Staycation at The Stella

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the chandelier. As I lowered my eyes to the lobby of The Stella Hotel & Ballroom, I couldn’t believe the grandeur before me. I never do things like this but decided to take myself out for the weekend. As I stood there looking at the fresh flowers, crushed velvet furniture, and vintage yet modern front desk area, I knew I had made the right choice choosing to spend my weekend in downtown Kenosha.

The 1844 Table & Mash

The front desk concierge recommended the fish fry at the in-house restaurant, The 1844 Table & Mash, and as soon as I dropped my things in my suite, that’s exactly what I did. Thick pieces of fish beer battered in Wisconsin’s own Spotted Cow came atop a pile of French fries, with a roasted lemon, house made tartar sauce, coleslaw, and rye bread. The fish was tender and light, which paired perfectly with the crispy batter. The restaurant felt intimate, but I didn’t feel lonely as the staff were very attentive, and the executive chef even came out and mingled with people as they ate. 

Game Room & Meeting Rooms

After dinner, I did a quick exploration of the lower level. I was surprised to find many conference and meeting rooms, some with capacity for 70 people. There was a workout room, as well as a giant game room. I didn’t even know they made things like giant Monopoly, giant backgammon, or wall Scrabble! 

Crow’s Nest Rooftop Bar

When my self-guided tour of the downstairs was done, I made my way up to the Crow’s Nest, the rooftop bar (open seasonally). I met a friend there and we were both impressed with the view of downtown, and the view of the lake. Garden lights were strung above us, and there was a gas fire going in case anyone got a chill in the breeze. She ordered a Southport Slush, and I had a blended Watermelon Lemonade. We also ordered Jerk Chicken Skewers, and Blackened Steak Skewers with Blue Cheese Sauce. We couldn’t decide which we liked better, both were delicious. 

I noticed that as employees from the restaurant and front desk had their shifts end, they came up to the roof. I liked this because it speaks to the culture of the place. If employees stay and hang out together after their shifts, there’s a good thing happening.

The Stay

Once my friend and I said our goodbyes, I went up to my suite. I didn’t have much time to explore it earlier, so this time I took it all in. It was more like an apartment than a hotel room. The wood floors throughout and the old-world furniture gave it a vintage feel, but with modern conveniences. I could see the downtown since I was on the top floor, and even the lake was visible. In the morning, I was up and watched the sunrise over Lake Michigan from my room.

The Ballroom

By this point I was ready for a cup of tea and some breakfast. But before I made my way to the Café, I had to stop and look at the ballroom. Light poured in the windows, and the original light fixtures glowed with the memories of so many weddings and parties. I let myself stand there and take in the magnificence of it for a few moments before I made my way to breakfast. (Consider booking your wedding or other special event here!)

Café at The Stella

In the Café, I found an array of baked goods and made to order breakfast items. I had a sausage and egg sandwich on brioche. The Café partners with the Lemon Street Gallery and has the work of local artists hung throughout. 

The History

The Stella was originally The Elk’s Club, and then The Heritage House. It ended up being abandoned at some point and set to be razed, but the community rallied around it and saved it, getting it on the National Registry of Historic Places. As I meandered the hallways, I noticed so many small details giving homage to the building’s history. Primarily, there are pictures of elk everywhere, and I even saw antlers tucked down a little hallway. The suites are called Heritage Suites, paying respect to the years the building spent as The Heritage House. As a history lover, and a great granddaughter of original members of The Elk’s Club, I really enjoyed these small ways the past was honored.  

Whether you’re from out of town, or a resident of Kenosha, be sure to check out this gem. The restaurants are all open to the public, and the building is spectacular. It won’t matter if you’re in for a meal or in for the night, you will become smitten with The Stella Hotel & Ballroom. This is one of many hotels in our area to consider when planning a staycation or getaway!

The Stella Hotel & Ballroom:

5706 8th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53140

https://stellahotel.com/

Front Desk: (262) 842-2000

The 1844: (262) 764-8940