The Seelbach Hotel had already been famous for twenty years before Fitzgerald immortalized it in his novel, The Great Gatsby. The hotel was built in 1905 by brothers Louis and Otto Seelbach, who wanted to bring a grand hotel to this Ohio River city. The brothers brought marble from Italy and Switzerland for the entrance and decorated the lobby with murals depicting Kentucky's pioneer days. The lobby is nothing less than spectacular, with a flowing grand stairway, rich with the original brass, marble, and mahogany the Seelbachs were justly proud of.
The hotel has 323 rooms decorated in 18th century style, complete with armoires, four-poster beds, marble baths, and various pieces of mahogany furniture, including traditional writing tables. Concierge-class accommodations offer a special level of personal service and luxury, including a private lounge with beverages and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.
The renowned Oakroom Restaurant offers refined service and an eclectic menu created by some of the finest chefs in the region. The exquisite American cuisine features both seasonal and classic entrees. A luxurious setting of burnished oak and detailed hand-carvings, the Oakroom is stately yet intimate. The tables are comfortably set apart for intimate dining and private conversation. For romantic entertainment, enjoy piano jazz in the Old Seelbach Bar, which Esquire rated as one of the best bars in the South.
The hotel is a few short blocks from Louisville's riverfront and the world's largest floating fountain, the Falls Fountain, where computerized jets propel water into a 375-foot-high fleur-de-lis pattern, the symbol of Louisville. Anchored nearby is the Belle of Louisville, the oldest operating riverboat in the United States. A number of presidents have stayed at the Seelbach: William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson.
If you'd like to visit the Seelbach during Kentucky Derby week, make your reservations way, way in advance.
Sorry, but reservations are no longer taken for Daisy Buchanan's wedding.
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