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# The Argus Hotel – Boutique hotel in Albany NY, historic charm, modern amenities, community-focused, unique atmosphere

The Argus Hotel is a boutique hotel located in Albany, NY, offering a unique blend of historic charm and modern amenities. This former mansion has been beautifully renovated, providing a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests. With a focus on community and hospitality, The Argus Hotel has quickly become a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The hotel features a cocktail lounge, a variety of rooms, and a commitment to excellent service, making it an ideal choice for travelers seeking comfort and character in their accommodations.

## History

### The story of The Argus Hotel
The Argus Hotel was originally a grand mansion built in the late 1890s. Over the years, it has undergone various transformations, including serving as an attorney's office before being converted into a boutique hotel. The current owners, Terra and Matt, have poured their passion and expertise into restoring the property, ensuring that it retains its historical significance while offering modern comforts.

### Milestones and growth
- **Late 1890s**: The mansion is constructed, showcasing architectural beauty.
- **20th Century**: Transitions to an attorney's office, serving the community in a different capacity.
- **Recent Years**: Terra and Matt acquire the property, initiating extensive renovations.
- **2023**: The hotel officially reopens, welcoming guests with a fresh, inviting atmosphere.

### Cultural and local influence
The Argus Hotel has become a cultural hub in Albany, reflecting the city's rich history and vibrant community. Its location near Washington Park allows guests to experience local events and gatherings, further embedding the hotel within the fabric of Albany's social life. The owners actively engage with the community, hosting events that celebrate local culture and history.

### Continuing the tradition
The Argus Hotel continues the tradition of hospitality that has been a hallmark of its history. By combining modern amenities with the charm of a historic mansion, the hotel offers guests a unique experience. The owners are committed to maintaining the property’s heritage while adapting to contemporary needs, ensuring that The Argus Hotel remains a beloved destination for years to come.

## Community

### Community involvement
The Argus Hotel is deeply rooted in the Albany community, with the owners actively participating in local events and initiatives. They strive to create a welcoming environment not just for guests but for locals as well. The hotel often collaborates with nearby businesses and artists, fostering a sense of community and support.

### Community notion about the place
Reviews highlight The Argus Hotel as a hidden gem in Albany, praised for its friendly atmosphere and attentive service. Guests appreciate the personal touch provided by the owners, who make an effort to connect with visitors and locals alike. The hotel is seen as a place where community and hospitality intersect, making it a favored spot for gatherings and events.

### Events and gatherings
The Argus Hotel hosts various events, from cocktail nights to community gatherings. These events not only enhance the guest experience but also strengthen ties with the local community. The hotel’s cocktail lounge serves as a social hub, where guests and locals can mingle, enjoy drinks, and participate in themed events that celebrate Albany's culture.

## Offerings

### What The Argus Hotel offers
The Argus Hotel provides a range of offerings designed to enhance the guest experience. From comfortable accommodations to a vibrant cocktail lounge, the hotel aims to cater to the needs of both leisure and business travelers. The unique blend of historic charm and modern amenities sets it apart from other hotels in the area.

### Dining and food experience
The hotel features a cocktail lounge that serves a variety of drinks, including classic cocktails and local beers. Guests have noted the inviting atmosphere of the lounge, where they can unwind and enjoy light snacks. The attention to detail in the food offerings, such as complimentary snacks during gatherings, adds to the overall experience.

### Events and packages
The Argus Hotel offers various event packages tailored to different occasions. Whether it's a family gathering, a romantic getaway, or a business retreat, the hotel can accommodate diverse needs. The owners are dedicated to creating memorable experiences, ensuring that every event is personalized and well-executed.

### Facilities and features
- Cocktail lounge with a full bar
- Historic architecture with modern renovations
- Comfortable seating areas for relaxation
- Proximity to Washington Park for outdoor activities
- Unique room configurations, including a carriage house

## Pros and Cons

### Key insights from reviews
Reviews of The Argus Hotel reveal a mix of experiences, with many guests praising the ambiance and hospitality, while others have noted areas for improvement. The overall sentiment leans towards appreciation for the hotel's charm and the owners' dedication to service.

### Compliments and strengths
Guests frequently compliment the hotel's warm atmosphere, attentive service, and beautiful renovations. The owners' commitment to creating a welcoming environment is highlighted as a significant strength. Many reviews mention the unique character of the hotel, making it a memorable place to stay.

