The Benson, a Coast Hotel
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Hotel Coverage: The Benson, a Coast Hotel
Hotel Toiletry Conundrum: Dispensers or Bottles?
Last week, we wondered if toiletry dispensers were unsanitary or not but over at the Benson Hotel in Portland, you won't have to worry about that since the hotel offers both toiletry dispensers and toiletry bottles. And with the good stuff too--Gilchrist & Soames.There is one exception though. Unless...
August 10, 2011
Portland Really Loves Their Bicycles
Speaking of Hotel Bikes.... Last month, Jaunted let us know that Portland, Ore. was incredibly bike-friendly as evidenced by this sign in the airport. And this bike love extends to the city's hotels as this is what we found chilling above the entrance of the Benson Hotel. So will bicyclists...
August 08, 2011
Party at Portland's Benson Hotel
The new year is almost upon us, and that means your local free paper packed full with ads for NYE parties and pecial prix fixe menus. If you're not down with drinking away your Christmas bonus (that's if you even got one) with bottle service at a sweaty club,...
December 15, 2008
Jimi Hendrix Drummer Dies at the Benson Hotel
Sad news today. Mitch Mitchell, the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was found dead in his room at the Benson Hotel in Portland yesterday. He was 61 years old. Mitchell was part of one of the iconic rock groups to come out of the 60s.Hendrix, one of music's most...
November 13, 2008
Partner Reviews: The Benson, a Coast Hotel
Poor brunch service
My hubby, 12 yo and infant strolled down to the hostess podium and waited about 4 minutes before someone acknowledged us. The host asks if we have reservations and I informed him we did not. He informed us it was brunch and we said that was fine. He looked at us like we were crazy. Granted we were wearing jeans and had nice tops on (several people in the restaurant were also wearing jeans) but we got the impression that we weren't stuck up enough to eat there. The hosts made us wait 15 minutes (the restaurant was half empty) before seating us. We sat at our table for about 5 minutes. During that time the wait staff acted like we were invisible. We got up and left. If we weren't dressed the par, the host should have said something. We would have totally understood and taken no offense. If they were booked, then they should have communicated that to us. We got the feeling they just didn't want our business for whatever reason. This was a shock considering the front desk was extremely helpful and polite when we checked in the night before. No one should be treated like that for any reason.
Overrated, Overpriced
I recently had out-of-town visitors - as my loft is too small to accommodate them, I reserved two rooms at the Benson Hotel for them to stay in. These are dear friends of mine and I wanted them close to me and I wanted them to be pampered. Regretfully, I made the reservation based on the Benson's reputation and their impressive lobby. I really should have done more research. My friends did not really complain, but, when I went to viist them, I was appauled by the size of the room - it was just large enough to fit the bed. We couldn't really visit there and went down to the lobby which had plenty of room. Several times, we asked to have some service there and felt we were treated poorly because we were dressed somewhat casually. While I really enjoyed the visit from my friends, I definitely will consider another hotel in the future.
the benson is a dump
this hotel is a dump my recomendation stay at another hotel for your own sake this hotel is a 2 star hotel maybe 3 star on a good day if if your lucky looking for a 4 star hotel? then this is not your place if looking for a 2 or 3 star hotel then maybe you will be ok with the place however the service is lame and the doe eyed desk people are of little to no help and the rooms have a noxious chemical smell so i dont recomend taking a room service meal i did and it made the food taste like insecticide or cleaning chemicals im not sure which old crt tv poor picture old lumpy mishapen pillows faded bed cloths devoid of color dinge ripped curtains really poor room anyway i suggest you just keep looking for a good experience when visiting portland good luck !
Brunch Perfections
I've never been to a better brunch, including the Hilton in SF that was supposed to be the best. Large selection of seafood, outstanding Eggs Benedict, best waffle syrup I've ever tasted, endless champagne and orange juice, and their creamed potatoes are to die for. Pace yourself!!
Its ok!
Faded 'grande dame' - needs a rooms and dining room remodel! Concierge as excellent! nice evening wine tasting. rooms are a little on the no...
Horrible service for Christmas Dinner
We had family in town for Christmas and were so excited to bring them to the Benson for Christmas dinner. We heard the Jazz piano player was wonderful (which she was) and the holiday decorations were beautiful (which they were). Sadly the service was horrible and the food less than mediocre. We had made reservations in advance for dinner in the lounge. We sat down wondering if we were in the wrong place and inquired with our server. We explained we were there for Christmas dinner. For some reason she was immediately rude and did not want to share a wine/beer/drink menu. In addition she did not want to be bothered explaining the set 'Christmas Dinner' with us. So, while we were figuring out the menu for ourselves we asked for bread. She said she could not bring bread unless we ordered food first. (I could not believe this since we had already ordered and were served drinks, and we were obviously ordering dinner) We ordered soup, salad and entrees. Everything came at once. The crab salad was good as was the corn chowder. However, the prime rib (for $50) was not good. It was dry...like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours.. Huge waste of money! Still, the most disheartening part of the whole experience was not the food, but the waitress. She was beyond rude. She totally ignored our table. We could barely even get her to give us the time for our check. Too bad for her and The Benson, because it was Christmas and we were more than ready for spend a few more dollars on drinks and dessert. We finally got our check and had to request someone else process it as she continued to ignore us. Without a word we left a 10% tip and walked out the door. I have heard great things about The Benson, and I know it has a wonderful history in Portland. Unfortunately, I will not eat there again nor would I recommend any family or friends to eat there. I know it was only one experience...but come on, it was Christmas.
great stay
This hotel really takes you back in old time Portland. The building itself has beautiful architecture and the rooms are beautiful. Stayed tw...
