We stayed here at a great weekend rate on 3/21/08, while attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Didn't spend much time in the hotel, but would come back and stay for sure. Easy check-in and out, immaculately clean rooms, and nice hot breakfast. Our room was very quiet - not a sound from any side. We didn't use the rooftop pool/spa or fitness room, but we checked them all out, and all were clean and well-kept (check out the view of Houston from the roof - a nice place to take your coffee early in the morning).

We didn't use hotel parking. The hotel is walking distance to many downtown Houston attractions, and only a block from the Metro (electric train) which takes you to the Medical Center, Museum District, and Reliant Center - very convenient and affordable ($1.00 each way).

The hotel is a refurbished office/newspaper building from the early 1930's - some of the old "character" has been maintained, but it definitely has all the modern conveniences. We stayed here based on other recommendations on this website, and were not disappointed.

We had never heard of the Magnolia. It was within walking distance of the George Brown Convention Center and looked nice, so we decided to give it a try. I have to believe that the price of the rooms here will increase. Only $129 per night, and it is lovely. A very old building that has been renovated, the lobby is very small -- and different. It has a contemporary decore, which is not my favorite, but it looked great. The facility saves the second floor for its common amenitites. A library. A lounge, a billard room, a bar. All very nice. Low, soothing lighting. Our group gathered on this floor. The kids (early teens) spent the evening in the library, the adults in the lounge, which seems like a very large, yet cozy, living room. Happy hour every evening, included, warm, mushy cookies and milk for the kids, included. Lovely rooms, marble, new carpet, in-room bar, included internet. Helpful staff. What else can I say? Just a very beautiful room and hotel overall at a very affordable price.

I have stayed at this hotel once before last August, and had a blast for a girlfriend's 30th. I did stay there again this past weekend while on business in Houston. First off, my fiance's company placed us at this God awful place in Greenway plaza (more on that later) and I had gotten an email in my mailbox that The Magnolia was running a special. It was $98 per night, which is awesome for downtown Houston especially since the Rodeo was in town. We booked it, and off we went. We checked in early around 12 noon, and had NO problem. The valets were fast, and they placed us in a standard room on floor 10 with a kind bed. I knew what to expect since I had stayed there before, but my fiance had not. The bellhop Maurice was VERY nice. he told us about local bars, lounges, places to have dinner, get a nice microbrew, and other things in the area. All of the staff in fact was very helpful and extremely hospitable. They called us at 5 to remind us about the free happy hour of beer and wine from 5:30-6:30, and we wondered downstairs to enjoy a cold Shiner. Later on we ordered room service (it took 20 minutes) and it was EXCELLENT! Spinach dip was awesome, and the desserts are great! Much better service and food than Hotel Zsa Zsa where we stayed the time before in Houston. The bed was filled with a duvet cover, pillows, and great high thread sheets, the garden tub was HUGE and very nice for two. All in all we had a great time, secured a fantastic rate, and everyone was VERY NICE. Maybe they turned it around since the last time it was reviewed, but I would stay there again with no problem!!!

A last-minute business trip to Houston found me at the Magnolia Hotel, downtown near Minute Maid Park. It was a Saturday night right before a big international convention, so the place was packed.

But when I arrived at the hotel, the front desk attendants couldn't find my reservation. Even when I handed them a printout with my reservation confirmation code, they still shrugged their shoulders and said, "sorry."

Suffice it to say, despite what was a beautiful, modernly decorated lobby, I was none too impressed with the staff at the Magnolia right off the bat.

So I called up American Express Traveler Services. After a half an hour on hold, they told me to talk to the Magnolia's manager on duty, an Alex Trojanowski. And from this point on, my experience at the Magnolia improved dramatically.

Alex apologized profusely for the glitch (even though it very well could have been American Express' fault), comped me two extra drinks at the 2nd-floor hotel lounge (on top of the standard Happy Hour two drinks free) and gave me a double in-room breakfast the following morning for no charge.

Oh, and Alex also put me in a suite for the same price as my regular room.

My reservation crisis averted, I quickly found out that Ms. Trojanowski isn't the only reason to love the Magnolia. It boasts Houston's only rooftop pool and jacuzzi area, offering a dazzling view of the skyline.

My suite was spacious and modern, with two televisions, a kitchenette, a full dining table and living area in addition to a large bathroom and ample bedroom. The king bed was comfortable and clean, but the pillows were a bit lumpy and hard; so if you're someone who's particular about their pillows, I would either request softer pillows or bring your own.

The bar at the Magnolia is large and inviting, with a two-free-drink happy hour on Saturday (I haven't stayed there any other night, so I don't know if it's just on the weekend). The bar also offers a complimentary milk-and-cookie bar late at night and a free breakfast bar in the morning. Didn't try those, but the milk-and-cookie bar sounded novel.

The in-room breakfast, on the other hand, was above-average. I enjoyed the scrambled eggs with maple sausage, potatoes and wheat toast. (But they were out of rye, which was disappointing.)

The free shuttle at the Magnolia is a major reason to stay there. I never waited more than 5 minutes, and it took me anywhere I wanted to go (all my destinations happened to be downtown). The shuttle is a roomy, comfortable SUV along the lines of a Yukon or a Suburban--not a clunky bus-type thing. The drivers do expect tips.

It should be noted that the Magnolia is rather close to a nightclub or two (like, a block away or so), and on the weekend you can hear the cars and the music. I was faintly aware of the noise while awake, but it was never loud enough to disturb me in my sleep.

So despite a rocky start, the staff, or at least Alex Trojanowski, went out of their way to make my stay at the Magnolia a comfortable one, in what is an already posh hotel in a convenient downtown location.