Siren’s Call
***This is not a paid post, I paid in full for my stay. All photos and opinions are entirely my own.
In an attempt to get away from all the madness surrounding the elections and de-stress I decided to treat myself to my first ever staycation at none other than the elegant Siren Hotel in Detroit. Nestled inside the historic Wurlitzer Building that had been deemed a hazard for decades, The Siren renovated the old space updating 106 glamorously decorated rooms and hosted their soft opening back in 2018. As if the luxuriously furnished space, and glowing review in Vogue, wasn’t enough of an appeal, they also opened a variety of on theme restaurants for both guests and non-guests to enjoy. Whether you want an inside peak of Siren Hotel or to find out if it’s is really worth the hype then keep reading.
Things to Know With COVID
Please note due to COVID you are required to wear a mask inside the building. The establishments inside the Siren including Populace Coffee, The Candy Room, Karl’s & Alebna may have different hours, require reservations which can be made online and might require your name and phone number should you choose to dine in. Valet is also not being offered at this time.
Getting to the Siren Hotel & Where to Park
Living close by I decided to drive myself downtown via I-75 South. From there it’s just a few short turns to the Siren. During the weekdays, especially during COVID, finding street parking won’t be a problem. You can park for 2 hours at a time for around $2 and there’s free parking from 10pm-7AM the next morning. To save yourself the hassle of keeping an eye on the meters the Opera House parking lot is right across the street and only costs $10 on a non-event night. You can also call ahead to see if they will have valet parking in place upon your arrival which will cost about $26 from what I’ve read in other reviews.
What’s Inside the Siren
If you’re unsure about staying the night at the Siren there are a quite a few places inside that are still worth checking. Their coffee shop called Populace Coffee, now open Wed- Sunday from 7AM-2PM, serves straight forward hot beverages and decadent pastries that you can enjoy in the beauty of the lobby. You can also grab a crafted cocktail from The Candy Bar whose claim to fame is its dreamy pink interior that’s totally IG worthy, make your reservations here. Karl’s a retro themed restaurant inside the hotel serves more casual fair. Albena, a progressive dining experience, features a multiple course fine dining meal which is on my list of places to try! Although they aren’t currently open at this time there is also Sid Gold’s Request Room which is a fun live piano Kareoke bar and Paramita Sound, a wine bar record shop. There’s also Social Club Grooming Company for men in need of hair care services. While I love that the Siren offers so many different experiences a note to guests that even with COVID it can get crowded. If you’re looking to escape your room to enjoy the ambiance of the lobby then first thing in the morning or between the closing of the Populace and opening of the Candy Bar is your best bet!
What Room Should You Book
Two important things you should know before booking your room: one, most of the rooms are not that big and two, all the rooms have a different layout with different furniture. I share this because it’s not completely obvious looking at the photos on the Siren’s website, or stalking on IG like I did, when booking. So if there’s a certain style of room you want be sure to call and confirm with the hotel beforehand. That being said all the rooms truly are beautifully styled, albeit not entirely in the most functional way. While you get to sleep in elegance with the mix of pastel linens and jewel toned furniture throughout the room there were also some basics missing like a coffee machine, microwave and fridge. The Siren also doesn’t offer room service at thist time. For an over night stay where you don’t plan to spend much time in the hotel I’d recommend any room from the Studio which starts at $189 to the the Parlor which starts at $219, that’s the price if you book on a weeknight. If you plan a weekend stay I suggest the Chamber Suite or the Parlor suite both around $290 a night on a weeknight and closer to $500 a night on the weekends. To really celebrate a special occasion then the Penthouse Suite, where I stayed, might be worth checking out.
A Look Inside the Penthouse Suite
As soon as you open the door marked “Penthouse Suite” you instantly feel like you’ve traveled back into the Frank Sinatra era. The dark wood floors guide your eyes to gorgeous sitting area with navy blue velvet chairs across from a plush couch in the same velvety blue. To the right past the burgundy spiral stair case is a vintage buffet that in a previous life must have been the center of the party as every gathered around reaching for the bottles of cognac and whiskey it held inside. Floating just above the buffet, two beautiful birds are molded into the wall. On the left is a dining area with an elegant chandelier straight out of the mid 1900’s dangling over a glass dining table surrounded by soft olive egg chairs. Out the window is a breathtaking view of Detroit and perhaps the perfect spot to watch a baseball game at Comerica Park. The bathroom features a pink Jack and Jill style sink as well a walk in shower with a waterfall shower head and retro black and white checkered floor tiles. Up the spiral staircase in the loft a king size bed awaited me with plush pillows and a wall mounted TV.
While the Siren’s Penthouse was a remarkably designed, extremely spacious room starting at $500 a night I was honestly surprised at the lack of amenities for the price. As previously mentioned there is no fridge, microwave or coffee maker in any of the rooms and the hotel also doesn’t offer room service which is also true for the Penthouse. There wasn’t any complimentary water, drinks or food in the room which at first I thought may have been COVID related but after reading some reviews it seems it’s not something the Siren offers. That means if you arrive later than check in on Sunday or anytime Monday or Tuesday you’ll pretty much have nothing to eat in the hotel since all the dining options are closed. There also is no workout facility, no pool, and no spa or salon options for women, just men need in hotel grooming I suppose. Having stayed my share of all inclusive resorts that offer food, drinks, aesthetically pleasing rooms as well as beautiful Air BnBs with owners that have provided refreshments for longer stays, both at a fraction of the price, the Penthouse experience at the Siren feels underwhelming by comparison.
What to See & Where to Eat in Detroit
If do you happen to check out the Siren and are a first timer in Detroit looking for things to do as well as places to eat during your stay I’m happy to report that Detroit is still flourishing even with COVID. The Siren is situated in the perfect location to walk to most of the places worth checking out in downtown Detroit. If you’re looking for something to do:
- grab a scooter and ride over to the Riverfront to enjoy the view of Canada
- walk over to Campus Martius to sit at the Beach in summer or skate at the skating rink in winter
- bike, rent a MoGO, or Uber to the Eastern Market on a Saturday and walk Dinquindre cut
- hop on the Q-line or bus and check out the Charles H. Wright Museum or the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)
In need of coffee to fuel your explorations? I love the lavender latte from Dessert Oasis! If you’re wanting a drink before dinner my favorite places are: The Standby and The Skip located in the iconic Belt alley. Both offer take away beverages that you can enjoy back at your room or at any of the places I mentioned above. When it comes to dinner I’m always at Wright & Co., their duck wings and octopus are must haves! I also recently tried San Morello and couldn’t get enough of their sheep’s milke cheese and prosciutto appetizers. The best places to grab breakfast in my opinion are Avalon Bakery or Iggy’s Eggies.
My stay at the Siren was my first boutique hotel experience so I really wasn’t sure what to expect. While I absolutely loved the idea of lounging in the luxuriously laid out rooms, I wasn’t a fan of not having the usual amenities that come with regular hotels and resort stays. Personally I’ve never minded spending large sums of money to experience nice places to stay. Whenever I do though it’s usually on places that feel like I’m also getting my monies worth. That being said the less expensive rooms would be worth staying one night during the week to get a feel for the hotel but if you’re looking for a more inclusive experience in terms of food or things to do in your hotel then you may want to consider some other options.
If you’re considering staying at the Siren I’d love to know if this helped you out or if you’ve ever been to the Siren I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
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