Review: Hotel Northland, 📍 Green Bay, WI
Arriving at the Hotel Northland from the parking garage, the casual hotel guest might not notice they are slowly being taken back in time. A traveler with a keen eye and a love for things related to newspapers and typography will find themselves in an impromptu museum of letterpress printing and newspaper production.
A long hallway serves as the gallery to moveable-type letters that sit in plexiglass cases. The large, wooden drawers used to store them- known by the industry name California Job Cases -sit in their own protective cases a few feet further along the wall. These little accents are what makes a stay at the Hotel Northland special.
When this Wisconsin hotel opened in 1924, it was the largest in the state and meant to signal a new era of commercial hotel architecture and reflect the opulence of the roaring 1920s. Nowadays, it’s part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
It has played host to Hollywood legends like Lon Chaney, who you may know as the Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well to former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
This hotel was where visiting teams would stay when taking on the hometown favorite Green Bay Packers and is a stop on the Green Bay Packers Heritage Trail. It was also a favorite of Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi.
To this day, Hotel Northland sets its clocks to Lombardi Time. Lombardi was a firm believer that being five minutes early meant you were 10 minutes late.
Location
Located in the heart of downtown, the hotel isn’t far from shops, restaurants, and both the Fox & East Rivers. Immediately outside the front doors, you’ve got a coffeehouse and several restaurants.
If you take a stroll towards the edge of the Fox River, you’ll find benches, a walking trail, a summer splash-pad for kids, and even a canoe/kayak launch. Cross the Fox River, and you’ll find the Neville Public Museum, a riverside park and the Titletown Brewing Company.
Address: 304 N Adams St, Green Bay, WI 54301
Phone: (920) 393-7499
Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/grbak-hotel-northland-autograph-collection/overview/
Vibe
This hotel has a soft, warm glow that almost sends you into the sepia-tones of yesterday. If you happen to have a fedora and three-piece suit, this reflection of the roaring 20s is the place to wear it. You’ll be well coordinated with the bronzed fedora, a nod to the legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi, a former guest.
Looking around, the hotel, it’s almost easy to forget it isn’t 1924. There’s a shoe shine stand and a vintage mailbox in addition to pieces of newspaper history woven into the lobby, common areas and guest rooms. Hotel Northland really is a place where you can step back in time.
Rooms
This hotel may have been built in the 1920s, but it would be hard to tell from its remodeled rooms. The Hotel Northland was last remodeled in 2019, and its rooms have a classy, upscale feel that mixes nostalgia and glamour.
Beds are soft and comfortable while bathrooms are huge and the showers have great water pressure. There’s even a mini-fridge. We stayed in a spacious suite with separate sitting and sleeping areas. That gave us plenty of room to set up Bucky Klyde’s crate, but he preferred the bed .
Food & Drink
You won’t have to venture far when you get hungry. The Hotel Northland offers room service and has two onsite restaurants. Grab and go breakfast is available during the week while a seated breakfast is served in the Walnut Room on the weekends.
The Walnut Room is the hotel’s formal dining room. The restaurant’s locally sourced menu includes items like steak, lamb chops and a duck confit lollipop. The Walnut Room’s wine list offers more than 200 options, and the restaurants also serves up a selection of draft beers.
Poke the Bear, the second restaurant in the Hotel Northland is sports fan’s pub dream come true. A bar food based menu includes staples like chicken wings, but you’ll want to cheese curds. They’re a local specialty, and you haven’t been to Wisconsin until you’ve eaten them. Poke the Bear also serves up a rotating selection of local craft beers.
Amenities
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, this hotel has you covered. It has 13,000 square feet of conference space, WiFi, a concierge and a 24-hour fitness center. Don’t be surprised to run into a college sports team there. Several choose Hotel Northland when they’re in Green Bay. This hotel also offers express check-in and check-out and a selection of free newspapers in the lobby.
This hotel is dog-friendly, but you’ll need to bring your own fancy dog bed and treats.
Bottom Line
This dog-friendly hotel is a throwback— a love letter to the Roaring 20s but with the modern conveniences of today. It’s a comfortable, convenient option in the heart of Green Bay with plenty of space for large groups. Its within walking distance of bars and restaurants, but you will need a ride to Lambeau Field if you’re in town for a game.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to bring your Fedora.
