When you’re ready to relax and unwind, the historic Raphael Hotel in Kansas City is the ideal place for a getaway. A sophisticated boutique hotel, it’s just steps away from Kansas City’s premier retail center, Country Club Plaza. Whether you’re planning a couple’s getaway, a shopping trip with friends, or a romantic celebration, The Raphael Hotel is the place you want to stay.
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Here are nine ways The Raphael Hotel goes above and beyond to create a relaxing and rejuvenating stay for all its guests.
Note: Our stay at The Raphael Hotel and our meals at Chaz on the Plaza were complimentary. As always, the opinions expressed and memories of blissful relaxation are our own.
Personalized service at The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City
Built in 1928 as an apartment building for affluent residents, The Raphael Hotel exudes class and personalized service. It has a well-trained and experienced staff who strive to meet your every need. Most importantly, from the moment you arrive, you’re greeted by name and treated as an honored guest, not just a confirmation number.
A bellhop (like David, pictured above) welcomes you to the hotel, helps with baggage, and provides secure valet parking. Want to have a bottle of chilled champagne waiting in your room? No worries. The staff at The Raphael Hotel can make those arrangements so all you have to do is kick off your shoes, take a deep breath, and unwind. At The Raphael Hotel, you will feel like a member of the family who has come home for a visit.
Craft cocktails in the lounge to help you unwind
We began our relaxing evening in the hotel bar/lounge where popular Kansas City mixologist Kenny Cohrs created a well-crafted cocktail for each of us. The bar menu came on an iPad (thoughtfully sanitized between guests) and offered several unique concoctions. But don’t worry, the bartenders there can make almost anything you’d like without watching a YouTube video first.
Quality live music at Chaz on the Plaza
The lounge at Chaz on the Plaza also offers live music that will calm your mind and help you forget about that long list of tasks populating all those tabs in your brain. We enjoyed listening to light jazz by Baby J and Rod Fleeman. [Note: As of April 2021, live music is offered on Wednesday and Sunday evenings only. Tables in the lounge are distanced and seating is limited.]
On-site fine dining at Chaz on the Plaza
While there are several options for fine dining within walking distance from The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City, we found one of the best right inside the hotel. Just off the lobby on the lower level is Chaz on the Plaza, an award-winning restaurant that’s ideal for a slow, intimate meal or celebration. The sophisticated décor and well-spaced tables combined to create a relaxed, romantic setting which is only topped by the food and service. It turns out, there’s no need to leave the hotel, at all.
For dinner, we sat at a table near a window where we enjoyed an unhurried meal with several courses. We began our culinary journey with a crisp wine and a citrus salad made with arugula, avocado, roasted pumpkin seeds and both blood and navel oranges. Highly recommend.
When you go to Chaz, know that the experienced wait staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. Be sure to ask for their recommendations as they did not steer us wrong.
Steve had the house salad (pictured below) and we shared one of the most unique shrimp cocktail appetizers we’ve ever had. This KC Smoked Shrimp Cocktail included lightly smoked Argentinian red shrimp, tomatillo cocktail sauce, lemon, cucumbers, and dill. In addition to being a real nod to Kansas City’s rich history in barbecue, it was absolutely as delicious as it looks.
Chaz on the Plaza Executive Chef Shawn Hartwig is on site and delivers beautiful plates for every palate. He creates unique contemporary American cuisine but also pulls from his wealth of experience, rooted in French fare.
Main courses at Chaz on the Plaza
For our main course, Chef Shawn prepared for me the pan roasted Chilean Sea Bass. It usually comes with Boursin mashed potatoes, but since I love vegetables, the chef was happy to substitute brocolini for me, instead. Steve had the smoked Akaushi prime rib and savored every single bite.
See what we had for dessert (Hint: Butter Cake) and other delectable dishes we tried in THIS POST we wrote specifically about Chaz on the Plaza.
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Raphael Hotel events that make you feel special
The Raphael Hotel and Chaz on the Plaza also host unique special events. There are special take-out and dine-in menus for holidays like Mother’s Day. And they schedule special series like the Barrel Club Series with spirit-focused dinners and tastings at Chaz.
When we visited The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City, we were happy to partake in a Somm Club lunch event. It was a four-course lunch and wine pairing featuring Italian-inspired dishes and wine selections from the Veneto region of Italy.
