Saint Kate The Arts Hotel Review: Luxury with an Artsy Twist in Milwaukee, WI

Looking for a luxury hotel that offers top amenities and an experience? We found that and more at The Arts Hotel -Saint Kate. There was so much to experience and this location brought forth so many emotions for my family. The sights, sounds and vibe were ideal for not only our family vacation but I could see a romantic getaway and business trip options in the future. So, just sit back and take a visual journey through our joyous three night stay right in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, WI and just minutes from Lake Michigan.

• Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel
• Location: 139 E Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
• Website: www.saintkatearts.com
• Phone Number: (414) 276-8686
• Area Information including nearby attractions: www.visitmilwaukee.org

Saint Kate is boasted as one of the most esteemed hotels with an elite award repertoire, offering guests a modern luxury hotel experience with an artful twist. From the moment you drive past the hotel, your senses are filled with colorful blooms and curb appeal that is only can be described as artistic within it’s prime location in the entertainment district. By the time our stay was complete, we were already planning our return visit to this unique hotel and vast life Milwaukee has to offer.

Saint Kate serves as a creative hub for the city, where every aspect of the hotel is inspired by music, painting, sculpture, and design. It is a place to discover, a place to remember, and a place to connect.

saintkatearts.com

Check-in was just the way we like it. Completely hands off and simple. Saint Kate offers an app with mobile check-in and a digital room key. Long is gone of the days of having to cart around those floppy card keys to gain access to your room and hotel amenities. In doing this though, we missed out on the Signature Saint Kate welcome beverage which I believe is a cotton-candy champagne. Be sure to not make our mistake and stop by the front desk for assistance if you select to check-in digitally.

We began our journey by parking in the underground parking garage (Cost: $30 daily) which is shared with the businesses that also accompany the building. However, we found that parking was still ample enough for hotel guests but would have preferred they had a reserved section. Most of the time we ended up with a small trek to the elevators but nothing that would be deemed an issue.

They do offer Tesla charging stations. We did not notice them; so, be sure to inquire in advance if needed.

No matter which of the three entrances of Saint Kate The Arts Hotel you select, you are greeted with art and a classy nightlife scene. We arrived early evening and found a good number of visitors chatting and taking in the art with drinks in hand. It was the depiction of an artist luxury gathering. After all, what makes an art museum more special but cocktails and great company.

The Arts Hotel – Saint Kate Details at a Glance:

• 219 modern guestrooms
• 11,600 square feet of meeting space
• 5 unique culinary experiences
• Black box theater
• Multiple gallery and exhibition spaces
• Walking distance from notable art attractions in Milwaukee’s entertainment district, the Third Ward, and the Fiserv Forum.

Saint Kate was simply inspired by Saint Catherine, the patron saint of artists and known to be the original champion of the creative process. They take this inspiration and the give it a striking modern direction ensuring that every area your eye can see from the moment you enter the hotel doors, brings an emotional response and almost giddy joy. Especially, to those of us who are empathic or simply have a fond love for the arts and expressionism. As she would so remark…. To remind you: there’s beauty in the process. Keep going.

Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks, your path is the right path.

Saint Catherine

Saint Kate Art Tour App

You know that feeling you get in a museum when you just wished you knew more about the piece. Ever think I wish there was an app for that? Well there is at The Arts Hotel – Saint Kate in Milwaukee, WI.

You can truly enhance your experience with this app. Curated with an eye toward Midwestern artists, the art collections at Saint Kate – the Arts Hotel in Milwaukee include established and emerging artists recognized on both the national and international stages. We just simply had to know more and were excited to find that we could literally emerge ourselves in a visually and audibly experience while learning more about the works and the creators who made them.

Currently on Display at Saint Kate

• The Saint Kate Seed Collection: An ever-growing, ever-changing spread of contemporary art that is scattered throughout the hotel
• MOWA | DTN Art Gallery: A new gallery from our partners, The Museum of Wisconsin Art.
• The Gallery: A traditional white cube gallery featuring group shows or solo exhibitions by artists.
• The Space: A non-traditional exhibition space for artists to exhibit large scale, site-specific installations.
• The Closet: A small exhibition space featuring immersive art experiences.
• The Arc Theater: A flexible black-box style performance space.

Saint Kate is truly more than a hotel for guests to experience a luxury stay and art experience. It was created as a venue, a platform for exploration, connection, and expression. For that reason, they regularly collaborate with local artists to celebrate their own artistic expression in all forms. Allowing a local flare and the ability for those chosen to shine a light on the vibrancy of the personal process, the beauty of that progress.

