As a hotel, especially in a fairly small town, this place is elegant, incredibly comfortable, and full of history. The rates are more than in any other hotel in town (unless I missed something!), but it is well worth it if you have the dough. The building was one of the first in Lawrence and was the home of many of the original residents of Lawrence. It also was part of the fire territory during Quantrills Raid. If you're interested in local lore (and/or supposed hauntings), this is the place for you. The beds are likely clouds and they have amazingly soft and cozy sheets, comforters, and pillows. The room sizes are large, and a recent upscale remodel features marble, granite, and more in the bathrooms. I love the location in the heart of downtown, easy for walking to shops, restaurants, and bars. The Eldridge is within a block of Liberty Hall (classic movie theatre and show venue) as well as Free State Brewery (a local favorite restaurant that makes many of its own beers) and a ton of other places. Downstairs has a restaurant, bar, and banquet facilities. The bad: I attended a wedding reception there, and a server poured an ENTIRE tray of champagne on me. I did not get an apology let alone a towel or anything else...I was wearing a brand new dress which got sticky and smelly and gross. Not at all what I expected at the supposed classiest place in Lawrence... read more

Assuming that I don't stay at a friend's place or awkwardly crash the Hutt, The Eldridge is still my favorite place to stay in Lawrence. Need to try The Oread on campus, but it will never have the history/charm that The Eldridge does. Their rooms are luxurious and a pleasure. Great brunches too, second only to Milton's in my opinion. All 48 rooms are two-room suites. Quick history for those unfamiliar (abridged from their website): + Original building on this site was the Free State Hotel, built in 1855 by settlers from the New England Emigrant Aid Society. + In 1856, the Free State Hotel was attacked and burned to the ground by the infamous sheriff Sam Jones, heading a group of pro-slavery forces. Colonel Shalor Eldridge rebuilt the hotel and added another floor, vowing to do the same every time it was destroyed. + In 1863, it was attacked and destroyed by Quantrill and his raiders. Quantrill's raiders killed more than 150 people and burned Lawrence to the ground. + Colonel Eldridge promptly rebuilt the hotel and gave it his name, the Hotel Eldridge. To this day, the seal of the city of Lawrence depicts a phoenix rising from the ashes. + Years of ups and downs went by and in October of 2004, the hotel was sold to a group of KU Alumni and local investors. They temporarily closed its doors, completed major renovations, and reopened to the public in May 2005. read more

We've been here a handful of times. Each time we have been almost more disappointed than the last. Our server/bartender was very friendly and accommodating. Our martinis were delicious! However, our pasta was room temperature with little taste/flavor. We tried to flag down management multiple times, was made eye contact, and ignored. I personally manage in restaurant and understand how busy and stressful it can be; this being the reason we came in this time at 4:30pm on a Wednesday when there were only 2 other tables. The service is always painfully slow and the prices are high. The chicken Alfredo is unfortunately not worth the $16 we paid. With the nicer aesthetic, uniforms, and personnel, I hope the Jayhawker Bar can train its staff better to be more attentive, helpful, and respectful. read more

Now I know why Quantrell burned it down! It was on account of the horrible service and marginal food read more

It is extremely expensive for what you get. The bathroom shower was dirty, no sheets for the pull out couch, the pullout couch looks like it needs to be trashed considering the only thing you can feel is the springs. The floor was more comfortable. Would not recommend to a friend. read more

