Hotel Arts Kensington is located in Calgary, Alberta, and offers a total of 19 rooms for reservation. These rooms are separated into four categories, namely the Luxury and Executive Rooms and the Junior and Luxury Suites. While there are common amenities found in each of the rooms, such as air conditioning and a flat-screen TV, some rooms feature additional arrangements, including gas fireplaces or a garden patio, depending on the room. On the first floor of the hotel, the Oxbow Restaurant can be found, which is open to the public. Breakfast is also served every morning on the first floor between 7:00 and 10:00 in a continental style. Many reviews of the property cite its location as being favorable, the rooms as being quiet, and the property as a whole being a “hidden gem” in Calgary.
Just off the banks of the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta is the Hotel Arts Kensington. Within the boutique hotel, there are a total of 19 rooms available for reservation. All of the accommodations are separated into four categories: Luxury Rooms, Executive Rooms, Junior Suites, and Luxury Suites. Amenities present in each of the units include a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, French doors, soaker tubs, and wireless internet connection, among others. Additional conveniences found only in select suites are gas fireplaces, soaker tubs, and garden patios for some rooms on the main floor. The manager of the hotel notes that the Luxury Rooms and Executive Rooms are typically the most popular with guests due to their lower prices compared to the suites, however, he mentions that the suites are popular among
those celebrating a special occasion.
The rest of the building is described by the staff as having a modern style. Much of the decoration inside is colored with shades of blue and grey, with some art pieces of various styles hung on the walls. Oxbow, a restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, is open to the public and serves various dishes for dinner and dessert. The restaurant also features a bar where, each Wednesday, wine is served at half-price for select bottles. Patrons at the hotel are also free to gather in the lounge area or relax on the couches and chairs provided there.
Every morning, those staying at the Hotel Arts Kensington are welcome to participate in a complimentary continental breakfast held on the first floor. Breakfast is served from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. and features a number of typical breakfast items, such as cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruit, as well as rotating hot items, namely quiche and bread pudding. Accommodations cannot be made for those with dietary restrictions.
When talking about the culture of Hotel Arts Kensington—specifically with regard to how they want guests to feel during their stay—the manager of the property says they want guests to feel relaxed. “We try to be a luxurious property that takes all their needs and concerns into consideration,” they explain, “and we try to take everything off their plate for them.” Some of the ways these tenets are attempted to be maintained are through a check-in process that they describe to be “easy and relaxed” and having staff available to assist guests 24 hours a day. The patrons themselves typically instigate any staff interaction they wish to have.
There are some notable policies that those staying at the hotel are asked to follow for the duration of their stay. Among the most important are that smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises, and pets are not allowed to stay with guests in any of the rooms. With that being said, those dining at the Oxbow Restaurant on the
first floor are allowed to have their dogs accompany them on the patio, weather permitting. Hotel Arts Kensington is open year-round, with its busiest season of operation occurring between May and September when the temperatures are the warmest in the region.
Those who take time to read guest reviews of their experience staying at the hotel will see some patterns regarding different aspects of prior patron’s time there. Many of these reviews mention the quality of the rooms, with one guest, in particular, saying, “the rooms were very clean, and it was quiet, making it easy to get some sleep.” Another common theme found between the reviews of the property is its location in relation to popular attractions, shops, and restaurants in the area. “So close to many local shops and restaurants,” remarks a past guest, “and about a 15 to 20-minute walk to the Jubilee.” According to the manager, the most common reviews of the hotel note it as being a “hidden gem” of sorts in Calgary.
Before becoming the Hotel Arts Kensington, the property was formerly known as the Kensington Riverside Inn. It was originally established in the late 1990s and operated under its original name and owners until 2007, when the Hotel Arts Group, the current owners of the property, purchased it. In the years following, a number of renovations and updates were made to the structure and rooms, and the hotel was rebranded in 2018. Each of the rooms was given an update to their styling in 2013. Among the most prominent of these is the renovation of the on-site restaurant, Oxbow, in 2017. The outdoor patio was also refurbished in 2022. The manager explains that their favorite part of the job is meeting the guests who stay there as it “gives us a chance to meet and talk to a lot of people from all over the place.”
Bed and Breakfast
Hotel Arts Group
