Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph [In-Depth Hotel Review]

The author stayed as an invited guest of Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph. All opinions are the author’s own, and the hotel had no input in any part of this review.

My husband and I recently enjoyed a quick staycation at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph. We live in the Columbus, Ohio, suburbs, about 30 minutes from this hotel, so it was nice to head downtown for a relaxing overnight getaway.

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, is a boutique-style hotel downtown. It’s located in the trendy Short North neighborhood, which is a walkable area full of restaurants, shops, and galleries.

In this review, I’ll take you on a tour of Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, so you can decide if it’s a good spot for your Columbus staycation or your visit to Ohio’s capital city.

Booking

Prices at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, vary, but they started around $250 per night for a flexible member rate (including taxes and fees) or $220 for a nonrefundable rate when I visited in January.

If you have a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card, this would be a great opportunity to use it to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points from your stay (Marriott Bonvoy cards earn 3x to 6x points at Marriott properties).

If you don’t have a Marriott Bonvoy card, use a credit card that earns bonus points on travel purchases. My personal favorite is the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, which earns 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points on all travel purchases. Plus, this card has tons of other benefits, including an annual $300 travel credit.

You can also book Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, with Marriott Bonvoy points. Rooms start at around 40,000 points per night.

Since you can top-off Marriott free night certificates with up to 15,000 points, you can easily stay at this hotel using the 35,000-point certificates earned from the Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card.

Location

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, is in downtown Columbus in the trendy Short North Arts District. This walkable neighborhood is home to restaurants, shops, art galleries, and lots of events throughout the year (including the monthly Gallery Hop, a Columbus tradition).

The hotel is only 1 block from the Greater Columbus Convention Center and just over half a mile from Nationwide Arena. Lower.com Field (home of the 2023 MLS Champion Columbus Crew) is just over 1.5 miles away.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is just a 10-minute drive from Le Méridien Columbus.

Hot Tip:

The Escape Lounge, A Centurion Studio Partner at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is the airport’s only lounge. Cardholders of The Platinum Card^® from American Express get complimentary access to lounges upon enrollment, or a day pass can be purchased.

Checking In

We checked into Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, on a chilly afternoon in January. As a Columbus-based travel writer, I was long overdue to check out this hotel, so I was very excited.

Walking into the lobby, I noticed it felt more like a lounge in an art gallery than a hotel lobby. Soaring ceilings, comfy seating, and a crackling fireplace made for a welcoming entrance.

I was particularly struck by the large mural hanging opposite the front door. It reminded me of one of my favorite artists, David “Lebo” LeBatard, so I headed to the second-floor art gallery to get a closer look. (Side note for my fellow art lovers — I bought 2 Lebo works on my Alaska cruise last summer, sadly just a few days before he died.)

The piece, “Seventy-two Faces” by Timothy Curtis, was created during the pandemic and illustrates the many emotions felt during that time period. It’s a beautiful addition to the hotel’s lobby and art gallery.

Hot Tip:

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, houses an art gallery on its second floor with an extensive collection of artwork on loan from the hotel’s owners, Ron and Ann Pizzuti. Hotel guests also get free access to the Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art with their key cards.

The check-in desk was toward the back of the lobby. It was late afternoon when we checked in, so our room was ready. I was offered a late checkout thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (which I enrolled in from the Amex Platinum card.)

Amenities

Fitness Center

The hotel’s fitness center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It was fully loaded with cardio equipment (including 2 Peloton bikes), weight machines, and free weights.

Floor-to-ceiling windows made this a bright and welcoming space.

Spa Suites

While there’s no full spa at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, there are 2 spa suites. These are guest rooms that were converted into private spa rooms complete with a shower with body sprayers and a heated mosaic chaise lounge.

We enjoyed a couple’s massage (from $260) during our staycation, and it was a fantastic way to relax before heading home.

Appointments are available Thursdays through Mondays. Extras like body scrubs or time in the infrared sauna can be booked as an addition to a massage but not as a stand-alone treatment. Unlike a full-service spa, you’ll need to pay extra to relax in the spa suite after your treatment.

Bottom Line:

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, doesn’t have a full-service spa. Instead, it has spa suites that can be booked for massages.

Parking

Since Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, is located downtown, there’s no dedicated parking lot for guests. Street parking (on side streets) is sometimes available, and there’s a parking garage a couple of blocks away. Plus, valet parking is available for $45 per day. This is what we did, and it was so convenient.

