When you are about to turn a chapter on a brand new decade, I'd say it's absolutely necessary to go big or big home celebration wise! I am super thankful to our brand new Omni Hotel for ensuring that this happened for me last weekend and I am pumped to tell Y'all about it. First of all, look at that VIEW!! That was from our room, which was on the tenth floor. It was so inspiring to look out the window and see so much beautiful history--from the buildings, skyscrapers, and even in the distance, the bridge connecting Louisville and Indiana.
The hotel is covered in a crisp and shiny glass, giving you that WOW impression as soon as you arrive. There are intersecting towers that represent the crossroads of the past, present, and future of Louisville. There is a common theme of bourbon, culture, and water throughout the Omni, and within the design, there is a beautiful blend of polish and grit; seen in the colors, the shine, textures, and nuances throughout.
The trusses in the lobby ceiling are representative of the Big Four Bridge, which has a TON of history! There are Edison lightbulbs throughout the entire hotel--did you know his light bulb was first demonstrated to the public IN Louisville?? I had no idea he lived in the Butchertown neighborhood [not far from where Asa and I spent the majority of our marriage thus far.]
We walked so slowly around the Omni, soaking in the richness of the culture, history, and beautiful art pieces throughout. Across from the escalators, there is a giant wall of art, which are all locally sourced from various Kentucky artists across ALL media [photography, watercolors, textiles, contemporary, and interactive]. Can you guess which my favorite pieces were...?
I have never been to a hotel that offered SO many things and activities to do. There are at least twenty within the Omni; ranging from restaurants to eat in, a marketplace to shop, a bourbon tasting lounge, an amazingly adorable retail store, a flower shop, a Spa, a rooftop pool, a library bar, and get this--even a speakeasy with a cocktail lounge and bowling alley inside!! And guys, that isn't even covering them all. So, what were our favorite parts? Well, I hope I can convey to you just how incredible they are but I have a feeling you're going to want to check out the Omni for yourself--and I hope you do!
I am very much so a 'knick-knack' kinda gal, so the Miller & Co. retail store was heaven for me. I literally want ALL of you reading this to go here, if for nothing else, then to meet Leeanne, who greeted us with a huge smile and Southern charm. She made me laugh out loud the second we met and when I asked her if I could snap her photo, she said, "Girl! Let me put my hair down!" I told her I wanted her autograph and she signed my receipt. YES, I bought stuff, duh! Do you SEE that horse bag I'm holding?! It's mine all mine and was only $25!
Lewis + Louis was next. This is a bourbon retail and tasting room, where you will be professionally guided through bourbon tastings in a unique and relaxed setting. The city of Louisville was actually established AFTER Louis XVI, in 1778; so this was another incredibly culturally rich experience. PS: there are more bourbon barrels than people AND horses in the state of Kentucky, sooooo that's kind of mindblowing.
The Library Bar was one of my absolute favorite spots. A stylish and casual atmosphere, there is a giant fireplace in the center and tons of comfortable seating throughout. Here too, there is no shortage of BEAUTIFUL art; one of the walls is covered in beautiful black and white vintage images. I love seeing the history behind where we live, I think it is so inspiring and really made me fall in love with Louisville all over again.
The Falls City Market was absolutely mind-blowing. Here is where you will find the Omni's urban market and Food Hall, with open-air street access featuring tons of locally sourced products. The well-known Heine Brothers is your easy access to delicious coffee and lattes, and there are a TON of dining and food options. You can get delicious crepes and waffles at Belle Crepe, or mouthwatering BBQ at Bridges, sushi at the sushi bar which has counter seats, as well as daily prepared gourmet rolls. There is a butcher there providing meats from local farms, fresh seafood, a food truck featuring tacos, Iron Quarter which serves Artisan pizza paired with wine and local Louisville craft beer. In the Market, you'll find a flower shop, the Bottle Shop that sells fine wine and spirits, fresh produce, milk, cheeses, fruits, and over 2,000 grocery items! There are housewares such as Williams Sonoma, and Wendell's Book and Magazine store; Y'all, I could go on and on but I think you need to check it out for yourself. I'm telling you, everything is designed and created so beautifully, you will love experiencing it!
Let's talk about our actual room for a moment, shall we? The carpet is a stylized interpretation of flowing water (Falls of Ohio!) and ties back to one of the three design elements. The windows overlook our magnificent city, providing excellent natural light. The bed was comfortable, the room spacious, and the BATHROOM was the nicest hotel bathroom I've ever seen. The shower in our house is so small and so cramped, my six-foot-four husband barely fits. Even petite me has my nose in the corner and it's always more of a chore than a refresher to be in! THIS shower, is first of all gigantic with strong water pressure, and guess what? We weren't fighting over who got to stand in the stream of water!
Now let's talk about my favorite part, equally my husband's favorite as well--the Mokara Spa up on the third floor! We have been married for nine years and we have never had a couples massage. Let me just tell you that I am now convinced we need to have one at LEAST a few times a year because hello, Heaven! The spa is absolutely stunning! There are seven massage treatment rooms, four manicure, and four pedicure stations, and there are an array of products you can buy to treat and take care of yourself.
Inside the Spa's locker room, there is a beautiful and large shower. There is also a cedar sauna (I wish I had had more time to indulge in that but we were kind of on a time crunch to pick up our kiddos from the sitter--guess I'll just have to go back, right? Ha!) There were cold rags, fruit-infused ice water, and gorgeous vanities where you could sit and do your hair. Asa and I had an hour-long massage and truly, it was magical. The ladies had us choose which oil we preferred, lit a calming candle, and they both did a fabulous job helping us feel relaxed (especially since we had run nine miles together the day prior!) I really want to go back some time this spring or summer and do that again, I have realized that I am not the greatest at being still and remaining calm--and the massage helped me do just that.
I have SO much more to share about the Omni, but truthfully, I believe you need to head downtown and see for yourself. Allow yourself a moment to get away, eat some delicious food, enjoy some beverages, and definitely treat yourself to a Spa treatment. Asa and I ate at Neighborhood Services for dinner and we weren't disappointed ONE bit. This is a restaurant ran by renowned chef Nick Badovinus, featuring his signature self-described 'honest food and drink in the American tradition.' For an appetizer, we ordered the Hot Brown Tater Tots (oh my word, I'm making myself so hungry writing this, guys). Asa got the chicken and waffles as his entree and I ordered a giant salad with a side of mac n' cheese. ALL of it was SO good and we want to go back with friends soon!
Last but not least, let me just say that I haven't ordered room service at a hotel since I was a KID and my parents were the ones paying--so this basically felt like real life heaven Sunday morning. We had crepes and vanilla yogurt with granola, fresh fruit, orange juice, and a pot of coffee.
Asa and I haven't had a weekend away from our house in a LONG time. We feel forever thankful to our sweet babysitter who stayed overnight with our kids and for the Omni, for making all of this possible.
If you're planning a trip to Louisville, I give the Omni five stars. If you're local, go take a little staycation and enjoy the history of this beautiful city! You could even go for a date night or girls night, the options are limitless with all that this hotel has to offer. Dinner, drinks, bowling ALL in the same spot?! And valet parking to boot!