I'm in town for a conference and I don't have to pay for my own room, so keep that grain of informational salt in mind as I rave about this place but....it's wonderful here! When my colleague and I arrived, we were charmed by the friendly, excitable staff at the front desk--college kids tripping over each other to provide us with maps of the area, and a detailed list of all the best and worst bars within walking distance. It felt like they had been standing at the desk for months just waiting for someone to ask them "how do you get to campus from here?" and they couldn't believe that the day had finally come. (Cue "Be our guest! Be our guest! It's been years since we've had anybody here and we're obsessed!") Then, the accomodations. We went upstairs, and knew that our rooms were supposed to be adjacent to one another--so we were surprised when I got to my room, and his appeared to be a football field's length down the hall. OK, not quite that far--but jeez! I have a living room! There are counters and shelves and mirrors everywhere in my suite, which I appreciate. Also a sink (outside the bathroom), mini-fridge, two TVs, and a white noise machine. The bed is deliciously comfortable, and the bathroom is ridiculous: marble everywhere, giant shower that I could spin around in with my arms extended singing "The hills are aliiiiive...." (not that I actually did this, mind you). And a little cup of Q-tips next to the sink. Yes, my ears *do* need cleaning, thanks! There's free wi-fi in the rooms, which I've had no trouble with (using it right now!) but my colleague says he couldn't connect. Hm, downsides? Let's see...my view is of an industrial rooftop, and there's no coffeemaker in the room. But, given the fact that those in-room coffee makers with the pre-packaged coffee nearly always produce undrinkable tan water, perhaps this is for the best. There is free coffee in the lobby for guests until 11 a.m., but today by the time i got down there (at 8!) it was drained (I blame the gaggle of older women in the lobby waiting with their windbreakers and purses for some kind of tour to begin) According to the notice on my door, the official rate for the room is $250/night, which might explain why it's so lovely, and why it all feels so strange and unfamiliar to me. If I were paying my own bill, I'm not sure I could swing it. But I would sure want to. Highly recommended. read more

This hotel is very classy and elegant. It is conveniently located on Mass St. near all the shops and restaurants. The front desk is friendly and offered useful advice. They valet park for $10, but I just use the city garage for $1. Be prepared for a busy bar during half-priced martini night on Thursdays. I recommend the chocolate martini! The rooms are spacious. Book one month in advance for Saturday basketball game night. read more

This place is right downtown, the only hotel on Mass street. It's a cool building and the right people could have made it into a great hotel. But the staff is rude, the bar smells bad, there's no where to park, there was a homeless man sleeping in the basement restroom, the rooms are overpriced, and there are no coffee makers in the rooms. I really wish hotels would realize that not everyone wants to get dressed before their morning cup! Cool view of downtown if you can talk them into giving you a room on a higher floor, but the elevators are always busy and very slow, so I wouldn't recommend it. There is a bar and a restaurant downstairs, but like a lot of hotel restaurants, the food isn't good. They have a silly, old website that takes forever to load, and you can't even book a room from the website. read more

I was in town for one night only and decided I wanted to revisit some of my favorite haunts from my time as a college student in Lawrence. Wanting to be downtown, we decided to stay at the Eldridge. I've attended weddings here and have enjoyed the bar in the last, but I'd never stayed in the hotel -- and let me tell you, it was a profound disappointment. I found it to be overpriced and lacking in amenities. Although our room had two large flat screen televisions, the bathroom was cramped and the bathtub ridiculous (such low water flow that it took 15+ minutes to fill an undersized bathtub 75%). We ordered breakfast from room service and had to have them return twice for silverware (the first time they didn't bring any; the second time they didn't bring a spoon ... even though I'd ordered oatmeal). Since there was no parking, we had to rely on valet which was extremely steep ($15). The Eldridge still can't be beat in terms of location -- but that's honestly all it has going for it. read more

Went to brunch for my birthday with my adult kids. Not much selection but what they did have was very high quality and very fresh. Nothing sitting around dried out in a serving dish. Trout with pesto quinoa and the pasta salad were especially good. My only issue is the booths are a little too small to move in and out of comfortably. Sit at a table if you are there for lunch. read more

Your choices for hotels in Lawrence boil down to Holday Inn... Quality Inn.. Hampton Inn.. or the Eldridge. Go for the Eldridge, you deserve it. read more

