5 Reasons to Visit Hotel Carmichael Carmel for a Winter Staycation
Winter is always the time of year that the grey days seem longer, and the occasional cold spells remind me, maybe I wasn't born for Midwestern winters. Then I'm introduced to gorgeous spots like the Hotel Carmichael in Carmel and I realize... it's not that I wasn't born for Midwestern winters, it's that I've been at this all wrong.
This past month, a group of CityMoms and I decided to visit Hotel Carmichael for a moms-only staycation night. We enjoyed their daily 4pm champagne toast, ogled all the delightfully thoughtful details of design (hellooooo crystal chandeliers!), and pinched ourselves for discovering the short drive to Hamilton County was totally ripe for a winter staycation.
Here are 5 Reasons to Visit Hotel Carmichael Carmel for a Winter Staycation:
1. It's the perfect touch of luxury.
I'll just say it: From the outside, you'd never know what a perfect destination this is, literally in the heart of Carmel. The exterior of the building is a fairly non-descript, brown brick. But once the doors open, you find yourself in a beautifully-tiled lobby, crystal chandeliers overhead, art pieces on the walls, gold and brass finishings everywhere. The way we were so kindly treated at check-in by the reception staff was just the cherry on top.
2. The rooms accommodations are even more luxurious.
The gorgeous aesthetic we mentioned above? It continues to the hotel rooms - we loved the brass shower fixtures and heavy curtains, but the real luxury (for these sleep-deprived moms that is!) were the big, plush beds. One in our group got a large king, the rest of us shared double bed rooms - all were perfect for a girls' group night away. (Bonus, the cleanliness of the hotel is an absolute A+. Can they visit and make my house this spotless too?)
3. There are multiple dinner options… but do Feinstein's.
Feinstein's - located on the lower level of Hotel Carmichael - offers live entertainment and dining experiences in an elegant setting. We sat in a booth on the back wall and although furthest from the stage, it was not a sacrifice for the experience. The sound was perfect for the onstage entertainment, and our group of 5 raved over the food. If you can visit on a night when Ryan Ahlwardt and his wife Lauren perform, we loved them!
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4. Enjoy after-dinner drinks or dessert.
Now, ofc there is daily live music in the first floor Adagio Lounge off the main hotel entrance - and we loved the adjacent mahogany-paneled library to sip our drinks. But if the Adagio is busy, you can venture out of the Hotel Carmichael square to all the Carmel City Center has to offer. Dessert at the famed Cake Bake Shop is always a good idea or take a short drive to the nearby Carmel Arts & Design District is always a good thing.
5. The next morning, head to Vivante Carmel for brunch.
Yes, Vivante Restaurant & Bar - yet another beautiful onsite spot for dining - is open for dinner too, so if dinner + entertainment ala Feinstein's isn't your thing, for sure check out Vivante. We decided to save Vivante though for the next-morning brunch and I'm so glad we did! Located right off the Monon Trail, their brunch menu is absolutely to die for. (Honestly how have I not considered this as a brunch option before now?!) I loved the crabcake benedict, one of our gals snagged the berry french toast. But the best part - especially for a little outdoor time in the winter season - were the Monon Trail-adjacent greenhouses, just off the outdoor terrace. This setting gave us a more intimate space for our group, killer views of the Palladium Concert Hall across Carter Green, and frankly, who doesn't love a mini greenhouse? These typically launch around the holiday season - you can reserve yours on OpenTable.