Pets

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, is a pet-friendly hotel. Dog beds, food and water bowls, and a pet floor mat are available for furry travelers, while owners will receive a welcome kit that includes clean-up supplies. A maximum of 2 pets are allowed per room, with a total combined weight of 100 pounds. There’s a pet fee of $50 per night.

1 King Bed, City View Guest Room

On the way to our corner room, I noticed the fun patterns in the hallways. I love seeing design touches like this in otherwise boring hotel hallways.

My room at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, felt updated and contemporary with a minimalistic mid-century modern design. (I was actually surprised how minimalist it was, based on the bold design in the lobby.)

As I entered my guest room, I first noticed the floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping views of the Short North and downtown Columbus. This urban vibe really made me feel like I wasn’t anywhere near my suburban neighborhood, even though I was just 30 minutes from home.

The focal point of the room was the dramatic bed with a wood headboard that extended to the ceiling.

On one side of the bed was an armchair and a small nightstand. The other side of the bed had a larger nightstand with a lamp, a phone, a clock, and information about the hotel’s dining options and amenities.

The hotel’s dining and amenities information was displayed on this little card with QR codes.

Across from the bed was the TV, a set of drawers, and a small desk area.

Next to the TV was a luggage rack and a small closet with a robe, iron and ironing board, and a full-length mirror. I really liked the quirky artwork next to the closet.

Back near the door was the minibar, fridge, and coffeemaker. The 2 bottles of water were complimentary, while the snacks and drinks in the fridge cost extra.

One of the more unique things here was a token that was good for a free coffee or $1 off a specialty drink at Soul at The Joseph (the lobby bar).

Bathroom

My bathroom was functional and modern, with the color scheme being predominantly white and gray.

Malin + Goetz soap and lotion were on the countertop, along with travel-sized mouthwash, which is always a nice touch.

The most important thing in a hotel bathroom for me is the shower, and this one didn’t disappoint. It had a nice large showerhead, good water pressure, and plenty of hot water.

Full-sized bottles of Malin + Goetz shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were found in the shower. The unique scents of peppermint, sage, and cilantro were delightful. I’m always happy to see full-sized bottles in hotels instead of individual bottles.

Food and Beverage

Soul at The Joseph

The hotel’s lobby bar is called Soul at The Joseph. It served an extensive beverage menu of cocktails (including zero-proof options), wine, and beers. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were also available.

In the mornings, fresh illy coffee is served. Don’t forget to look for a silver token by your in-room coffee maker — this will get you a free coffee or $1 off any other beverage.

Soul at The Joseph was open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

The Guild House

The Guild House serves rustic but modern American cuisine and provides all of the food at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph. Located next door to the hotel, it’s connected to the lobby by an interior door (a feature I was grateful for as my visit was on one of the coldest nights of the year).

After having drinks at Soul at the Joseph, we headed to The Guild House for dinner. We started with Brussels sprouts, soup, and the most delicious sweet potato rolls I’ve ever had (perhaps the only sweet potato rolls I have ever had … but they were excellent, nevertheless.)

We split the Joyce Farms chicken, Hasselback potatoes, and charred carrots for dinner. The chicken was one of the best chicken dishes I’ve had in years.

Hot Tip:

There are a lot of great restaurants within walking distance of Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, but The Guild House is actually connected to the hotel, so you can get to it without having to go outside (a nice feature, especially if the weather isn’t great).

Room Service

Room service at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, is available 24 hours a day. After sleeping in a bit, I made myself a coffee and checked out the breakfast menu.

We ordered from the Wellness menu, but a full menu was also available. Ever since I had avocado toast for the first time at Thompson Central Park, it’s been one of my go-to breakfast orders at hotels. While I still haven’t found one as good as I had on that New York City trip, the one I had here at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, was pretty tasty.

Service

The service I received at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, was wonderful. Everyone, including the front desk staff, the valet, the bartenders at Soul at the Joseph, the massage therapists in the spa suites, and more, was polite and helpful.

Final Thoughts

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, is centrally located in downtown Columbus’ trendy Short North Arts District, close to shops, restaurants, and attractions. Whether you’re visiting Columbus or are a Columbus resident looking for an easy staycation, Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, is a great option.