Benson Hotel - Portland, OR
Historic, luxerious hotel in downtown Portland. Quality service, beautiful rooms. Beds are memory foam, which is not as comfortable as oth...
White glove service all the way
We attended the Sunday brunch and loved it! It was 5 star quality, service and food. The cheese selection was to die for, the fruit was fresh and flavorful. The eggs benedict was one of he best I have ever eaten. My companion had an omelet made which they described as perfection. The entree selections were tasty and different like beef tips in wine sauce and a seafood pasta. The breads and desserts were all freshly baked and delectable and a wide variety. The drinks never went dry because the service was friendly and quick. Go the next Sunday you want a relaxing, wonderful and special experience.
Wedding Brunch Bomb
My friend held her wedding and subsequent brunch at the Benson. Brunch was horrific at best. 1 server for 24 people with a horrible back waiter. Server yells asking how many mimosas/bloody marys throughout the entire brunch. I told the Benson event coordinator that some water upon arriveal would be nice. Nothing happened. I told the front desk manager that our concerns about the horrible service were not being addressed. She sent the food and beverage manager. After 15 minutes and more yelling by our server the F&B manager arrived. He said "I just got here" after I explained all my concerns. Sorry for your lack of internal communication but that's not my problem. There should have been another server or at least a professional one. It was like Denny's servers in fancy clothes. I manage restaurants and was shocked at the utter lack of concern that management demonstrated. Food was okay. My over medium eggs were over easy. Those who got eggs benedict were surprised to find hard poached eggs smoothered in thin layer of hollandaise sauce. Food was warm not hot. There were no condiments on the table so after 3/4 of our meal was finished some hot sauce appeared. Hello Benson - maybe with the economy they way it is you should perhaps ask your staff to be a tiny bit professional. Your F&B manager did absolutely nothing to remedy the situation! Perhaps your staff shouldn't yell in a private room - maybe walk around the table and ask people what they would like (like a normal restaurant), if your servers suck-coach them! It's a reflcection of your poor management! Don't hold any special occasion there unless you want an auctioneer on your most special day!
Takes you back in time
What an elegant setting. Beautiful chandeliers in the lobby and the decor takes you back in time. The rooms are wonderful with black marble ...
Good Brunch!
I went here for brunch with my family and ti was delicious. The desserts are to die for. And the selection of food is endless. Fabulous Salmon, great sushi and all the regular breakfast selections. I wish they had an Egg's Benedict station to order - but that is because it is my absolute favorite dish. I can't say anything negative except it is a large hotel chain-type atmosphere and ,eave a bit to be desired for personality in service. A really classy bloody mary bar may be an interesting addition to this great brunch.
BEST hotel in town
Love the rooms and service provided, just wish we could have stayed longer. I love the fact that you are greeted at the door, your car is parked for you and then retrieved when you are done. The suite we were in was very spacious....loved having a seperate room from the bedroom and a large two vanity bathroom. You can tell everyone takes pride in their hotel, their place of employment.
Truly bad experience
Beware when purchasing room on priceline. Upon arrival we were told that the hotel only had smoking rooms available for the evening. It turns out this hotel is one of the few that forces priceline buyers to stay in smoking rooms(they opened the rooms up to priceline after all non-smoking rooms were booked). The smoke smell was so strong that we had to sleep with our window open and listen to all of the loud bar goers outside. The beds are memory foam. If you are not accustomed to these beds they are extremely uncomfortable. I barely slept a few minutes. The rooms look like they are falling apart. The wallpaper was peeling, the carpet was stained, and the rooms were extremely outdated ( like a 70's version of a colonial style). I was excited to stay in a historic hotel, but after my experience I would not recommend this hotel to anyone.
Best Dog Friendly Hotel
This a great hotel, friendly service and dogs welcome, they even have dog beds with the Hotel LOGO on them, is that cool or what. Treats were delivered as well with a dog dish. They also will bring a Gold Fish to your room, I guess to keep the dog happy.
Historic setting, great location
The Benson is a beautiful hotel in a very centrally located part of town. Forget your car because the valet service is $25 bucks a night, and walk to Burnside, just 2 blocks away, where all the action is. The rooms are small considering what you pay for one, but the beds are comfy and the bathrooms are elegant. They have a great New Year's bash in the lobby downstairs, but it's more formal than most Portlanders like to be dressed. Two great restaurants are right at your doorstep here, El Gaucho, a premiere Portland Steakhouse and the London Grill, another very nice place. The service at the Benson is great, from the valet to the front desk personel. The made to order breakfasts in the morning are nice if you dont want to wait for food in a restaurant, but arrive cold and are not very good for the 12-15 dollar price tags they carry. The Benson is lovely, but there are better hotels for the same amount of cash!