The sommelier, chef and servers came to each table to talk about the food, and they explained the different wine pairings. We were excited that they also had bottles of wine available for purchase after the event because we’re always looking for good, new wines. You can see more and register for upcoming special events HERE.
Comfortable beds with luxurious bedding
Let’s face it, when you stay in a hotel the most important thing is a restful night’s sleep. On this front, The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City really delivers. The soft and cozy beds are the kind into which you can just fade away. And the luxurious white linens made us feel pampered and incredibly relaxed. We got a great night’s sleep and really didn’t want to get out of bed for breakfast in the morning. The good news was, we didn’t have to.
Relax with breakfast in bed at The Raphael Hotel in KC
Breakfast in bed is such a relaxing way to start the day and it’s included in both the Relaxation and Romance Packages. Just order from the in-room menu and choose a time for delivery. Or, simply call down in the morning whenever you’re ready. A hot breakfast will be delivered to your room where you can enjoy it served on a tray in bed or while sitting at a table in your room. We took advantage of this and cherished a leisurely morning in our robes together.
The breakfast menu is extensive with more than 15 plated meal options. Steve took one look at the menu and knew just what he wanted – Kansas City Brisket and Eggs. It included 12-hour smoked American Kobe beef brisket, two eggs, a slice of smoked heirloom tomato, Chaz potato cake, and toast or an English muffin. I had an egg white omelette with veggies one morning and also tried The Continental pictured above a different day. It had Not Your Mom’s Oatmeal (which tasted like a dessert), a warm blueberry scone, fresh fruit, juice, and a small pot of coffee.
Plush robes and towels at The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City
A signature amenity at The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City is its soft, plush bathrobes. Two robes are provided for guest use during your stay along with slippers to help you truly relax, unwind, and feel at home. Bathrooms have deep soaking tubs surrounded by crisp, white subway tile. Spend a little time here and feel your worries melt away.
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The bath towels at The Raphael Hotel are not your average hotel linens, either. When you dry off and wrap up in one of these thick, soft and fluffy towels, you’ll feel the difference.
In room massages – the ultimate relaxation at The Raphael Hotel
As part of the hotel’s Relaxation Package, we were treated to an in-room massage. Talk about feeling spoiled! One morning after our relaxing breakfast in bed, two massage therapists came right to our room. They set up portable massage tables, drew the shades, and played relaxing spa music. We climbed onto their padded massage tables and slipped into a state of complete relaxation for the next hour. The hotel’s Relaxation Package includes one massage, but you can add a second for an additional $120.
Rest assured – The Raphael Hotel is exceptionally clean
As we’ve ventured back into travel, nothing helps us relax more than a clean and sanitized hotel room. We found The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City to be exceptionally clean. This is due in part to the elevated housekeeping protocols implemented at the hotel. But it’s also because the staff at the hotel have taken great pride in what they do and where they work. These factors combined to make both our room and the public spaces noticeably clean and finger print free.
The hotel also takes extra precautions to keep its staff and guests safe and healthy. For example, they promote social distancing and have added plexiglass barriers at the welcome desk. And if you don’t want to check in with other guests in the lobby, you have the option of checking in online through Marriott’s Bonvoy app. Finally, we also found plenty of hand sanitizing stations conveniently located throughout the hotel.
Likewise, the hotel’s high-end fitness room and its equipment are regularly cleaned and disinfected. As of April 2021, only one guest (or guest group) is allowed to work out at a time. Note that the fitness room includes a Peloton bike – something we have not seen in other boutique hotels.
Book your stay today at The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City
As you can imagine, we left the hotel feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and reconnected. Are you ready to relax and unwind at The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City? Just CLICK HERE to book your stay today!
We would like to thank everyone at The Raphael Hotel and Chaz on the Plaza for making our stay so informative and special. There is obviously a lot to love about this hotel. But what truly makes it stand out from other luxury boutique hotels is the people. They all made us feel like honored guests and family and we can’t wait to see them again. (Pictured below: Longtime bellhop and tour guide Rick; Ann with our server, Jode; Food and Beverage Director, Jordan Carver.
such a very beautiful article.
Thank you so much! We appreciate your kind words. 🙂