Sooooo much potential, alas, we had a poor experience. We have two students at KU, and have been trying to find 'our hotel' for when we visit for their activities and athletics. As parents who visit about every month, we want to find a 'go-to' hotel. We checked in Friday afternoon the 22nd of September. We had a reservation at Eldridge's 'Extended' building, which is about a block away from the hotel proper. There is no front desk at the 'Extended', so we checked in at the main hotel. We had planned to go to the game the next day, and didn't want to bother with trying to park close to the stadium, so I asked the desk clerk about parking. She said that there is only street parking, or a lot nearby. She said that metered parking on the street were free after six, and all day on game days. I wasn't clear on that, so I asked for clarification - she said that the City of Lawrence wanted to encourage people to park near Mass street so that they patronize businesses there on game day, and that they did not enforce daytime meters on game days. We checked into the room, and we were very impressed. The conversion of an old Farm Aid building was wonderful. Great details, updated, but they kept the charm of the old building. But, that's where it stopped. We changed, went to dinner and came back to learn that the TV didn't work. It turned on, but there was no signal. I tried HDMI, Satellite, Cable, etc... to no avail. It was late so we didn't call the front desk. The bed was comfortable, and we slept well. in the middle of the night, I used the restroom - the toilet paper roll holder fell off the wall with a loud clang (waking my wife) when I pulled on the roll. I showered the next am - and hung my towel on the hook near the shower - CLANG - the holder fell off the wall. After bfast and coffee - used the bathroom again - and if wouldn't flush and almost overflowed. Gross! I called the front desk, and she was very nice - she told me that they would send someone over immediately to fix the toilet. I told her about the TV not working, and she said the same person would fix that. About 45 minutes later, no one showed up, and we checked out to go to the game. Needless to say, we weren't able to use the toilet - so we found a place on Mass street to use the restroom. We caught the City's shuttle to the game, and I left my vehicle on the street- trusting that the desk clerk knew what she was talking about when she told us that meters are not enforced on game days, We came back to a nice fat parking ticket on my windshield! Bottom line: the Eldridge is a beautifully restored hotel. So much potential. It's not cheap relative to Lawrence KS standards, But, we were very disappointed that the things fell off the walls, the toilet didn't flush, and that the ill-informed desk clerk cost us the price of a ticket because she didn't know what she was talking about. I don't think we'll go back. read more

Grand old hotel downtown Lawrence. Right on Mass St. Fabulous location. Starbucks across the street. Nicest hotel in Lawrence as far as style and level of service. Very large suite with massive seating area. The attached TEN restaurant is convenient for a drink and apps. The rooms are not really quiet but no worse than any old city hotel. Would definitely stay here again but looking forward to trying the sister hotel, Oread on campus. Go Jayhawks! read more

The Eldridge - Hotels Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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In a world where mass produced chain lodges are everywhere, it's nice to have an historic retreat. We went for a wedding that was gorgeous and were treated to a street side view and got to take in the very cool and quaint Lawrence Christmas Parade from the comfort of our toasty hotel room. The price per night was great (not sure if we got a bulk discount because of the wedding). You get all the charm and history of an old hotel, but the rooms were large and updated! read more

Classic hotel with great customer service. I had to leave at 5am to catch a flight. A staff member was kind enough to walk me to my car parked a couple of blocks away and assist with my luggage. Newly renovated bar/entry which is beautiful. Thanks to all the staff for making my trip back to Larry wonderful! read more

The Eldridge Hotel has it right. Large rooms, with all modern conveniences, old fashioned grace and superb friendly service. What more could you want from a hotel? Ah yes, location. Downtown Lawrence has all the neat restaurants and services would could want. read more

Great location, but sadly, that's The Eldridge's main remaining redeeming quality. Almost staff are very helpful and friendly. The lobby, elevator, hallways and rooms are extremely outdated and in disrepair. (The huge HD t.v. is a plus, though.) i stayed 3 nights and sheets weren't changed once. 2 sets of blinds didn't function and 1 was coming down from the top. I remember the Eldridge's big remodel just 15 or so years ago, but it hasn't held up during that time period since then. The owners are supposedly currently remodeling the restaurant and bar yet it was billed to be finished and opened a month ago (April), but hotel staff now say it won't be completed and opened 'til September yet there's no construction work going on in restaurant or bar for the days I've stayed here. What is going on with this once classy property? read more

