Ulysses Hotel, Baltimore
Expert reviews
“The hotel — starting with a name that references the ship that brought Bavarian immigrants to Baltimore at the turn of the century — is a creative ode to the city’s peculiarities. Its distinct design aesthetic, created entirely by Ash, is inspired by art deco palaces and the work of legendary movie director and Baltimore resident John Waters, among other things.”
“The hotelier and design studio Ash loves to tell a good story. And the yarn that powers Ulysses pulls right from the hotel’s roots. It occupies the nine-story Latrobe Building, an early 20th-century Italianate pile in Baltimore’s vaguely European Mount Vernon neighborhood, where upper-crust bachelor boarders once laid their heads.”
Featured in CN Traveler’s Hotlist 2023.
What guests liked
- Top location
- Friendly staff
- Boutique style
- Bar
All you need to know
The Ulysses, an avant-garde, high-end boutique hotel from hospitality firm ASH NYC, has found its home in the Latrobe Building, a 1912 apartment tower located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon area.
The hotel draws its inspiration partly from the era when the building was constructed and subtly from the contemporaneous novel by James Joyce, which shares its name — not to mention the aesthetic sensibilities of John Waters, a filmmaker native to Baltimore.
This fusion of elements creates a unique ambiance for any boutique hotel, particularly in the traditionally conservative Baltimore. The outcome is undeniably unforgettable. While it’s decidedly different, it steers clear of descending into theme hotel cliches.
The internal decor is diverse, boasting pieces procured from places as far removed as India. And although the rooms cannot be classified as minimalist, they display a design focus that leans towards a slightly baroque style.
Ash Bar is the moniker of the dining establishment, operational from morning meal to supper and extended hours, offering traditional mid-Atlantic cuisine with an extensive list of beverages. The place that exudes more of a bar ambiance is Bloom’s, which is open from the late afternoon until the stroke of twelve, serving inventive mixed drinks in an opulent space adorned with mirrors.
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Location
Recent guest reviews
19 July 2024
Very good!
The soap. The newspaper about the hotel w/ the history. The staff was friendly. The location was great. The room was very clean.
The AC was WAY TOO COLD. The room was very dark. The mattress was only okay.
18 July 2024
Very good
Clean room. Ni ce bed and covers.
Black toilet and sink. Not enough lighting.
14 July 2024
Surprised and delighted by room and location!
Room looked like the pictures. Comfy bed and nice bathroom setup. Great location for accessing Penn Station. Lots of great restaurants close by. Would definitely stay here again.
Lighting is more about setting a mood than functional. I went up the road to work in a cafe rather than in the room.
6 July 2024
Best Eclectic Hotel in Baltimore!
It’s a beautiful step into the past. You can tell it was glamorous in its heyday, and many of the original features are maintained, like the gorgeous mosaic tile floor. The staff were all excellent. The bed was comfortable and the room had everything I needed and was elegantly decorated.
I’m only guessing, but It seems like they are doing whatever they can to hold onto the antique furniture in the foyer and lounge even after it’s badly damaged. To hide the damaged furniture, the lights are down so low you can’t see to read a paper. Parking is also an issue.
29 June 2024
Awesome
The furniture and the location and the staff 💗
25 June 2024
Great design, service and location.
Staff were very friendly and accommodating. The design is super fun and leans into an opulent deco look and the Bloom bar is excellent.
23 June 2024
Exceptional
Loved the atmosphere, decor, and room amenities. The room was small but well-appointed and comfortable. Had a nice continental breakfast in the restaurant which was beautifully decorated as well!
1 June 2024
The staff was amazing and attentive & facility was very neat and clean.
Very Unique
N/A
21 May 2024
Lovely - would return!
The property is really lovely. So many unique details. Really comfortable beds and very charming way of creating a wardrobe/hiding the television. Especially appreciated the heavy curtains that covered the slatted blinds - other hotels on our trip had the same blinds, which absolutely do not block out the light, so we couldn’t sleep in those places. The curtains over the blinds were just the right solution for light/privacy.
A couple of disappointments: in the morning, we were up early and went down to breakfast, but they had no breakfast. It was unclear whether they had run out or what had happened (also, poor communication), but we had planned the start of our day around that, given that there wasn’t an easy option nearby. Parking during the day was easy at the lot caddie corner to the hotel, but when we asked for advice on where to park overnight, the man at the front desk directed us to another lot nearby that felt very unsafe - there were no lights, no security, no cameras, no view from the street. If I had been alone, I’d have been angry to have been sent to a dark, deserted spot at night. The speakeasy is adorable but was SO loud. We left because the decibel level made it unpleasant and impossible to have a conversation.
19 May 2024
Very good
A very nice boutique hotel near Penn Station.
The lighting in the room is dim, not good for reading books and newspaper.
17 May 2024
Exceptional
Location is beautiful and in a unique spot in Baltimore
13 May 2024
Very nice!!
As far as I know breakfast was not included. It would have been nice to know if that was the case.
For a business trip for one week having no « real table » to work on a computer was a bit a « back breaker ».
9 May 2024
Fabulously artistic hotel in a great neighborhood.
I did not eat at the location. I loved the unique design elements at the hotel and the attention to detail. The staff was quite helpful.
I didn't like that there was no fan in the bathroom and the front door was very difficult to open - especially when managing luggage at the same time. Hopefully the door issue is an easy fix.
8 May 2024
My favourite hotel in the world!
Everything! Hands down the best place I have ever stayed
7 May 2024
Lovely place. Would stay again.
Location is fantastic. The room, while small, was well appointed and super comfortable. Excellent bed.
Air conditioning was very cold. But we were able to turn it off.
5 May 2024
Such a special hotel
The textiles and design
Rooms were a little dark
24 April 2024
Enjoyable 😊
Loved location. The hotel itself was unique funky perhaps not sure of right word to describe it. Really enjoyed stay. Hope to be back soon
Nothing
23 April 2024
Very good
Beautiful decor, love the canopied bed. Lovely historic neighborhood with lots of interesting eateries to choose from.
The room didn’t have space for a coffee maker or mini-fridge
20 April 2024
Fabulous
Great staff. Room was cute and cozy. We enjoyed staying at a place with two bar options downstairs.
N/A
18 April 2024
fun and comfortable
it was fun and boho style with nice and helpful staff
the weekend breakfast was a little expensive and the tv very small for the room
12 April 2024
Exceptional
Beautiful room
10 April 2024
Look forward to another stay - hopefully with brighter lighting.
Great stay. Great location.
I did not like not being able to make the light in my room brighter.
1 April 2024
Exceptional
The theming of this hotel was impeccable. The photos honestly made it look slightly creepy, but I trusted the views, and they didn't steer me wrong. The restaurant inside the hotel is also a really nice spot, and very convenient
I do wish the room had a mini fridge or a microwave to store the food.
26 March 2024
Exceptional
Unique, amazing cocktail bars and restaurant. The location is awesome too.
none
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Snack bar
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Tour desk
- - Luggage storage
- - ATM/cash machine on site
- - Concierge service
- - Private check-in/check-out
- - Invoice provided
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Lift
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Business facilities
- - Fax/photocopying
Activities
- - Nightclub/DJ
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key access
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Face masks for guests available
21 July 2024
If you don’t want to go to the harbour area down town, Ulysses is a good alternative.
Beautiful old house with lovely bar. Nice neighbourhood with good restaurants and the Mount Vernon just 2 blocks away.