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The Plaza Hotel: Traveler Reviews

1007 North Cass Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (Downtown)
Hotel amenities
The Plaza Hotel
Ranked #30 of 51 hotels in Milwaukee
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34 reviews from our community

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Madison, Wisconsin
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Wouldn't Do It Again Until....”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed June 11, 2012

I'm a frequent traveler & have stayed in many Milwaukee hotels. I wouldn't stay at this one again until some major issues are resolved, BUT I do not dislike this place. I'll start by telling you what the Plaza is doing right. The front desk staff were the only hotel employees with whom I had contact. They were always genuinely friendly (not fake or forced). Our room was on the first floor & had good security bars on the windows for added safety- even though I would not characterize this as a particularly dangerous area. The neighborhood was quiet- even on a weekend night. They use a decent quality bed linen. And there is plenty of closet space. The hotel is close to everything we wanted while we were there for Pridefest. I have to say that even though our group was obviously gay, the staff didn't make us feel uncomfortable at all at this hotel. Pridefest was even listed on the "Events" sheet in the room's information book. There is a grocery store, liquor store & pharmacy right around the corner on a parallel street. Even if I don't stay here again, I would come by to eat at the cafe. The girls in my party who ate there were very impressed with the food.

The Plaza is in a very old building. We had creaking floors, cracked tiles & worn carpeting. There was an incessent beeping from the smoke alarm right outside our room during our entire stay. But the real issues with our stay were 1) The clerk did not ask for my name or my ID when I locked myself out. She took my word for what room I was in- even though she was not the clerk on duty when I left. I could have been anybody. Granted, I don't look like a criminal, but I've heard horror stories about people gaining access to hotel rooms this way. They need a procedure in place for lockouts. 2) There are NO full-length mirrors. In fact the only mirror was a small one at face level in the bathroom. Mirrors are really cheap. And it was ABSOLUTELY horrible for all of us women trying to get dressed without one. 3) When we asked about parking, the clerk told us there was only street parking. That meant we had to park & re-park to meet the 2 hour time limits on the signs. What a hassle!

Those are all repairable issues, so I hope the management will be able to address them. This has the potential to be a much better hotel.

  • Stayed June 2012, traveled with friends
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
BARNCA, Director of Sales at The Plaza Hotel, responded to this review
June 13, 2012
The Plaza Hotel is in the process of updating furnishings, etc. Full length mirrors are presently being installed. The section where this guest stayed is in that process this week. There is new carpeting in the entire hotel, as well as bedding & furniture. The hotel dates to 1925 and we do have creaky floors & some cracked tiles in some areas. However, this is an extremely clean hotel. All fire alarms have been checked for beeping. The hotel procedure does have a security measure in place where an ID must be requested. In checking, the front desk person on duty had been with the property for 2 weeks and this has been addressed. The hotel also has 3 accessible parking lots within one block. There should not have been a need to park on the street. This has also been addressed with the front staff.
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Houston, TX
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
7 hotel reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
“Could be better”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 11, 2012

I like historic buildings and hotels, so I enjoyed the look and feel of this hotel. However, the bathroom was a bit shaby, (cracked grout, leaky faucet, etc.) and our room lacked several necesseties such as an iron/ironing board, full length mirror, and a bedside table and lamp for each bed (for some strange reason, the only bedside table was on one side of one of the beds, not between the two beds.) Also, I don't know if I would stay at this hotel in the summer as I did not see any vents for A/C and there was no temp. control in the room. Pluses: the location, (quiet neighborhood near the lake) the price, kitchenette in the room, and the cafe on the first floor - we had a wonderful breakfast there one morning. Don't know that I will stay here again.