We stayed at the Extended stay rooms because the hotel was being renovated and loved it! The room was beautiful with wood paneling, tall 12 ft ceilings and gorgeous wood shutter windows. The bed was soft and the pillows plenty and fluffy. Everything was pristine, clean and comfortable. The location was ideal, one block to the center of the action in Mass street. We were able to go back to the hotel room to drop off bags or rest before going back out. It really was ideal and we will definitely be staying there again. Such an elegant and well appointed room and location! read more

The Eldridge Hotel, not as nice as I expected. No parking, you will have to use the valet parking ($15 per night). No cable tv. No window in the bedroom. The furniture in the sitting room was not comfortable. No complimentary breakfast. The only benefit was the location. For the money they charge, I would not stay at The Eldridge Hotel again. read more

I stayed here with my family (we reserved two suites for 4 adults and a child) for a cousin's wedding (we did not go to the restaurant during our stay). I loved the size and layout of my suite and the quaintness of the hotel. Pros: This hotel has genuine suites. In addition to my comment above about room size, there were large, wall-mounted flatscreens in both the living room and bedroom. The kitchenette area was spacious. French doors lead to the bedroom. The room was well-designed given the age of the building. And the price for what you get is fantastic! It may seem expensive in Kansas, but for those who travel to large cities often, it's a treat. Location - you're right downtown and can walk anywhere (and after seeing the many drunk drivers Lawrence has to offer, I highly recommend the two-legged type of transportation if you're going out). Lobby and room are both cute. The building is quite old with a tiny elevator, but this is advertised as an historic hotel, so these kinds of things are to be expected and appreciated. Cons: I left my car to be "valeted" after I checked in. When I went downstairs 2 hours later to meet the rest of my family that had arrived, my car was still on, flashers blinking in front of the hotel. I had to remind the front desk attendant to please take care of it. We went in June which is a hot time to be in Kansas. The building - again due to age - only has air conditioners which are pretty loud and do not make temperature control as easy to regulate as central air would. I also had a window in the front room that wouldn't open or shut all of the way and was covered by cheap, plastic blinds. My room had a musty smell to it throughout the stay. I think a carpet shampooing could go a long way in helping that out. The bathroom was split into two rooms - a hallway essentially for the his/her sinks and long mirror and a small room that housed the shower & toilet. Normally this is nice (or at least when the toilet is in it's own area), but the shower and toilet were in such a tiny room squeezed in together which made opening/shutting the door while trying to either use the bathroom or get into the shower or have a towel on the floor all a little too difficult. Overall though, it was a pleasant stay. The history and charm of the hotel far outweigh any of the small inconveniences that come with a structure of that age. I would stay again. read more

We had a blast at your bar last night. Great people, food & drinks. Katy, Kodi & Celine were the best!!!

Good Food, worst service. The shrimp is what I would get if I go there, but won't ever happen again.

Swanky but seems like a total party hotel. Tough to get any sleep if there's a party going on. The rooms were nice and pretty good sized. The price was a little on the high side but you're downtown and could drink and party then walk to your hotel so that's a plus. I'd still pick the chain hotel that's right down the block over this one though. read more

Our experience here was pretty poor. We stayed here one night for a night out away from the kids. We showed up around 5, it was a hot day, so we were wanting to go get cleaned up to go to dinner. The lobby was pretty chaotic because of a wedding taking place there. We checked in and went to our room and when we opened the door -- the room was occupied. Luckily there was no one in the room -- just their bags / clothes spread out around the room. We went to the front desk to let them know the issue. The desk clerk was bewildered, but didn't really offer us any recourse. She was obviously befuddled with our issue, the wedding, and because I assume she was the only front desk staffer working. She had to call a manager -- whom I assume was at the Oread -- and who she did not immediately get in touch with. Sensing her frustration and not wanting to spend our night out hanging out in the Eldridge lobby, my wife and I asked the desk clerk if we could leave our bags at the desk and go shopping for a while so she could sort things out and get us in a room. They were 100% full that night. Fast-forward and hour. We did some shopping and came back -- and nothing had been done about our situation. When we came back they began working to resolve it. After another half hour of waiting they finally sorted things out and got us in a room. My gripe is not so much that they made a mistake -- those happen -- it is the lack urgency they showed to resolve it, and the lack of hospitality they exhibited in doing so. I mean if you are going to make me sit around while you figure out your mistakes and resolve them -- at least offer me a drink -- at least have someone come apologize for the inconvenience. Don't act annoyed when I come ask you the status after sitting in the lobby for 15 minutes. When we finally got to our room it was the quality of a typical room of a 3 star hotel. It was very noisy from sharing a wall with the elevator shaft but other than that okay. read more