### Contrasts and notable mentions
While many guests have had positive experiences, some reviews point out issues with cleanliness and service responsiveness. A few guests reported challenges during their stay, such as unprepared rooms or communication difficulties with the staff. These contrasts indicate that while the hotel is on the right track, there are still areas that need attention.

### Summary evaluation
Overall, The Argus Hotel is a charming boutique hotel that offers a unique experience in Albany. While there are some growing pains as the owners continue to refine their operations, the positive feedback regarding the atmosphere and hospitality suggests that the hotel is well on its way to becoming a beloved destination for both locals and visitors.

## Location & Nearby Attractions
The Argus Hotel is situated at 8 Thurlow Terrace, Albany, NY, adjacent to the picturesque Washington Park. This prime location allows guests to easily explore the park's beautiful landscapes and participate in local events. Albany's rich history and vibrant culture are within reach, making it an ideal base for discovering the city's attractions. The hotel is conveniently located near various restaurants, shops, and cultural sites, enhancing the overall visitor experience.

## FAQs

**What type of accommodations does The Argus Hotel offer** The hotel offers a variety of rooms, including suites and a carriage house.

**Is The Argus Hotel pet-friendly** Yes, the hotel has designated pet-friendly rooms available for guests traveling with pets.

**Are there dining options at The Argus Hotel** The hotel features a cocktail lounge that serves drinks and light snacks.

**What events does The Argus Hotel host** The hotel hosts community events and gatherings, including cocktail nights.

**Is parking available at The Argus Hotel** Yes, parking is available for guests at the hotel.

## Visit The Argus Hotel Today
Experience the charm and hospitality of The Argus Hotel in Albany, NY. With its rich history, community involvement, and inviting atmosphere, the hotel offers a unique stay for travelers. Whether you're visiting for business or leisure, The Argus Hotel provides a warm and welcoming environment, making it a perfect choice for your next trip.

05215195-d655-43b4-9fc7-afe9623b6bee

This is a review of only the cocktail lounge. Friends from out of town were staying in the carriage house behind the hotel and we agreed to gather in the lounge for a drink or two. The building itself is impressive, although maybe not quite as impressive as the castle-looking building next door. Our party of seven settled in at the bar as there otherwise did not seem to be a large enough table for all of us to gather around in either the main lounge area or a small room off to the side. The dark wood paneled walls, large fireplace, assortment of easy chairs, couches, and high desktop table gave off a feeling of warmth and welcoming. The friendly bartender introduced herself (sorry I've forgotten her name) and informed us that spirit-wise, the bar was capable of preparing the standard, traditional drinks like Manhattans, martinis, etc. All beers were poured from cans, and at my request, she recited the names of about six that were available. I don't believe anyone in our party inquired about the wines that were available. The building simply calls out for an explanation of its history. Upon our request, the bartender offered to provide either the "brief" or "full" option. We requested the full history. She was obviously well up to the task. You would be amazed at the variety of things you could learn here. Just to touch on a few key topics that were mentioned, consider Alexander Hamilton's wife, puffed rice, Bab-o cleanser (cue up the jingle), Bishop Gibbons, and an orthopedic surgeon. I don't know what the normal food arrangements are in the Lounge. I'm guessing that our out-of-town hosts requested some snacks for us as a few bowls appeared with mixed nuts, crackers and cheese, fresh grapes, humus, and warm pretzel/croissant rolls, and a plate of prosciutto wrapped cream cheese. Overall, the atmosphere here is simply friendly and inviting. I think it will become an occasional gathering place for our local friends when looking for a place that is quiet and relaxing.

e4ceb386-48ae-4cc4-9a74-5b7a076488bf

A beautiful boutique hotel it just had its grand reopening last week! It's absolutely gorgeous. If not for attending an event here last evening I would have missed this slice of architectural heaven! The owners have renovated it with great care. The rooms are furnished with just the right amount of furniture allowing the room to feel light and airy. Each room is designed with the right amount of seating for flow and multiple conversation points without anyone feeling crowded or being interrupted by another conversation. Although the rooms have dark paneling the large windows and French doors allow for an abundance of light. The backyard is lovely and flows into Washington Park! Imagine having a whole park as your backyard!! I would love to come back for a stay!

