1. Arrival in Buffalo: The Spirit of the Queen City
It was just past 4 PM when I first laid eyes on Buffalo’s skyline. A gentle haze curled above the horizon, muting the sharp edges of the city’s historic structures with a soft warmth that only late spring in Western New York can deliver. The waters of Lake Erie glinted like a sheet of hammered bronze, and the breeze carried a faint trace of lilac and fresh pavement. There’s something poignant about Buffalo—an earnestness woven into its very infrastructure. It’s a city shaped by steel and grain, by art and reform, by the resilience of winters and the splendor of summers.
There are places where the echoes of the past and the aspirations of the future meet quietly, without pageantry but with purpose. Buffalo is such a place. Its transformation over the past decade has been admirable—abandoned buildings reborn as cultural landmarks, rail tracks now garden paths, and a culinary scene that has shed its underdog status. Amid this revival, I sought not only stories and streetscapes but also a haven of refinement, one that would reflect the grandeur Buffalo once wore and the sophistication it now commands.
That haven: The Richardson Hotel.
2. Why The Richardson? Architecture, Legacy, and Prestige
Nestled within the Richardson Olmsted Campus at 444 Forest Avenue, The Richardson Hotel is a masterclass in adaptive reuse. The building, designed in the 19th century by famed architect Henry Hobson Richardson, once formed part of the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane. Before the reader flinches at the notion of slumbering in a former institution, allow me to assure you: this is no relic of dread, but a symphony of historic preservation and modern elegance.
Booking the hotel took minimal effort, though I had to act swiftly. With a reputation that precedes it and a limited number of suites befitting five-star status, rooms at The Richardson do not linger long. I secured mine through Marriott’s official website—yes, the property is proudly part of the Marriott Bonvoy Autograph Collection. A five-night stay in a King Historic Suite, inclusive of tax and daily breakfast, came to approximately $2,900—a fair investment considering the architectural pedigree, exclusive location, and elite service.
3. Arrival and First Impressions
The moment the car rolled up the circular drive flanked by two imposing towers, I felt a pause—a genuine arrest of the senses. The symmetrical façade of Medina sandstone and brick, the Romanesque arches, the detailed copper trim—it was as if one had stepped into a painting from the 1880s, one that someone had discreetly renovated with central heating and iPads.
A doorman in a tailored charcoal coat greeted me with a nod that struck just the right note between deference and familiarity. As I entered the vaulted foyer, I was greeted not by a front desk in the conventional sense but by a concierge lounge with high-backed leather chairs, burnished oak tables, and lighting that whispered warmth rather than shouted utility. A young woman with a clipboard and an immaculate chignon offered me a lavender-infused towel and glass of cucumber water—unnecessary, perhaps, but appreciated.
4. The Suite Life: King Historic Suite Review
Room 403-S was mine for the stay—a King Historic Suite, situated in one of the original hospital wards, now transformed into a space of such tranquility that it seemed to erase the very notion of fatigue. Measuring approximately 650 square feet, the suite offered a soaring ceiling (no less than twelve feet high), restored oak wood floors, and large arched windows that framed Forest Avenue like a live mural.
The king-sized bed was not merely comfortable—it was curative. Draped in Frette linens, firm yet yielding pillows, and a hand-stitched wool throw, it beckoned even the most disciplined of travelers into early repose. The color palette was subtle but considered: cream, slate, antique brass, and occasional forest green accents that echoed the grounds outside.
A separate sitting area offered a curved velvet sofa, two mid-century modern armchairs, and a brass-legged writing desk where I could comfortably chronicle each day. There was also a 72-inch Samsung QLED TV, discreetly mounted, though rarely used, given the temptation of the view outside.
The bathroom was worth its own ovation: Italian Carrara marble, a rainfall shower with multiple heads, heated floors, and amenities from Le Labo’s Santal 33 line. There’s something inherently noble about stepping out of a steam-filled room onto warm stone while the faint scent of cardamom lingers in the air.
5. Dining at The Richardson: Highbrow Cuisine, Low-Key Elegance
Within the hotel is Cucina, a restaurant and lounge that operates under the steady hand of Executive Chef Tobias Krenkel, formerly of Eleven Madison Park. While Buffalo may be celebrated for wings and weck, Cucina elevates regional produce to rarified heights.
My first meal there included buttered morel mushrooms over stone-ground polenta, followed by a main of duck confit with cherry gastrique and wild leek risotto. Dessert—a humble vanilla panna cotta—was anything but pedestrian, served with local rhubarb compote and shards of caramelized fennel.
