The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City is the city's only 4-star boutique hotel and an affordable, central choice for mixing city and outdoor adventure

Sheltered from the Utah weather by a covered portico emblazoned with the Hotel Monaco name, valets greeted me and whisked my luggage away with brisk efficiency when I arrived, bedraggled after a morning on the slopes. (Cars may be parked for $26 per night.) I immediately noticed the lobby's blazing colors, wide and welcoming, and the plentiful plush seating options.

The space emanates a bright and casual energy. It's a stylistic hodgepodge, with various nooks and conversation clusters of eclectic lounge seating and coffee tables of varying shapes and sizes arranged on an eye-bruising carpet patterned in primary colors.

Although I was tempted to collapse in one of the velvet armchairs or in front of the cozy fireplace, I headed directly to the front desk. There was no line at the check-in when I arrived in the prime afternoon, and the staff was extra-friendly.

I noticed a number of people hanging out in the lobby that afternoon as I headed to my room. The adult crowd was young, working on laptops or just relaxing with friends. I was there mid-week in winter, and I didn't see any families during my stay, though I suspect that may be different on weekends.

I took the elevator all the way to the top floor post check-in. The hotel is tall, with 225 guest rooms on 15 floors. My 350-square-foot King Deluxe room, which is considered a standard, entry-level room, offered views of an office building across the street, but I didn't encounter much city noise. Some rooms feature mountain views, which I would ask for ahead of time on any future trips here.

The hotel's standard guest rooms, including King Deluxe, Queen Deluxe, and Two-Bed rooms, range from 275 to 350 square feet and are priced from $179 to $289 per night, which is a solid deal for the area, especially considering this is the only four-star boutique hotel in the city.

Overall, the space was airy with high ceilings, but I blinked at so many bold colors and competing patterns. As in the lobby, the hotel definitely infuses the guestrooms with drama, but the dark reds and blues are less fresh than the lobby's upbeat yellows and whites.

Cute details like pillows with mountains sprinkled with snow add a nice sense of place. But overall, I found the decor to be heavy and hectic, more stagey than restful. In general, if you're looking for a calm and soothing vibe, this may not be the hotel for you.

Those on a quest for tranquility will, however, be glad that each guestroom is equipped with a yoga mat (in signature Kimpton fashion), and there's also a yoga channel available on the 50-inch TV. My bed, dressed with crisp Frette linens, was especially comfy.

The spacious and brightly wallpapered bathroom was stocked with upscale Atelier Bloem bath products. It featured a single sink and a combined tub/shower, but I nearly gave up on hot water when it took more than 15 minutes to finally arrive, which was especially frustrating after a long day on the slopes when all I wanted to do was relax my muscles in a warm bath. Since I was just there for the night and the room was comped, I decided not to bother with calling down or trying to switch rooms.

Since there was no in-room coffee maker, I called down to the front desk and they quickly delivered one. There was no free bottled water offered in the room, but the minibar included water for an extra charge.

After four days of skiing at different Utah resorts, followed by an evening tasting tour of Salt Lake City's downtown craft breweries, I was worn out and had a blissful sleep.

My room was spacious enough, but I can imagine that couples, especially those traveling with outdoor gear or pets (Kimpton is pet-friendly), might prefer a larger option.

The hotel's Monte Carlo Suites, priced from $219 to $329, are 450 square feet and include a sleeper sofa in an adjacent sitting area. For extra-large rooms with the best views, the 520-square-foot Majestic Suites range from $269 to $379.

The hotel's Bambara restaurant is tucked into the former bank lobby, with remnants of its 1920s glory, including polished marble floors and teller windows.

Serving New American bistro cuisine by Chef Nathan Powers, Bambara is especially popular with locals as a special occasion destination.

Meanwhile, The Vault offers craft cocktails and intimate seating for just 35 guests. Guests of the hotel can also take advantage of 24-hour room service.

However, it should be noted that due to COVID-19, Bambara and The Vault are currently closed.

The hotel offers complimentary morning tea and coffee daily in the lobby, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with a hosted Social Hour (another Kimpton signature perk) each evening serving wine and snacks, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Unfortunately, the Social Hour has also been suspended temporarily because of precautions related to COVID-19, and minibars have been removed from guest rooms, a change since my stay before the pandemic.

Business travelers may reserve any of the hotel's 3,100 square feet of flexible meeting spaces and the hotel offers a variety of media equipment and an A/V support crew. There's also a 24-hour business center near the lobby, with a PC and printer access.

The 24-hour fitness center offers a solid though small selection of cardio equipment and weights.

In line with all Kimpton hotels, the pet policy is generous. Pets are welcomed to stay at no additional fee, with no limit on the number or size of pets, and no breed restrictions. The hotel even loans out pet beds, bowls, and mats.

