Hilton Minneapolis' beautiful two-story lobby—with its life-sized string trio sculpted in bronze (a nod to neighboring Orchestra Hall), four 10-foot chandeliers, and gleaming dark woods—is rarely quiet. Expect the buzz of business during the week, and plenty of tuxedos and gowns on weekends as event-goers head to the Grand Ballroom on the third floor.

Marriott Minneapolis City Center is downtown and linked by enclosed skywalk to the adjoining City Center Shopping Complex. Attracting business and family travelers, the hotel is a half-block from Nicollet Mall, the city’s shopping and dining district, and three blocks from The Target Center, a sports and entertainment venue.

Set amidst gleaming high-rises in the IDS Center, the 19-story Marquette by Hilton is adjacent to Nicollet Mall, three blocks from Target Center, and six blocks from the Minneapolis Convention Center. With its downtown location, meeting facilities, and executive-level amenities, the hotel is popular with business travelers.

An unassuming exterior amid office parks and highways belies the finery within. Rooms surround a six-story atrium showcasing contemporary European decor. Clientele includes both business and leisure travelers. The Sofitel is an entirely nonsmoking property.

What to expect: With convenient enclosed-skywalk access to the convention center and most downtown attractions, the Grand Hotel Minneapolis attracts guests seeking classic ambience and boutique-style amenities. The 58,000-square-foot Minneapolis Life Time Athletic Club is practically a destination unto itself. The lobby features a soaring atrium.

Amenity highlights: The Minneapolis Life Time Athletic Club, with 58,000 square feet of fitness space, is complimentary to hotel guests. An indoor lap pool, running track, racquetball and basketball courts, fitness classes, and myriad fitness equipment are provided, as are a sauna and eucalyptus steam room. Spa treatments (surcharges) are available in the LifeSpa Salon and Spa. Wireless Internet access is complimentary throughout the hotel.

Insider tip: Eight blocks from the hotel, the Minneapolis Warehouse District is the hub for numerous restaurants, bars, live music clubs, theaters, galleries, and other attractions.

While its location in the heart of the Minneapolis business district attracts many corporate travelers, the Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis offers vacationers with a comfortable setting in which to enjoy nearby shopping, theater, fine dining, and nightlife. The graceful lobby is filled with light from the 17-story atrium.

The spacious, two-story lobby, with its plush furnishings, dark wood, and glittering chandelier, sets the tone for this classy hotel at the south end of Nicollet Mall near the Minneapolis Convention Center. Large enough to house small conventions of its own, the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis bustles with badge-wearing meeting attendees, ball gown-clad partyers, and leisure travelers of all sorts.

Business travelers and style mavens in town for theater, shopping, or dining are drawn to this hotel, a union of contemporary design and current technology. Low leather sofas are scattered through the lobby-adjacent bar, and Grecian marble floors and Indonesian paldao-wood walls are featured throughout. Electronic music is piped softly into public areas and lighting is low. Separate banks of elevators serve the public areas and guestrooms.