Classy, and close to everything
When your with Mom and Dad you just go with the flow. fortunatly, we were at the Benson Hotel, it is close to lots of clubs and bars for the grown up kids to hang while the folks wander the streets of P town. Great service, super breakfast in their restaurant downstairs.
coming back
Been in this hotel before and came back for pleasure, lobby is great, unfriendly front desk but bellman great. Rooms are better than the first time we stayed @ The Benson, no more moldy tiles what a turnaround. Promised will never stay here before but now we definitely coming back
Great piece of history
Loved the spacious lobby. Staff very friendly. Great location. The best Sunday brunch I ever had!!
Expensive and TIRED!
We booked a romantic suite for New Years and it came with ripped carpeting and tired furnishings. The turn down service left our bed rumpled and the radio was left on playing rap music. For the $399 price, you would expect a cleaner, more comfortable room with intact carpet. Terrible. Truly a disappointment.
Benson Hotel
The beds here were extremely comfortable. Make sure to try the food in the restaurant, it is truly amazing. The hotel is well-located in the...
Benson
This is a nice four-star hotel in Portland. They have tempurpedic beds. Most people find this good but I found them strangely uncomfortable-...
Elegant
The Benson Hotel is classic Portland elegance at its best--such a relaxing, upscale atmosphere with valet parking, helpful staff, and beauti...
Classic hotel, beautifully restored
The Benson is an historic hotel in downtown Portland. Beautiful lobby and rooms, impeccable service, and fine dining and shopping all around...
Too noisy
I was so looking forward to my stay at the Benson, but at 3:00 am when I was woken up by drunks yelling on the street below, I was a little ...
One of Portland's oldest & finest
The Benson is a really nice, if overpriced, hotel in Downtown Portland. It's probably the nicest large hotel in the area; it is where many v...
Nice hotel...
I've stayed here and enjoyed it. It's very close to portlands' pearl district and center of town attractions. The hotel was very charming an...
King of Classic
By far the most elegant hotel lobby I've ever seen! A time travel back to the old days of grand elegance: huge, wood walls, enoumous staircase, classic lobby bar, rooms are clean and with great decor. parents stayed her last weekend and they were very impressed: felt like a vacation, not just a hotel room. location is key: smack dab in the middle of down town so there was tons of activity and things to see/do. Staying here you'll get a real taste of Old Portland.
Overrated
The Benson is regarded as an icon to people in the Portland area, but that reputation was probably earned years ago. The lobby and staff were very impressive, but once you exit that elevator, it goes down from there. The corridors are dingy, worn and depressing. The room was even worse, with the same dinginess but stains on the ottoman, carpet and bedspreads. The housekeeping was lacking, judging by the amount of dust and the stained grout in the bathrooms and the linens were worn and had no life to them. I would imagine the suites are very nice, but there is no trickle down effect here.
Thanks for a great weekend
What a great hotel. They upgraded me to a small suite when I checked in. (not sure why, but who really cares?) It was very comfortable and had a view of the city. 24-hour rooms service was great after coming in late at night. Thought the live jazz in the lobby was intrusive while trying to have a conversation in the lobby, but found a nice quiet space close by. Service was great!
BEST HOTEL IN TOWN
What a beautiful hotel!! The service was outstanding, the room was wonderful and the London Grill was the best place to eat for a romantic evening. We almost deceided not to stay because of some of the reviews but I am glad we did. The Benson is the best hotel in Portland and you would be crazy to try anything else.
stars
I got to meet Robert Gouliet - even got his autograph...a very friendly guy and a great story to tell back home!
Everything is luxurious
Classiest hotel in Portland. Rooms are very luxurious, down to the comforter and linens. The restaurant, London Grill, is one of my favorites - excellent Ceasar, baby lobster tails, filet mignon, I could go on. The bar is relaxing and entertaining. Try the Long Island - best I've ever had.
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Classic old-school swankiness in Downtown Portland. A short walk from the Pearl. -
Benson looks nice but don't bother..... Inept desk loses big reservations, keycards don't work, room service won't pick up the phone.... WTF? -
Make sure to try the Benson Bubbler out front! -
Check out the Gingerbread display (Thanksgiving through Christmas) -
bed and pillows were amazingly comfy! robes too. -
I used the bathroom here. The bell hop was super cute -
Beware of the valet parking rip-off! My vehicle was parked for about 14 hours, and $29 was added to the room bill, plus the tip for retrieving my vehicle! -
Enjoy your stay! While you are there check out the beautiful marble floors from the 1920's that we have been maintaining for over 4 years. WOW! -
If you are having dinner in either London Grill or El Gaucho, stop into the lobby bar for a drink as well. It's beautiful and has nice live music.
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