  • Stayed May 2012, traveled with family
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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See 8 more reviews by CollegeParent45 for Milwaukee
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Maple Grove, Minnesota
Top Contributor
52 reviews 52 reviews
15 hotel reviews
Reviews in 30 cities Reviews in 30 cities
25 helpful votes 25 helpful votes
“Inexpensive and convenient location”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 8, 2012

The Plaza is an old building which seems to be undergoing some renovation. The front lower level, including the cafe, is very nice. (The cafe is quite good, by the way, and appears to be a be a go to choice for breakfast and lunch.) We stayed on the first floor, and the hallway and back entrance near our room needs a lot of work. the room had been renovated quite a bit, and was quite pleasant. A kitchenette was included, and all the furniture and furnishings were fairly new. The view through the window and bars to the parking lot of the next building left a lot to be desired. The room didn't have an air conditioner, so even though it is close to Lake Michigan, I imagine it could get stifling in there in the summer. (It did have a ceiling fan.) The only mirror was on the medicine cabinet, so they should think about putting up a cheap body length mirror somewhere. After having said all this though, this hotel was exactly what we were looking for - inexpensive, quiet, and a quick walk/drive to Lake Michigan, local attractions, and the fun areas of town. If you are visiting Milwaukee for the city, and don't plan on spending much time at the hotel, this is a very good place.

  • Stayed May 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask parksvisitor about The Plaza Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
BARNCA, Director of Sales at The Plaza Hotel, responded to this review
May 10, 2012
Air conditioning units are placed in each guest room as soon as the weather warrants.
Full length mirrors are being installed on the bathroom doors.
Back doors are being repaired and more lighting installed in the hallways.
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Detroit, Michigan
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
“Plaza Charm”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 25, 2012

My husband and I stayed 4 days at the Plaza during the April Artwalk weekend. It was a wonderful experience. The Plaza feels like a charming European hotel. Our room was beautifully revovated, extremely neat and clean, and the bed was very cushy. It even had a kitchen, which came in very handy. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Be sure to eat at least one breakfast in the Plaza Cafe - it is amazing! In addition to the hotel guests, there was always a large group of locals there every day to enjoy the fabulous omelets. One morning I tried the oatmeal raisin pancakes with vanilla creme - delicious! For the price, I think the Plaza is probably the best deal in Milwaukee. It is well located within walking distance to the lakefront, downtown, the Art Museum, and we even walked to the Historic Third Ward in about 20 minutes - which is a very pleasant walk if the weather is cooperating. Despite being so close to downtown, the neighborhood is residential, quiet, and feels very safe. Highly recommended, would definitely stay there again.

Room Tip: There are really nice 2 bedroom units with kitchens on the second floor, but you have to be willing...
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  • Stayed April 2012, traveled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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See 4 more reviews by Deborah H for Milwaukee
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Holland, Michigan
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Milwaukee Pub Tour The Plaza Hotel”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 13, 2012

My husband & I and another couple stayed at The Plaza Hotel for our winter pub crawl. We arrived early before check in time and were able to get right into our room. We got the 2 bedroom suite, with 2 bathrooms and a kitchen. It was recently remodeled since the hotel was built in 1927 and our room was excellent! Very clean and spacious for 2 couples, the kitchen was very useful and the bedding was pristine! Two plasma tvs and free wifi. The hotel also has a small cafe diner and while the food is a little on the pricey side, it was excellent and plentiful. This hotel has it all, location, price, the cafe and a very helpful staff. We are already planning next years tour. I would also recommend the Lakefront Brewery Tour, The Romain Coin, The Nomad and The Hi Hat for the burgers!

  • Stayed February 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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See 2 more reviews by Jaxnewholland for Milwaukee
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Additional Information about The Plaza Hotel

Address: 1007 North Cass Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Region: United States > Wisconsin > Milwaukee > Downtown
Amenities:
Free High-Speed Internet Kitchenette Pets Allowed Restaurant Suites
Hotel Style:
Ranked #30 of 51 hotels in Milwaukee
Price Range: $$
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
The Plaza has been a fixture on Milwaukee's eastside since the roaring 1920's. This art deco gem has been thoughtfully renovated to restore many of the stunning original architectural details while providing for the modern amenities & the latest technology today's traveler demands. Nestled in a residential nook of the Yankee Hill neighborhood, the Plaza is just 4 blocks from Lake Michigan and the city's lakefront attractions. Within walking distance to some of the city's best restaurants, nightlife, arts, sports, etc. Grocery store, churches, art galleries & shopping are all nearby. On-site parking for a minimal fee, kitchenettes & laundry room. Cafe at the Plaza, open 7am-2pm. Known for it's great breakfasts! Sitting on the edge of downtown, you will find the Plaza to be a relaxing urban retreat.Property has air conditioning in the summer months. AC unit installed based on weather conditions. ... more   less 
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