Hotel ICON
Business took me to Houston. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I haven’t spent much time in Texas and had never been to Houston. I stayed downtown at the Hotel ICON, a luxury boutique hotel located in the former Union National Bank building that was built in 1911. After a $35 million renovation, it has received numerous awards including Condé Nast Traveler Hot List of Top 100 New Hotels in the World 2004. Besides, Anderson Cooper and the CNN staff stayed there during hurricane Ike – it was the only hotel in Houston that had power -if it was good for AC, it would be good for me.
The lobby is grand and beautifully designed in a contemporary, romantic, Texan style. Original details in this Neo-Classical building such as the massive vault behind the registration desk and the elevators have been left in tact. I was told that there was no getting the vault out of there! Another large vault in the basement has been turned into a wine cellar and private dining room. A bit of Texas slipped into the bar and covered the chairs with cowhide.
Service was friendly and hospitable. The hotel has a car for guests who need to be driven around the downtown area. This came in handy to me and was so much more pleasant that taking a taxi. The drivers were polite and knowledgeable. I asked many questions about where to eat and shop and got some good answers.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and well-appointed, also in a contemporary romantic style featuring lush fabrics and warm, vibrant colors. The desk had plenty of space to work, wi-fi, and an ergonomic chair that made working in my room a pleasure. The piece de la resistance was the Jacuzzi bath with a view into the bedroom. They call it “the ultimate bath”. I certainly enjoyed mine. True to Texas, the towel holder in the bathroom was a bull’s head with horns.
Despite some restaurant recommendations from friends and staff, I opted to dine in and went downstairs to Voice restaurant. Chef Michael Kramer took over 8 months ago and has made Voice a destination for fine dining in Houston. I feasted on the Gulf Blue Crab Cakes with avocado, shaved fennel and cilantro. There were two little round cakes and while they were tasty, they were not very substantial. The Hawaiian Hearts of Palm Salad with baby arugula, cucumber, almonds and white balsamic vinegar came next. I had ordered the other arugula salad on the menu and the waiter brought this one which while not what I was expecting was good, although I am not a hearts of Palm fan. 
Still hungry I ordered one more appetizer – Potato Gnocchi with morels, asparagus, and proscuitto. It was by far the best of the three, warm, flavorful and a decent sized portion for an appetizer. I left my bar table sated and ready to head back upstairs for the “ultimate bath”.
As seems to be the trend lately, there was one snafu. My room did not have hot water on the last day. I called the front desk and instead of ‘fessing up to what was going on, they said they’d send an electrician to take a look. I didn’t understand the correlation between electrician and water, and went downstairs to the Spa to bathe. Forty minutes later someone showed up to take a look but it was too late and I sent them away. Upon checkout I registered my complaint. I did not expect a hotel of this quality or standard to be short of hot water; unacceptable. Apparently, there was an issue with the city (fixing pipes that were damaged in the hurricane). I was given an apology and my meal from the previous night was comped. It was the least they could do.
Despite the water, the rest of my stay at the ICON was enjoyable and while I’m not sure if the hotel is an icon by definition (an important and enduring symbol), with the history behind the building and the current iteration of stylish, luxury hotel, it could be working its way toward icon status in the future.
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