeous I can't even explain it. (Go to http://www.chriswinein.../ and you'll have to search for Jenny's shoot at Hotel Icon, but it's definitely worth looking at if you're in the market for a great photog).
Anyway, the room was lovely, the bathroom especially. Our room wasn't a fancy bridal suite, I believe it was just a normal room, but this hotel is fancier than any I've ever stayed in. The bathroom had a french window-ish opening over the bathtub into the bedroom. Our bathroom was pale blue and yellow, and I absolutely loved it. The bed was very comfortable too.
Check-out was simple, and I think all of the parking is valet. Husband had dropped off our car the day before, and the valets were speedy about retrieving it. Plus helpful since I was toting around a huge wedding dress and all kinds of bags.
I really liked Hotel Icon, and would recommend it to anyone, although I have NO idea what the price was, the husband was in charge of that. Oh and we had a bottle of champagne waiting for us in our room, but we were too tired to drink it, so we're saving it for our 1 year anniversary.
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Madonna brought me here on Sunday.
After driving to Houston for the concert, we checked in and went directly to our room on the 11th floor. Walked in and the four of us stared at the 1 full bed...hmm, this could be a problem. Called down to the front desk to tell them my reservation was for 2 full beds and was told, "this is AMEX travels problem, not ours.".
Welcome to Houston Folks!
So, I pleaded my case...very nicely I might add...and was moved to a larger room 8 levels down and promised 2 air mattresses. One arrived...no blankets or pillows however. Called again, asked for the 2nd mattress. Was told they were looking for it. So, we got ready for the concert, went downstairs and voiced our concerns again. The person at the desk "played" like she was typing and said we would have another bed by the time we were back.
Madonna, Madonna, Madonna....
Arrive back, go upstairs and no bed. Hmmm, not good.
We went downstairs to chat again and also went to the bar for some tea and water. While we were ignored at the bar.....
Went to the front desk...told they have no other air mattress and we will just have to deal with it ourselves. Wow!
Still being ignored at the bar, we go back upstairs...exhausted and thirsty.
Call room service and order 2 teas and 2 bottled waters.
It never freaking showed up!
So, Monday morning...back downstairs to check out. Voiced my concerns a little louder about our poor customer service experience.
What was I provided, you ask?
At 10:50 am....free breakfast for 2 in the restaurant. But, ma'am isn't breakfast over in 10 minutes? Hmmm, still nothing.
So, we drove home.
I wrote to Hotel Icon and received a call...GREAT, I say.
I told the story and guess what? When I'm in Houston next, I get a FREE upgrade. Yes, a free upgrade! Oh, it is only worth a few dollars?
Hotel CON....that is all I have to say!
I would give it 1 star, but the room was actually very nice and the shower is splendid. So, that bumps it up a bit.
Hotel ZaZa all the way!
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Amazing lobby and room design, great restaurant, superbly nice staff, fantastic location, and one can take the metro rail to the museum district or medical center, as necessary. Also, they have a free pick-up and drop-off service within 3 miles of the hotel.
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My husband and I stayed here while in town for an interview. I have to say that the room was rather nice....the bathroom had a large shower and separate jacuzzi tub (which actually sort of overlooked the bedroom if you wanted it to via a french door window contraption), and the bedroom was spacious and comfortable. We did not have any issues checking in or getting service.
We had breakfast one morning in the main dining room, and that was decent. I hate when hotels serve Diet Cokes in those miniature bottles - they always, always, always taste flat. I don't know why hotels insist on using them and also charging $3.50 for one. That really annoyed me because I am quite the cranky girl without my morning Diet Coke. Just invest in a fountain machine, Hotel Icon.
I used the gym one day, and it was pretty nice by hotel standards - not upscale (and it's a little claustrophobic since it's in the basement), but it's better than the closets, I mean gyms, at a Hampton Inn for sure. There are multiple treadmills, TVs on the machines, etc. Perfect for a business trip.
I don't love downtown Houston, but we were very satisfied with this hotel for what we needed. The service was responsive, the room was clean and comfortable, the breakfast was satisfying, and the gym was convenient. I wouldn't plan to spend a week here, but it's a nice option for a quick trip or business visit. We didn't find it loud, but we were also fairly high up.
Oh, we also enjoyed a drink in the bar before dinner one night, and that was cool as well. Good selection and service in a neat atmosphere.
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What a beautiful hotel! Granted, I have not stayed here, but the decor and everything is amazing. We came here for a dinner at Voice, and will surely be back. And if I ever need a hotel in downtown H-town, this is going to be it, for sure!
The Icon is by far the best hotel that I have ever stayed at in Houston. Since I was in the "Dirty South", I figured I would make the most of my short stay here on business. I felt like a "Baller" as soon as I walked in, taking in all of the "Fresh" decor. The front desk was totally "Pimp" as it was in front of a giant 1900's bank vault. Service was extraordinarily "Fly" and "Dope" all at the same time. They really "Hooked me up" with some "Slammin'" service. As I "C-walked" up to my "Crib" I was blown away by how "Blinged-out" it was! The building was very interesting as it used to be an old bank, and the rooms were super "Crunk". We had an all day meeting in the Board Room upstairs and they totally "Threw some D's on" the service for our large group. The food was excellent, the servers attentive, and the locale comfortable. I would definitely stay here any time I am forced to come back to Houston. The one request they couldn't fulfill was the constant refilling of my "Iced-out Pimp Goblet", but I can understand as there were plenty of other "Trap stars" to take care of. They made my "City-bitch-ass" feel like a "Dirty South Playa" in the "H-town hood" in no time! "Props" Icon!
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After reading about Hotel Icon in several magazines about how it is the "hip" hotel in Houston, I decided to stay here while in town on business (side note - I am writing this review from my hotel room). For those from SF, Hotel Icon is very similar to the Clift -- so hip, it hurts. In any case, I got in around 11pm last night, and apparently my shitbox Chevy Impala was not up to snuff, because the valet guys were very unhelpful and almost a bit condescending. Perhaps I should have driven my Audi all the way from SF. In any case, the check-in went fairly smooth, and the lobby area is indeed a pretty cool looking place, although it was mostly deserted save for the drunken business guys with Blackberries who were boozing it up in the mezannine level bar. As for the room -- it's great. Very comfortable bed, great bathroom with an awesome shower, and the grilled chicken club sandwich I ordered for room service was one of the tastiest I've ever had. That being said, a big warning to all business travelers to Houston --- if you decide to stay here, the rooms are VERY LOUD! As in REALLY LOUD! There are train tracks nearby, huge trucks driving by at all hours, and a friggin bell tower that goes off every hour on the hour. Needless to say, I had a hard time falling asleep. But perhaps that's the point -- if you're a "hip" urban person that this hotel tries so hard to cater to, you won't give two shits about the noise because you'll be up partying and doing lines of coke all night. Overall, a decent place, but it sure as hell ain't SF or NY. Cheers!
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