We booked this hotel due to its Historic location but unfortunately we’re not able to enjoy it.
We booked 3 rooms for 4th of July weekend. We got to the hotel after midnight and once we got to the check-in desk the clerk asked our Last name and he confirm that we have 3 rooms. We were asked to wait few minutes and we waited for 3 hours(because eventually we went back home). In the meanwhile my husband went to re-park our car and he saw the clerk getting in his vehicle and driving off. He thought maybe someone else will come to help us while we were waiting but no one came. ( we left in the middle of night after waiting for 3 hours)There was no one there , no security, NO ONE. We had eight kids with us and we were stranded in the hallway.
Anyone could enter the building and exit. No one was protecting the building from thieves, criminals ext…
And cherry on the top. You can’t get hold of management of the hotel it’s been over months, I left messages and haven’t heard anything from anyone!!!
Do not to stay at this historical hotel because you’re not guaranteed a room even if you pay and your life is in danger from possible intruders!!!

This former building for the insane turned hotel is located within a campus still dealing with patients with mental health and addiction challenges. For this reason alone we never felt entirely at ease here.

The building is simply stunning having been sympathetically restored and retaining many of its original features. One could almost feel the presence of inpatients and staff busying through the long wide corridors and other public areas. There is a very interesting museum on the ground floor giving great insight into its history and transformation, and huge credit to all those public and private organisations and people whose passion, talent, commitment and financing brought this part of this magnificent structure back life. There is still much more to do with two thirds of the building still in a state of disrepair but hopefully the turnaround story will continue.

In fairness, we were only in Buffalo for the purpose of my daughter sitting the NY State Bar exams so it was not a pleasure trip as such.

However, during our stay, we could not help thinking that the hotel was underachieving and could be so much better than it is. For example, the restaurant, Cucini, never seemed to be open. There are a good variety of restaurants in the neighbourhood and we loved Daniela’s opposite the hotel grounds. The hotel staff kept talking about the complimentary continental breakfast - usually code for it isn’t up to much - and it really wasn’t. The same pastries, the same egg frittata, granola, juices, weak coffee etc which became so tedious by the 3rd day that we no longer bothered. And all self serve in a dreary windowless room more akin to what you’d find in a youth hostel. For the cost of the stay here, we would’ve expected a good and varied selection of fresh foods served in the restaurant.

The bedrooms are a good size, well appointed and the beds are very comfortable. We would’ve appreciated a mini fridge but there was not one. The shower leaked badly onto the bathroom floor as the sealing had worn so needed attention. Housekeeping was sometimes non existent but the housekeeping staff were very sweet and friendly.

In summary, the hotel is definitely worth a visit for the history and museum but we would not recommend staying here for the prices they charge.

Wouldn't recommend unless you like being canceled. Booked thru Hotels.com. Received one communication from the hotel regarding my special request for a quiet room via email, so they knew about the booking and my request. Then several DAYS later, I get an email saying the hotel is overbooked and they have moved my reservation to their sister property. While I'm grateful to find out before my arrival, I do not think it's appropriate for them to automatically rebook without my input. The email said they tried to call, but I had no missed calls. How is it suddenly overbooked now? Seems shady in my opinion. I have personally canceled the reservation now and am awaiting my refund. Recommend anyone considering this hotel to think twice before booking.