The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza, a AAA 4 Diamond-rated hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, is grand. It’s the grand that evokes images of movie stars and other notable people of days gone by. Renovations and updates, however, have embraced the 21st century while retaining the classic style of yesterday. This makes Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza’s place on the Historic Hotels of America list well deserved. Part of the Royal Sonesta brand since 2017, each area of the hotel is a visual treat.
Elegance is Steeped into this St. Louis, Missouri Beauty
A large crystal chandelier sparkles in the hotel’s lobby, and marble floors gleam. High ceilings, classic European-American-style furniture with a modern touch, large-framed paintings, and gold-framed mirrors create an atmosphere of tasteful elegance.
On my visit, orchids in the foyer and on accent tables added to the elegance. Elegant grandness was the hotel’s signature when it opened as the Hotel Chase in 1922. The Italian Renaissance-style hotel gained recognition as a place to see and be seen. In the 1960s, when it merged with the next-door Park Plaza hotel, it became The Chase Park Plaza with grandeur multiplied.
Along the wide hallway from the lobby, framed photographs, photos etched in glass windows, and text depict the hotel’s history from its beginning as a St. Louis darling. This history includes famous guests from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan to Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mick Jagger.
A Significant Part of St. Louis and American History
The Prohibition Era and the Civil Rights Movement are part of the history as well. In 1923, during Prohibition, Chase Park Plaza made the front-page news of The New York Times. When a whiskey raid on New Year’s Eve upended a party, the brawl between the police and those in attendance was quite the stir. Years later, when singer Harry Belafonte swam in the hotel’s pool, he was the first black American to take a dip here.
This slice of St. Louis again made history, this time as a welcoming place. Making guests feel welcome is a hotel forte. The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza is a hotel where one feels special. At the reception desk, a staff member warmly greeted me and provided information about hotel amenities and dining options. She also pointed out the significance of Forest Park, located across the street from the hotel. It’s one of the largest public parks in the United States, surpassing Central Park in New York City.
She also gave me a handout about the hotel’s amenities bounty. There’s a barbershop, one of the best hotel fitness centers I have ever seen, and a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor swimming pool. Three restaurants, Chase Club, The Preston, and The Tenderloin Room, offer creative menu items from pub fare to fine-dining steak. I experienced two of them.
Dining at The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza
My husband and I headed to the Chase Club with its Art Deco vibe for drinks and a late-night snack. Sitting at the bar with a glass of Malbec, my husband’s local beer, and the appetizer Pimento, a flavorful cheese spread with pickled red onions and crackers, gave us a chance to chat with the bartender and another guest. Although our weeknight at the Chase Club was laid-back and quiet, on weekends the club buzzes with locals, guests, and live music. The band Griffin and The Gargoyles, part of the monthly line up is a fan favorite and touted as one the best cover bands in St. Louis.
In the morning, we ate at The Preston, the dining room where a mix of framed art fills the walls. As with Chase Club, there are creative twists on menu classics. I had a perfect breakfast of Asparagus Asiago Benedict served with vegetables and herb potatoes and a side of seasonal fruit. So good.
About the Guest Rooms
The guest rooms at Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza include Chase Queen, Chase King, Chase Two Queens, and a Chase One Bedroom Suite Queen.
We stayed in the suite, a lovely, spacious oasis of powder blue accents and classic, well-appointed furnishings. This is a perfect respite from the city bustle of St. Louis. My husband lamented that the large walk-in closet is not in our house. An iron, ironing board, mini-fridge, Keurig coffee maker, and hair dryer provide all one needs for a comfortable stay.
Each room in the suites has a large flat screen TV. A work desk and desk chair are part of the living room furniture, which also includes a sofa bed. The marble bathroom, high-end toiletries, and plush towels reflect the hotel’s elevated style. Even room key cards have the Royal Sonesta touch. Our keycards reflect the Royal Sonesta brand. Before heading out for a walk to Forest Park, we settled into the living room after our several-hour drive, enjoying this space designed for relaxation.
A Route 66 Package Deal that Elevates a Stay
Currently, in celebration of Route 66’s 100th birthday, Our American Story’s Route 66-themed package is a perfect idea. It comes with overnight valet parking, 2 movie tickets, popcorn and a popcorn bucket, sightseeing maps to local attractions, a Route 66 coffee table book, and a treat at the Route 66 Donut Drive-In.
Chase Park Plaza Cinema, a five-screen movie theater with a bar, is part of the hotel’s property. During our stay, Devil Wears Prada 2 was playing. You can purchase Route 66 items in the hotel’s gift shop. St. Louis and Missouri-themed gifts and more are part of the bounty, along with candy, snacks, clothing, and cards.
While in St. Louis, Head to Forest Park
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Get a Car Rental
Getting to Forest Park from Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza is as easy as walking to the end of the block and crossing the street. Forest Park is a lush, lovely park of flower gardens, lakes, streams, trails, and historic landmarks. During my walk, I came across deer, a heron taking off from the stream, and a memorial to Jewish settlers. Within the park’s 1,300 acres, one can visit the St. Louis Art Museum, the zoo, and the St. Louis Science Museum, among others. This puts the Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza Hotel near several sites worth seeing.
Currently, room rates on the hotel website start at $274 and vary by season. There is a fee for parking. One can choose either valet or self-parking.
Check rates for Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, or Hotels.com.
My stay at the Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza was complimentary for review purposes while I was researching St. Louis. The opinions are my own.
