Mansion on Delaware Avenue

Twin griffins guard the entrance to the Mansion, a Second Empire red brick and stone structure with bay windows, mansard roof, and pedimented dormers. First glance at the decidedly Victorian facade would suggest a Victorian interior. Instead, once you step inside, you find sophisticated European Modern decor. And it’s a style that works. In the Fireside Salon, glass tabletops and contemporary art juxtapose with beautiful hand-honed black walnut woodwork and a heavy mirrored mantle. Two white 1920s chairs stand out on the navy and cream carpeting in the wide hallway. The original white oak woodwork has been retained in the billiard lounge, where guests gather from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for a complimentary cocktail reception. The next morning this room is the setting for a European expanded breakfast, an elegantly presented spread of yogurt in parfait glasses, blintzes, croissants, coffeecakes, granola, and a generous platter of fresh fruits. With jazz playing softly in the background, folks tended to linger and chat the morning of my June stay. I met a traveler from Poland and talked with road warriors who discovered this boutique hotel and return to stay when they have business in the area.

With its 175 windows, including 14 bay windows, it was no surprise to learn that when the Mansion was built in 1869, it was referred to as “The House of Light.” Today the tall windows infuse the 28 guest rooms and suites with light. General manager Geno Principe likes to tell the story of the one suite with a king bed. Singer Faith Hill came to stay and, upon learning that there were only queen beds, bought a king-size bed for the Mansion. Unlike the cookie-cutter rooms found in many hotels, architectural features like fireplaces, window placement, and ceiling height give the Mansion’s rooms individual character. My room was done up in greens and golds with an arched fireplace, bay windows to one side, and another window looking out to the street. Dark wood wainscoting contrasted with the cream walls. And the creature comforts at the Mansion are deluxe—duvet-covered beds, Italian linens, one perfect strawberry dipped in chocolate, and chilled water left at turndown service in the evening. The contemporary look extended to my bathroom, with sleek fixtures, granite counters, and more of those magnificent windows. A multihead shower massage and whirlpool-jet tub are encased in a clear circular shower door. Wheelchair-friendly guest rooms are available. The Mansion was the featured hotel in Architectural Digest’s February 2003 issue.

Business travelers find two phones—one wireless phone, one multiline desk phone with speakerphone—and voice mail message system. On the desk in my room I found personalized stationery and calling cards with the imprint of a griffin, the Mansion’s trademark. The fitness studio on the lower level has treadmill, stair climber, and multistation workout unit.

Planners of corporate meetings. seminars, and social events find flexible meeting space, award-winning on-site catering, and a boardroom with ergonomic seating. Perhaps the best testimonial for the Mansion came from a business guest who said as he was leaving, “I love this place.”

Don’t expect a doorman or a concierge to greet you when you arrive at the Mansion. Instead, butlers are at your service. They’re not Jeeves, but the three butlers on duty during my stay anticipated guests’ needs and were ready with answers to every question. Their 24-hour service extends to driving you to dinner or the theater. They’ll arrange in-room dining or massage, and pick up your dry cleaning and your shoes for the complimentary overnight shoeshine. The butlers know their city well and are ready with directions and suggestions for seeing Buffalo. The Travel Channel recognized their expertise in acknowledging that the Mansion is a place “where butler service really exists.”

THINGS TO DO
While the Mansion seems perfectly suited to business travelers during the week, on weekends it gets high marks as a romantic getaway. This historic hostelry offers a sophisticated interior and welcoming common rooms with lavish fresh flower arrangements. If you choose to dine in your room, the butlers will bring a favorite meal from an area restaurant, served on Mansion china. Located between the Theatre District and the Allentown Art & Antique District, the Mansion is also within easy walking distance of shops and art galleries.

Just a few of the venues that art and architecture enthusiasts will find in Buffalo are the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, one of the world’s top international collections of modern art, and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, with the world’s largest collection of work by celebrated watercolorist Charles Burchfield. Enlist the aid of the butlers to plan a Buffalo architecture tour. Visit two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s houses--the Darwin D. Martin House, Wright’s greatest “Prairie House,” and Graycliff, Darwin and Isabelle Martin’s summer estate, in the nearby towm of Derby.

If you feel like going out for a meal and don’t want to venture far from the Mansion, try Chris’s Sandwich Shop located right across the street from the inn. The sandwiches and salads come in one size—large—and Chris’s mother makes the pies. For a special dinner, be it with business associates or on a romantic weekend getaway, stroll to Rue Franklin, located right around the corner from the inn. The cuisine is French, the interior cozy.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo & Erie County Historical Museum, Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Studio Arena, Studio Arena Theater, Kleinhan’s Music Hall, HSBC Arena, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin Complex, Graycliff, Niagara Falls area and attractions