Fodor's Expert Review Union Station Hotel

A renovated 1900 train station provides the bones—and story—for this lovely downtown Nashville hotel that was built in a dramatic Gothic-meets-Romanesque-style, with a 65-foot barrel-vault ceiling in the lobby, gold-leaf medallions, and original Luminous Prism stained glass. The building served as a train hub for much of the 20th-century, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. It was turned into a hotel in the late-80's, then renovated again (to the tune of $11 million) to become the Union Station Hotel. Other notable architectural details include marble floors, oak-accented walls, limestone fireplaces, and bas-relief panels. Each guest room is a little different, but all have high ceilings, plush bedding, a crisp decor (with ergonomic Herman Miller Aeron work chairs), flat-panel Web-equipped TVs and, in some cases, marble soaking tubs. The cozy Prime 108 restaurant is even cozier on chilly nights when the fireplace is lit.