First time coming to Lawrence and we chose this hotel because it said it was historical. They put us in the extended building that has no amenities. We have a lovely view of the back alley and the smallest TV I've ever seen and I hotel. We paid too much money for this. Super rate would've been better we pay too much money for this. Super 8 would've been better. We complained and they didn't care. read more

I had the opportunity to stay at the Extended Eldridge hotel and it was an upgraded version of the Eldridge itself. It is right downtown and within walking distance to all of the great venues Lawrence has to offer. All of their properties have outstanding service from valet, front desk, restaurants, housekeeping, everyone! They have great amenities, plus their beds are amazing too! I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting this area. read more

My husband and I stayed there last Thursday the 19th for our 49th Anniversary. The remodeling they did is amazing. Very open, bright and nicely designed. The Jayhawker bar was great. Our bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly. Then went to dinner at the Grille. Amazing dinner. The rib-eye was so good. Cooked to the way I wanted. The taste was incredible and rivaled Texas Roadhouse. My husband's filet was just as amazing. Then went to the All American bar I think it's called and it was very nice also. The room was nice. Air conditioner was so so loud and in the middle of the room in a closet. There's a machine for "white noise" but it's drowned out by the a/c so not a great nights sleep. Toilet and shower area needs its own light switch instead of remembering to turn it on in the sink area. It also needs a fan. Hinges on door were rusted probably because of no air circulation and all that stream from the shower. Last and certainly not least, the room needs a coffee pot of some sort like everyone else does!!! I don't want to pay for room service for coffee or get dressed and go down stairs for one. We will go back eventually. Maybe I'm cooler weather read more

This review is for the restaurant in the Eldridge Hotel: Could cook better food at home for a lot less. If you must go, go for brunch. Pretty good selection..macaroni and cheese is the high point. Uninformed staff, unprofessional managers. Friends are getting married there this summer. Hope the Eldridge steps it up a little. read more

Great place to stay right downtown. Staff was attentive without being intrusive. Had several meals and one late afternoon of drinks in the bar. It was all good. read more

It is bad enough that this establishment's policy is that you must book 3 nights at a premium price for graduation weekend. When we checked in they told us they were putting us in an inside room that had a limited view. The view was not a priority for us so we agreed. When we arrived in the room I thought it was odd that there were earplugs on the night stand. The inside rooms share a common wall with the elevator shafts. The vibration and noise made it impossible to sleep at all. Add this to the A/C being broken and the TV remote not working. Bottom line - If you plan on sleeping do not stay in this hotel. read more

Location, location, location. Lovely, vintage hotel in beautiful downtown Lawrence. Many restaurants, coffee shops and stores within walking distance and a quirky old movie theater across the street. The hotel was elegant and very clean and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Our room was very large and beds comfortable. I'm withholding a star because parking is a bit of an issue; however, hotel offers $10 valet parking. I found it just as easy to drop off luggage and park myself at parking garage located behind hotel on Vermont ave, next to library. The top floor of parking garage is free and the walk to the hotel took 2 minutes. read more

