While I give kudos to the developer for this project and adding new life to an old gem, we stayed in what I believe the desk clerk called their "presidential suite" and I believe when we booked was the "Lafayette Suite" - way over priced for the Buffalo market and the value of the room. Lots of flash and style - not a lot of substance for a hotel stay. Spacious suite with nothing to show for it...the fireplace was some designers version of "cool" - it was a hologram! The bathroom creeped me out w/ all the windows and the no door to the shower made me freeze if I wasn't right under the water. For $300 a night on a romantic getaway - I want a fireplace and a jacuzzi tub - not just "flashy". There was no hand towel by the sink, had to go back into the shower over the tub to get a towel and had no place to hang it. The one towel hook by the shower kept falling down. The shower stall was never completed and missed in a the "punchlist" phase. The ceiling heat right over the bed is like cold air blowing on you all night. No phone by the bed. No fridge, no microwave and I didn't even get the motif of the room - Egypt meets the Jetsons? We looked high and low and never found any directory of services in the room but a Room Service Menu for the American Grill. They have several tenants and no advertisement to let you know your options while at their property. We did get room service it is was the most enjoyable part of the stay (aside from my company!) And I can't believe they have the nerve to say "it includes continental breakfast in the morning" - what sorry spread. When I arrived I was in the Front Desk area for about 5 minutes and no one was ever at the desk. Someone could have easily stolen the guest's bags being "stored" behind the desk. Glad it wasn't my bag! Please hire someone with a background in the hotel business...not designers and developers...to make this a true great Buffalo experience for visitors. Once the novelty wears off, so will the praise. Believe me I have 30 years experience in the hotel business and have stayed in some very "posh" hotels and suites - including in Buffalo...this boutique may fool basic Buffalonians but true visitors and travelers will soon be seeking out the Hampton Inn & Suites, the Embassy Suites or the Mansion on Delaware - where you truly get luxury and excellent service for a bargain cost compared to this hotel.

Buffalo's answer to Toronto's Drake Hotel. Sort of.

How much you like it here I think will depend upon whether you prefer a hip, retro feel over the luxuries of an upscale hotel.

You enter the lobby and see a large wooden vintage airplane mural with round silver metal chairs and plane bucket seats. The colours scheme is grey, taupe, silver metal, masculine and 50's. Our 1-bedroom suite had whimsical touches like a ceramic dog and an oversize drug store clock. The self standing shower beside the tub was beautiful, the feather duvet luxurious and a great bed. 2 fireplaces and 2 TVs. What's not to love? It depends. By the second day, after we'd thoroughly admired and agreed it was all very cool, I missed the tradeoff of a warm, welcoming interior and the kind of luxury you'd find a nice hotel like The Mansion on Delaware.

On the plus side: Drinks downstairs at the beautiful art deco bar were great. Unique custom drinks worth trying: (Rye, rum and maple; gin and tonic with grapefruit; and an alcoholic beet drink... Really. Don't ask.) We skipped the Pan American Grill & Brewery downstairs after deciding the look of the place may be the best thing about it--imagine a more authentic Ruby Tuesday. The restaurant is basically one big open room and it was insanely noisy. We left. Good call as the best restaurant in Buffalo in my books hands down, is Trattoria Amora, 5 minutes away by cab, book early to get a seat, and stroll beautiful Elmwood Ave. while you wait. Amaaaaaazing food and I don't even particularly like italian food. You have to go there.

Last tips: Go downstairs to the bakery Butterfields before you leave the hotel and buy the most beautifully decorated cupcakes and cookies to take home. Many people liked the florist and gift shops, which are worth a look.

And when you book, get the guy, not the girl. (I hate when I have to be the one to ask if the rate the woman gave me was the best rate--and it wasn't! An additional CAA/AAA discount reduced the rate--but why do I have to be the one to ask? Why give a customer a higher rate when you have a lower one for the same room? Duh. She was also no help when I asked about attractions. The guy was as helpful as she was not.)

The hotel is in downtown Buffalo, not the best location--safe but deserted. But a short drive to the action.

If you like the sound of staying in a beautiful old hotel that has been renovated into retro cool, you'll probably really like it here. But it is pretty distinctive so it may not be for everyone. To echo an earlier comment, the halls were wide, open, grey and retro--and felt like you were in a scene out of the movie The Shining. That about sums it up. I enjoyed the visit, but been there, done that and would likely book at a warmer, cozier place next time. But worth a night just to gawk and admire.

I stay at the hotel frequently and have visited it's wonderful restaurants many times. Each experience has been consistent...wonderful! The hotel itself is magnificent maintaining it's original charm with a touch of elegant modern character. The rooms are beautiful. A good friend of mine said..."I could just go on vacation here in this room!". The individuals at the hotel are accomodating and welcoming adding to the great experience. There are three restaurants that offer each it's own experience and a variety of food culture. You have your choice of a sophisticated and worldly steakhouse, Michael A's, that offers you food combinations and presentations you would never think of that are delightful. You could venture downstairs to Butterwoods where the room opens up to elegance with an alluring ambiance as it used to exist as the old speak easy. The restaurant has a beautiful bar, savory and sweet menu and my favorite, a display of their well known and loved deserts ready for you to select. On the flip side, if you were looking just to be low key, grab a bite of Buffalo's favorite foods such as a juicy burger, wings, pizza and flatbreads, you can cozy up to a delicious house brew and food selection at the Pan American Grill. Bottom line, the Hotel Lafayette is a world of it's own that must be experienced!

Andrea E.

We recently stayed at the Hotel at the Lafayette and were more than pleasantly surprised! Booked through Hotwire, which can be hit or miss. Not really knowing anything about the hotel, we did not know what to expect. There is no pull-off for check-in but cars seemed to be fine pulling to the curb to check-in and unload. We used the valet parking option which was reasonable and convenient. Since it was a hotwire booking, we originally had a standard room. I asked the very friendly woman at the desk about upgrading to a suite with a sitting area. She was incredibly gracious and said she would try but didn't know how to charge the difference. She inquired of the manager and he upgraded us for free. A great start to our Thanksgiving weekend. The room itself was beautiful, comfortable. Art deco without being cold. (How can it be cold with a gas fireplace in the sitting area?) The bed was super comfortable and the room was so quiet and dark, I could have slept for hours. The hotel itself was extraordinary. The restoration was done so artfully and tastefully. The restaurants and bars inside were incredible. From the PanAmerican grill, to Butterwoods, and Michael A's (which we didn't eat at but will next time), it was like a little resort. What we really loved though was the customer service. Everyone was so nice, so accommodating and there was this ever-present feeling that everyone who worked there was so very proud of the Lafayette. Thank goodness someone rescued this beautiful building. We will definitely stay again!