We love giving back to our community and in taking on these local artists, Saint Kate holds a special place in our heart. Bringing light to those who are an inspiration to the creative natures and often struggles of art expression. I am left in awe of the pieces that we experienced and the emotions brought forth with the journey. “BRAVO!”

Saint Kate Guest Rooms

With every hotel stay, one of the most important aspects is the room itself. Does it bring comfort, joy, safety? All of these are a strong, yes! A Saint Kate room uniquely balances artful creativity with modern luxuries giving you a feeling that is homey with a bonus of play. Let me explain…

Basic needs are meet with a bonus of class that you expect from a luxury hotel. All guests have complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, wireless cell phone charging station in-room, room safe and local telephone calls. Each room contains a 49″ flat-screen TV with access to premium channels like Hulu and Netflix in which you are auto logged out of at checkout!

Complimentary coffee + tea service available all day in the lounge area right off the elevator. Fully-equipped, on-site fitness center open 24 hours for guests only. Business center services available through the Front Desk. Five dining options on-site open daily.

Each room includes a custom mattress set with luxuriously soft linens and plentiful “awe moment” pillows which provided me a restful sleep after everyone of my busy days exploring the sights of Milwaukee, WI. They looked and smelled fresh and ready to be greeted like company you are excited to see.

While the linens were top of the line quality, they were also plain jane white on white (to be expected), the additions of artsy quarter quilt, thoughtfully curated selection of art in-room created by a Wisconsin-based artist and stylish lamp shades brought me to a joyful place where I was excited to give in and just take a break from the day.

Even the bathroom offered a stylish and industrial look that was welcoming and inspired us to reconsider a few things in our own home. I might sound a bit selfish but I am excited over the possibility of see what our newest remodel will look like after this visit.

Each restroom area comes complete with spa-inspired bath products, plush bathrooms, hairdryer, iron, and ironing board. Fairly standard in a luxury hotel room. Though, I have to admit that my favorite Saint Kate Erase Bar Soap by Niki Johnson. Even better, these are available for purchase at the shop located near the front desk area, known as Kate’s Closet, where you’ll find sundries, art supplies, and unique souvenirs.

Each room contains a comfortable desk with rolling chair. Big enough for a day of work with a view or you can experience a little creative me-time drawing on the in-room paper scroll and colored pencils. My youngest really enjoyed this feature when mom and dad needed a break from all of the excitement of on-the-go Milwaukee.

We also loved the ability to share a bit of the past with our children during this visit. Saint Kate offers art via way of music that can be experienced on the ole school record player and a small selection of classic vinyl provided. They do offer a larger selection of vinyl records at the front desk. So, be sure to take advantage.

The kicker for us though was the ukulele in every room. Both of my boys went right for this and played tunes for us several times over our three-night stay. It was so great to see them take a interest in something other than video games and videos online. It really brought us back to a place before the healthcare scare where we traveled experiencing and learning new facts and skills along the way.

Proof Pizza – Saint Kate

• Dine-In, Carryout + Patio seating available
• Visit ProofPizzaMKE.com for more details

This location is small, neighborhood pizzeria located inside Saint Kate but still accessible to patrons that are not hotel guests as well. You have two areas of entry – an outside doorway directly into Proof Pizza and through Saint Kate itself.

Proof Pizza is said to be a fast-casual Neapolitan style pizza joint that balances old-world character and modern design, resulting in the best pizza in downtown Milwaukee. Featuring classic flavors and techniques, modern ambiance, and casual service, Proof serves traditional Neapolitan pizza cooked to perfection in a wood fired stone oven, Italian snacks, sandwiches, and salads alongside a fun selection of Italian sodas.

For us, Proof Pizza was the perfect dinner option after our 8 hour road trip drive from Iowa to Milwaukee. It was right on sight and we do love a good slice of pie. It is hard to claim a favorite since we all would disagree. Here’s what was on our dinner table:

• Mom’s Favorite: Margherita Pizza made with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, basil, extra virgin olive oil.
• Dad and Elliot’s Favorite: Pepperoni Pizza made with mozzarella, pepperoni, romano cheese.
• Dylan’s Favorite: Genoa Pizza Basil made with pesto sauce, burrata, cheese, cherry tomatoes, prosciutto, parmesan.

In the end, Saint Kate in Milwaukee reconnected us as a family. It allowed us a safe space with all of our needs met where we could just relax and enjoy every moment we were on the property. Every conversation with the staff was friendly and helpful. The amenities were awe inspiring. They truly thought of everything an individual or a family might add to a wish list for a art hotel. It was a grand experience that we would suggest for many styles of travelers looking to stay in the Milwaukee, WI area.

Have you visited Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel? Share your experiences or why you want to visit with us in a comment below. Happy Travels MDefined FAM!