We stayed at the Eldridge over the weekend of July 21-22. It was my first experience at this hotel and I was not at all impressed with their customer service. We planned a low key girls trip to Lawrence and booked a night at the Eldridge Hotel. Because of limited parking, we decided to use their valet service. We were only in the hotel room for a couple of hours before we left for dinner and when the car was returned, Lauryn/owner of the vehicle noted her husband's Ray-Ban sunglasses were missing and we all saw the previously shut console was wide open. Lauryn promptly informed the front desk of the theft to which the clerk, Jack, asked, if they were the ones on her head?? Without pointing a finger or naming blame, Lauryn stayed even-keeled and continued to state the fact that the sunglasses were there before the valet parked the car and they were missing once the car was returned. The front desk clerk, Jack, then had the audacity to ask the valet driver across the counter "Did you take those sunglasses?" To which the valet driver responded "No." and that appeared to be the end of conversation. The entire interaction felt insincere and was completely patronizing. After multiple inquiries about the next steps in the process, Jack the Clerk, had a lack of urgency and no standard protocol to follow. The event has been escalated up to management and they suggested filing a police report. The apathy towards stolen property is astounding. The frustration is more than the stolen property, it's the demeaning conversation, poor accountability, and overall indifference for the patrons that choose to reside with their business. I would not recommend the valet service at the Eldridge and would also heed caution of the personal items you choose to leave behind. read more

Stayed at the Eldridge Extended, room EE1, for the second time, last time was 5 years ago on our wedding night. We had the coolest experience last time - father of the bride forgot to book the honeymoon suite in the main part of the hotel, and offered to pay for any other room in the hotel if we were willing to move. Uh, yeah!! We took the more expensive Extended room and were very happy, 5 years ago and last night. Room has expensive touches and is all hardwood floors, very tall ceilings, full kitchen, marble in bathroom, two person Jacuzzi tub and huge two person shower. Very romantic room. Room was exactly the same as 5 years ago, showed no wear and tear, except for dented fridge. Has full kitchen, with everything you might need to make a gourmet meal. Room was extremely clean and quiet. Old clock radio is kind of ghetto, need to upgrade to iPod docks. Coupled with the very basic cable (no HGTV or Music Choice), you're on your own for music or entertainment. Hubby asked for a flower arrangement, and they provided an impressive one free of charge with a nice note. Very touching gesture. Has full room service, not that we needed it. Wish they had body wash/bath gel, but the soap/shampoo/conditioner provided is high quality. Having the convenience of popping over to Wheatfields for breakfast in bed items was wonderful. Location is ideal. Having the new parking garage makes it easier to find a spot. Highly recommend the Eldridge. read more

The Eldridge - Hotels Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Had high hopes for this hotel, and had booked 2 separate stays in advance, expecting a great experience. Wrong. First room - the grand corner king suite - had lousy/faulty AC. Our second room - downgraded to smaller room - had an in-wall AC unit that only really cooled the bedroom area, not the whole suite. In addition there were huge exposed black cords dangling down the walls due to the addition of flat-screen cable TVs. Service was friendly, but inexperienced and repeatedly gave us wrong information. This would all be fine for a $99/night hotel, but not at $159-$179. As a result, I canceled the 2nd stay and moved to the Oread, which I understand is better (though, ironically, owned by the same company) read more

Not sure what everyone else is talking about. I'm here in the middle of the Free State Festival, and the hotel is quiet. The staff if friendly and helpful. The rooms are huge, comfortable and clean. The TVs in the room are likewise huge. Very nice hotel. read more

A cornerstone in history. The Eldridge provides a classy environment while holding onto historical traditions. A must if visiting Lawrence for the first time. Honeymoon suite, definitely the honeymoon suite. read more

Thursday is half price martini night with a wide selection available, show up before 9pm to avoid a cover charge

I should go to Lawrence Kansas more often. I should go for Jayhawk basketball (which is as good as basketball gets), i should go for Jayhawk football (which is entertaining), I should go for more than a few excellent restaurants (try 715 Mass). But I should really go just to stay at The Eldridge which has suite like rooms, great sitting areas, the Jayhawk bar with first rate mixed drinks (as imaginative as they can get), friendly staff and something of a slower pace which hearkens back to an earlier time. The Eldridge and its sibling The Oread are worth the trip. read more

just a review of the restaraunt. Loved the Scottish salmon. My wifes salad was lame. I appreciate that Free State Beer is on tap.

Great ambience but the rooms aren't worth the price they charge. When I stayed there over Valentine's Day, my room had a piece of paper taped to the wall covering a hole, I assume. 10 Restaurant and the Jayhawker bar are both top notch. read more