Review: DELAMAR West Hartford, Connecticut

For a luxury stay in a convenient location in West Hartford, look no further than DELAMAR West Hartford. One of the newest properties under the rapidly expanding DELAMAR brand, the West Hartford outpost is a modern and upscale retreat further enhanced by a stellar staff and world-class amenities.

During my recent stay, I was pleased upon my arrival to see the property’s location in West Hartford’s Blue Black Square, positioning the hotel within steps of shopping, dining and bars. The complimentary valet service was much appreciated, as the rest of West Hartford is very much a driving destination, though the hotel does offer house car service to ferry guests to and from locations within a five-mile radius.

Upon checking in, guests are greeted in the expansive lobby by the hospitable front desk staff, who offer bottled water or a glass of prosecco. If you’re not in the mood for bubbly, the lobby also offers coffee and hot chocolate 24 hours a day.

There are 115 guestrooms within the property, with a range of room types, including terrace rooms and suites. I enjoyed a corner suite during my stay, which featured a large bathroom with a spacious shower, double vanity, plenty of lighting and Bvlgari toiletries; a living area with ample seating and a large television; and a bedroom with its own television and seating area. Little touches throughout the space, from the plush throws at the end of each bed to the bucket of ice waiting on the wet bar, showed a fine attention to detail when it comes to making guests’ stays as comfortable as possible.

While the corner suite was much to my liking, I also had the chance to see one of the terrace guestrooms during my stay, which comes with its own perks. Spacious terraces branch off from these limited guestrooms on the second floor, with seating for several and views of the hotel’s lawn, garden and fire pits.

Each guest enjoys complimentary breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, Artisan. I attended breakfast each morning of my stay and found it to be an above-average hot breakfast buffet with attentive service and a casual atmosphere. Breakfast service takes place 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. each day.

Otherwise, Artisan serves lunch and dinner to hotel guests as well as the public, with a limited menu of New England-inspired fare that makes use of local, seasonal ingredients. A good number of gluten-free and vegan menu items are available, and the restaurant assures, even if you have special dietary requirements, that won’t mean your meal is any less delicious than that of those around you. The menu is split into items from the “garden, mill, sea and land.” During my stay I enjoyed an all-natural hanger steak with watercress salad and pommel frites, a delicious option cooked to perfection and followed by a chocolate torte for dessert and a warm dessert cocktail piled high with whipped cream.

The DELAMAR West Hartford offers a range of meeting and event spaces, including two ballrooms. Weddings and celebratory parties are not uncommon at the property. Meeting spaces for corporate events are brightly lit with natural light. The hotel’s boardroom is especially unique, with a definitively masculine feel and billiards table.

The hotel’s spa is on the small side. The expert staff offer each guest a high level of attention and individualized care. Two private rooms are an alternative to a public locker room for changing and storing your belongings, and the tranquil reception area was filled with no more than two individuals at once during my time at the spa. A wide range of treatments are offered, including facials, massages, body treatments, manicures and pedicures, waxing services, makeup and more. After a treatment, guests are returned to the reception area and served tea or prosecco and some light nibbles.

Dogs are allowed at the property, for a $50 nightly fee (of which a portion is donated to a local animal charity). Pet amenities include pet beds, a pet welcome kit and doggy bowls.

All in all, I was wonderfully pleased with my stay at the DELAMAR West Hartford for a variety of reasons, but primarily thanks to the excellent service from the hotel staff and those in the spa, as well as the small touches throughout the property that made my stay even more convenient and enjoyable.

DELAMAR West Hartford 

1 Memorial Road
West Hartford, CT 06107
tel 860 937 2500