5 Reasons to Stay at the Lancaster Marriott
We had the BEST time for Daniel’s little birthday getaway weekend! Obviously with Covid we knew we had to play it safe, but at the same time I wanted to make his birthday as special as could be. We knew it was too risky to hop on a plane & travel somewhere out of state, so it had to be local-ish. We both have fond memories going to Lancaster as kids so when skimming IG for drivable destinations in PA, a Lancaster furniture store popped up & that’s when I knew!! An easy distance from Philly, lots to see + do, a gorgeous, clean downtown to explore & lots of yummy restaurants. So I worked with the Lancaster Marriott for a gifted stay & I have to tell you we loved every minute there!! There are so many reasons to book with Marriott, but I’ve gone ahead & outlined the 5 reasons why you specifically need to when choosing where to stay in Lancaster.
1. Location
When visiting Lancaster (or really any new place) you want to be in the center of it all, not only for convenience sake, but to be fully immersed. Let me tell you, you legitimately cannot get anymore centrally located than the Marriott Lancaster. It is in the PERFECT place — walking distance from so many cute coffee shops, book stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, home stores & more. Yes, we rented a car to get to the hotel, but once we got to the Marriott we parked in the garage & only used it once to head to the Tanger Outlets + Cocalico Creek.
Pro tip: it’s a TWO minute walk (if that) to the famous farmers market. If you do venture inside (which you totally should) check out allll the fresh bread, grab a juice from RiJuice (the red rose was out of this world), gawk over the mounds of sweet + colorful apples & definitely get a fresh pie, or doughnut, or cookie, orrrrr… you get the point :)
2. Cleanliness
If where I’m sleeping doesn’t seem clean or comfortable, it’s an immediate no-go for me. When staying at the Marriott we were shocked by how incredibly polished + fresh the room was. Every crevice was spotless & you could tell they went above + beyond when it came to Covid-19 safety protocol. Meaning, there was not the typical morning housekeeping (which we actually prefer!). When we needed something (like an extra clean towel or another box of tissues we just dialed down to the front desk & within minutes there was a knock at our door with the items we requested in a bag hanging on the door handle. The speedy, contactless drop-off was really appreciated!
3. Food + Drink
Let’s bow down to Plough which is on the first floor just steps off the lobby of the Marriott. We went into this complimentary dinner thinking, “Okay this should be good since the reviews are good.” And we left saying, “OMG that was one of the best meals we’ve had in a looooong time!!” The hotel has 3 restaurants (and an in-house Starbucks for days where you just don’t wanna leave). I’ll break down each restaurant for ya!
Plough - think romantic, sophisticated, special. Our entire time there we felt like we were in some lavish, hidden restaurant because although the place is quite large, it felt so intimate. Every single plate we ordered we loved! Highly recommend the brussels, mushroom lentil soup, roasted cauliflower & their newest dessert — the apple cake. UNREAL. Our server even brought out the chef so we could meet him - such a nice guy & SO talented.
The Exchange - think sleek, modern, posh. The rooftop views alone make this place a must! A perfect spot for a date, girls night out, even a guys night - nothing about the place is feminine so it’s really great for everyone! We loved the selection of drinks & the menu really does mirror Plough’s which was nice. I know I already mentioned it, but the views of downtown Lancaster really can’t be beat. You can sit fireside, stargaze, while enjoying a nice full-bodied glass of red wine. Literally sounds like the perfect nightcap!
Pro tip: make a reservation! The place is always in high demand.
Two Kings - we didn’t have a chance to go, BUT I’ve heard it’s a really great breakfast spot open on Saturday + Sunday’s. In the warmer months you can sit outside! This time of year, there is plenty of indoor seating that’s in a very aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.
4. Service
Like I mentioned in number 2, the attention to detail and speediness of any requests made were incredible. A small touch that really went a long way was the welcoming message staff wrote on our TV! Oh & everyone was SO friendly. The entire staff at the Lancaster Marriott was so cheerful, helpful & attentive.
5. History
You can tell by just looking at the property it’s the perfect mix of modern with old, historic charm. Turn out, Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square just completed its $39.4 million renovation and expansion project in Summer 2019!! (This explains all the modern, beautiful finishes.) The hotel itself is huge - 416 rooms! The story though? Turns out the Marriott is built around the historic Montgomery House. The 1804 mansion was built for the prominent local attorney, William Montgomery. The structure remains the only documented local work by architect Stephen Hills, who also designed the first Capitol building in Harrisburg. You can read lots more about it here!