Guests can also borrow custom-designed PUBLIC bicycles for free at the front desk, where they'll also be glad to offer bike trail recommendations. For no extra charge, they'll also loan you a pair of snowshoes or store your skis during your stay or in advance of your arrival if you choose to ship them ahead.

Although the hotel lacks a separate spa, in-room spa services are available, including a variety of massage treatments, manicures, pedicures, scrubs, and wraps.

In the end, my favorite feature of the hotel was actually invisible. Thanks to a partnership with Ancestry.com, this is the only hotel in the United States that offers guests the opportunity to research their family roots for free when they connect through the hotel's Wi-Fi. I stayed up late researching long-lost relatives just for fun, but I ended up getting tangled in the branches of my family tree, so I'll give it a try again sometime when I'm not so sleepy.

IHG Rewards Club members have complimentary Wi-Fi access, otherwise, the cost is a fairly steep $12.99 per 24 hours.

As part of the IHG group, this property is following updated cleaning policies consistent with IHG that include:

• Increased the frequency of cleaning public areas (including lobbies, elevators, door handles, public bathrooms) and high-touch points in guest rooms.
• Using cleaning products and protocols which are effective against viruses.
• Continuing to review food and beverage service in accordance with current food safety recommendations.
• See full details here.

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City is super-central, rising above the bustling commercial corner of Main Street and 200 South. Its convenient location makes the hotel a great basecamp for both business and leisure travelers.

Guests can walk to all sorts of restaurants and bars, along with many of the city's major business, sports, cultural and leisure attractions. On foot, it's five minutes or less to the Salt Palace Convention Center, the Vivint Smart Home Arena (home of the Utah Jazz), the 1913-vintage Capitol Theatre (headquarters of Ballet West and Utah Opera), Eccles Theater performing arts center, or City Creek Center shopping mall. The University of Utah is just over two miles away.

Salt Lake City International Airport is a 15- to 20-minute drive, or you can hop on the TRAX light rail line, which runs just beside the hotel. TRAX also connects with the Ski Bus for easy access to the resorts.

By car, Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, and Solitude ski areas can be reached in less than an hour. Park City is approximately a 45-minute drive.

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City gets a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Trip Advisor. It ranks 8 of 81 hotels reviewed in the city, and earns a 100 out of 100 rating for walkers. Booking.com gives the hotel an 8.9 out of 10 rating.

Most reviews praised the convenient location, and many were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the on-site restaurant. One recent guest commented, "This hotel is just simply wonderful. The location is great and the staff is friendly to the point that after one night there I felt as if I had made new friends. I travel with a large dog and it can be difficult to find somewhere that will accept him but this property didn't bat an eye and was welcoming from the moment I drove up. I've already booked my next stay here."

Some negative reviews cite problems with animals making noise in the hotel, and they warn against staying here if you suffer from pet allergies.

Another recent visitor commented, "The Kimpton Monaco is comfortable but in need of updating. Rooms are relatively large but furnishings and services are behind the times for a hotel that seeks to compete with others in the surrounding area."

However, the same reviewer did also note that the price was right, continuing on to say, "These deficiencies are reflected in the price so if it is a price for services trade-off that one seeks, it works."

Who stays here: A mix of business travelers and leisure guests taking advantage of the central city location, pet-friendly accommodation, and proximity to outdoor pursuits.

We like: The bright and welcoming lobby is a big, cozy living room, complete with free coffee and tea in the morning, and a hosted happy hour in the evening for all guests.

We love (don't miss this feature): Seize the opportunity to check out Ancestry.com's genealogy database for some family roots research when you connect to the hotel's Wi-Fi.

We think you should know: When booking, see if you can get a room with a mountain view, and you also might want to consider joining the IHG Rewards Club for free Wi-Fi. If you'd like to try a day of skiing, the concierge can help with lift tickets.

We'd do this differently next time: I would call ahead to have a coffee maker placed in my room. I would also request a room change next time with a better hot water situation, though it's possible this was a building-wide issue.

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City offers playful sophistication with an ideal city location and quick access to the mountains. The TRAX light rail line runs beside the hotel, making it easy to reach both the airport and the ski shuttle, so guests actually have the option of going car-free.

If hitting the slopes is your only goal, you're better off looking at ski-in/ski-out hotels closer to the mountain resorts. But for travelers visiting in the summer or those looking to take advantage of both city and outdoor activities, this is a great option.

Colorful, pet-friendly rooms offer comfortable beds with luxe linens. The free morning coffee/tea and evening social hour in the friendly lobby, along with the on-site restaurant and cocktail bar, make this a convenient base for business guests, family groups, couples, or outdoor adventure enthusiasts.