100 Townsend St., at Henrietta, is a classic London-style townhouse-hotel in the heart of this fashionable suburban town, and it has a hold on the top end of the market. This place offers tasteful traditional decor, excellent service and sumptuous accommodations.
The postmodern smoked-glass exterior of the four-story building reflects its individuality in this well-heeled Detroit suburb. The opulent lobby, graced with Waterford chandeliers, has bronze elevator doors framed in marble, fluted wood columns, a marble fireplace, a piano and a small library. A second elegant sitting area has murals copied from those at London's Victoria & Albert Museum. Gentility reigns here, with the hotel's famed tea still served on heirloom bone china and crisp linen. The pricey grill is styled like an English club and staffed with deft professionals, and the bar has a discreet environment for the pinstripe set.
The ballroom, with more Waterford chandeliers and space for 350, is the most elegant in the metro area. A separate street entrance opens to the pre-function area and eases the lobby traffic flow. The hotel offers a high-tech fitness center with individual headsets and TV monitors. The business center allows free access to a trio of computers and all the extras, including high-speed Internet.
Wide, luxurious hallways offer flattering illumination, freshly cut flowers and upholstered chairs. The traditionally styled guest rooms show a somewhat dated style featuring dark woods, thick matching drapes and fabrics, high-quality art, upholstered side chairs and ottomans, desks, TVs, minibars and safes. Beds come with Egyptian cotton sheets and plump duvets. Air conditioning units work well, but are noisy. Marble baths are in need of upgrades but still supply brass fixtures, robes, slippers, scales, hair dryers, magnifying mirrors and high end toiletries. Discreet high-tech features include data ports for high speed Internet along with wireless access. Most rooms come with VCRs. More than half the lodgings are well-designed suites with curtained double doors separating bedrooms from full-sized sitting rooms. These luxurious units are grand in scale yet provide good value. Turndown leaves freshly baked goodies behind, and room service runs nonstop.
Everything here, from the smiling doorman and courtesy umbrellas at the entrance to the tuxedoed waiters and sparkling chandeliers inside, helps set an air of elegance, but the hotel is beginning to age in places.