The wine list tilted toward Old World, with a respectable showing of Piedmont reds and Loire whites. On my second evening, I opted for the chef’s tasting menu (priced at $115 per person)—a generous five-course arrangement that included a saffron-laced seafood bisque and a sous-vide lamb loin that could very well have been the best lamb I’ve had in a decade.
6. Mornings on the Lawn: A Walk Through Olmsted’s Vision
The Olmsted-designed grounds surrounding the hotel are no less significant than the building itself. Every morning, I found myself strolling along manicured paths lined with ancient elms, their trunks twisting like baroque columns, their canopies heavy with the promise of summer. The hotel provides bicycles for guests, though I preferred walking—there was a reverence to the place that encouraged stillness.
It’s easy to lose track of time in such surroundings. I spent one morning seated on a wrought-iron bench with a cup of Guatemalan roast from the hotel café, watching a pair of orioles dart through the branches overhead. It wasn’t an activity, per se—but it was time well spent.
7. Guest Services and Attention to Detail
The hallmark of a true five-star hotel lies not in its marble nor its menu, but in its minutiae—the unexpected towel before a morning run, the handwritten card welcoming you back from an afternoon out, the room attendant who learns your preferred pillow orientation by the second night.
The Richardson excels in this regard. A request for extra stationery brought not only an envelope of personalized note cards but also a Montblanc Meisterstück left for my use. The housekeeping staff worked with stealth and precision—always efficient, never intrusive. My shoes were polished overnight without being requested, placed in a linen bag with a note that read, “Prepared for tomorrow’s steps.”
8. The Spa at Richardson: The Tranquility Corridor
Though relatively new, the Spa at Richardson has already garnered praise from discerning guests. I reserved a 90-minute thermal stone massage, and the experience was nothing short of restorative. The spa, located in the basement wing of the East Tower, utilizes the former therapy rooms—now soundproofed, reimagined, and scented with eucalyptus and vetiver.
The treatment rooms retain their original 19th-century windows, modified for privacy but still permitting soft natural light. The massage was tailored precisely to the tension points I didn’t even know I had. Afterward, I was ushered into the Tranquility Corridor, a candlelit space with loungers, Himalayan salt walls, and an herbal tea station manned by an attendant in crisp white linen.
Prices for treatments range from $160 to $320, depending on duration and customization. Booking was available directly via the hotel’s mobile concierge app, which syncs with your room account—convenient, discreet, and efficient.
9. Connectivity and Business Accommodations
Though luxury was the goal, connectivity could not be compromised. The hotel’s Wi-Fi, complimentary and fiber-backed, reached speeds of up to 400 Mbps, sufficient for remote work, Zoom calls, and streaming (though streaming was seldom necessary with such surroundings).
For those with business needs, the Heritage Library Room offers meeting space with A/V support, including 4K projectors, Cisco WebEx integrations, and hardwired Ethernet ports. I hosted a brief call from this space and found the acoustics near-perfect, aided by thick drapery and high-density carpets that dulled ambient sound without dampening the atmosphere.
10. An Evening at the Fireside Lounge
The Fireside Lounge, adjacent to the lobby, remains one of the most evocative spaces I’ve encountered in a hotel. Each evening, it transformed quietly—dimmed lights, a roaring hearth, a pianist playing Cole Porter on a baby grand. Guests conversed in hushed tones over snifters of cognac and plates of aged manchego.
I found myself there each night—sometimes with a book, sometimes with conversation, always with a sense of pause. It is difficult to design a space that invites both solitude and society, but The Richardson achieves it.
11. Departure: Leaving Without Letting Go
When the day of departure arrived, I left not with a sense of completion but with quiet reluctance. The staff arranged a black car to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, stocked with cold water, tissues, and a small leather pouch containing two locally-made caramels and a handwritten card: “Until next time.” The fare had already been included in the final invoice, which had been slipped under my door before dawn—printed on cotton stock, tucked into a wax-sealed envelope.
There was no grand farewell, no confetti-strewn send-off. Just a porter in a three-piece suit tipping his hat and a final glance at those twin towers in the rearview mirror. The journey onward had begun, but part of me remained behind—somewhere in a limestone corridor, under an arch, beside a window framed with ivy.
Hotel Summary Details (For Your Reference):
- Hotel Name: The Richardson Hotel
- Location: 444 Forest Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213
- Booking Platform: www.marriott.com
- Room Type: King Historic Suite
- Duration of Stay: 5 nights
- Total Cost: Approx. $2,900 (incl. taxes and breakfast)
- Spa Services: $160–$320
- Dining Costs (Tasting Menu): $115 per person
- Airport Transfer: Included in hotel services upon request
