noplasticshowers

Upon my arrival fresh from RDU, checkin at the Siena Hotel was facilitated by Nate Plant. Mr Plant reminds me of an old time proprietor from the Old West. He was as earnest, friendly, and courteous as you would expect, and when queried about the possibility of an interesting bathroom immediately offered up the recently-renovated room 402. The TV in 402 may remain bulbous, but who cares when you have a cool glass shower like this?

The rest of the hotel is about as upscale as I have come across in the Research Triangle area of NC (well until this trip…see below). Apparently it has been here for 26 years, but I only just discovered it. The lobby has beautiful marble and rococo “Italian” furniture marred only by the omnipresent TV.

If my room is any indication, things are on the upswing at the Siena and almost at a world class level with sort of a fractal sense of taste that almost works. (As an example, the refrigerator unit in my room sits forlorn in the corner all by itself, definitely in need of an enclosure. So…marble desk: check, refrigerator in corner: not so much, bulbous TV: not so much, nice big bed with decent linens: check, marble lobby: check, TV noise: no so much.) All of the minor issues are made up for by the excellent, responsive staff. Friendly and warm and properly North Carolinian.

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The restaurant, Il Palio, is very good with fresh pasta, an extensive wine list, and a very nice ambiance.

All in all, the Siena earns top grades—five showerheads. I’ll be back.

Of course leave it to Michael, one of my most esteemed hosts, to completely outclass the Siena by hosting a dinner at the Umstead hotel, a place that reminds me in many ways of the Bellevue Club in Washington state. Looks like there is super high end luxury in the Triangle area after all. The restaurant at the Umstead (called Herons) presented a superb meal with the best service I have experienced in quite some time.

All we need now is some mixology in NC. Any suggestions out there?