Hotel Contessa

Beautiful hotel and the staff will make you feel like family. This review is 100% my own and based off of a recent experience with this hotel. We have stayed with the Contessa a few times, and it has been consistently a great experience. The rooms are beautifully redone and very spacious; larger than some apartments I had in my younger years! Let’s get to the good stuff though… The first night there we ate at their restaurant, the Ambler. We were lucky to meet Taylor, our waitress. She was so sweet to our kids and made us feel like we were family. She was professional and so personable. We talked about our families, laughed, and just thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The food was fantastic! We had two overly generous size kids meals that had just as much love put into them as the adult meals. My husband had the chicken fried steak that was perfectly done. He couldn’t decide if he liked that more or the sides. Too tough to decide. I had the grilled chicken that was very well seasoned and juicy. Again, I couldn’t tell you which part of the meal was the best. It was all so fresh and delicious. We did have a hiccup with our room; hey, it happens! Karen, the front desk manager called us while we were out to tell us it had all been handled. She was nothing but kind and professional. I loved that she kept calling me “mama” since I had the kids with me. Little things like that are just endearing. The next morning, Ayla the restaurant manager had relayed the message about us having to change rooms to the staff. Ayla was an angel and diffused a situation beautifully and swiftly. She definitely has a talent for remaining in control and keeping the focus on customer service. We didn’t expect anything for the trouble because it was all taken care of with ease, but in came Francisco full of life and a genuine love of what he does. Francisco’s love language is food…he spoiled us rotten with the freshest fruit plates, snacks, treats for the kids, and even a morning cocktail for me. He shared stories about his family and again ensured he connected with us on a personal level. We spent a couple of hours just relaxing, dining on the endless fresh fruits, pastries, and brunch! Needless to say, the kids new favorite person is Francisco and they have already asked when we can go back to visit him and Taylor. It is so rare to have not only service like his, but just a good natured person who is so full of heart. All in all, when you go to the Contessa, you will be met by a wonderful staff who will pull you in and make you family. I also would like to mention Ricardo, another restaurant manager, who came by both mornings at the restaurant to say hello and spend some time getting to know us. It wasn’t your typical manager drive by where they make small talk and then they forget you after. He really cared to listen and connect. I highly recommend staying here if you want an elevated experience. The location on the riverwalk is very convenient. It’s right by “marriage island” on the riverwalk and a very short walk to the river cruise/taxi ticket center. The bar is beautiful and full of life in the evenings. The seating is very comfortable whether it’s a work meeting or social. Thank you again for a wonderful stay! See you soon!