98f1fd31-7527-4994-b8d5-2e0d1e3c2006

Five stars just doesn't do The Argus Hotel (TAH) justice! So many more could be awarded but for now I am relinquished to conform and will try to do TAH justice in my review. TAH is a former mansion turned attorney's office turned B&B, currently owned by Terra and Matt. A dynamic duo with a powerful history of business savvy, hospitality, craftsmanship, culinary experience and so much more. TAH was an amazing place but it was these two that welcomed my family into their home and embraced us with all of our nuances and imperfections as if they were part of the family too. Attentive and observant of what we needed, what worked or didn't in the house and were quick to adjust as needed. TAH is still a pretty new hotel and they are doing an amazing job ironing out all of the kinks that come with anything new. I was speechless when I first entered the house and spent hours absorbing the beauty of the house and their labor. As for the actual hotel...Built in the late 1890's, the hotel has the modernized features of central AC, WiFi, Satelitte TV, etc. but still holds the historic charm. The walls are adorned with hardwood paneling, wood floors and classically decorated with beautiful, modern furniture mixed with some classic pieces for added flare. There are a multitude of rooms for sitting and enjoying conversations and cocktails at the rustic bar in the main entrance as well as ample seating in the main area where the tremendous fireplace can be enjoyed. The bar serves a full menu of drinks which can be enjoyed whether you choose to stay at the hotel or not. Sleeping rooms are plentiful too and nicely decorated. There are a full compliment of sizes and configurations, even a separate carriage house turned into a perfect spot for families needing a bit of isolation from the main house. The carriage house/ cottage also has a small kitchenette, bathrooms, living rooms, etc. My wife, son and I stayed in the suite with the sun room off the back. A large room enough room perfect for a family with smaller kids and the ideal spot for a relaxing afternoon in the sunroom. All of the rooms were well stocked with the basic necessities and each had their own keypad for access as did the main entrances to the Hotel. This was my first visit to Albany so I was not familiar with the area. Having some down time between family events I did make my way out to some local restaurants and the neighboring park. I enjoyed the area and the scenery of the neighborhood and would definitely encourage anyone to do the same. The area has so much local flare and personality to enjoy it should be considered criminal to miss out. I am counting down the days until I can return for another phenomenal stay!

65597a09-2483-4f04-a1e1-b1569a9263f7

So many problems with this place from start to finish. But the major problem is the owners and their lack of professionalism. We called several hours prior to our check-in to let them know we were running a little late and they informed us that an email was sent with the check-in information.. which we never received to begin with.We reserved the Carriage House since it was a group of friends all staying together. When we arrived and let ourselves in to the carriage house It was quite obvious that they had not cleaned it at all. They were dirty dishes left, socks, toys, no towels and the beds were unmade. We immediately called to get the situation rectified and the female owner casually walked over holding a glass of wine to see what's going on.... Extremely unprofessional. Things only went from bad to worse after this. We obviously needed to leave and come back so that they can get the place cleaned up. We did leave a bag in the carriage house when we left for dinner, and clearly told the owners that we left it there, and when we returned the bag was missing. So we immediately called the front desk number and received terrible customer service from that person as well. We were told to go look for the office with the turquoise couch and the bag should be in there. This was around 11:00 p.m. After we've wandered around the place and finally found the bag the dirty socks from the previous guest were placed in the bag.. . Once in the carriage house it was evident that they don't take good care of it and are not concerned with safety. There were cracks in the vanity and an expired fire extinguisher in the hallway and several towel bars missing... The next morning we tried to reach out to discuss our poor experience and no one answered the phone. After trying several times over the course of the day we reached out via Facebook and finally got some response from the male owner. After negotiating back and forth they agreed to refund us half of our money. Then it took over 5 days to actually get the refund. We had to follow up several times to see what the holdup was. Again no apology just an excuse as to why we didn't get it sooner. I would definitely not waste your money at this place...run away

daebeb9b-d2e2-4856-831f-0995ea35bc41

Growing Pains. Tara and Matt are doing a beautiful job restoring this mansion into a boutique hotel, but it's just not quite there yet. We travel a lot and are always looking for great places to stay with our dog. Our dog Phoebe was the first canine "guest". We booked through Booking and marked that we were traveling with our dog. Their Website also states that they have dog friendly rooms. My son is going to SUNY Albany in the fall so we will be in Albany frequently in the future. This trip was for a friend's 50th bday party. On the way there, we were texted that the pet-friendly rooms were not ready yet and the cleaning person would have it ready by 3:30. What we didn't realize was that we were the first pet-friendly guest. There are two pet friendly rooms on the first floor towards the back with doors that are easy to get in and out of. This made perfect sense. The room that was made up for us was on the smaller side. I asked if we could have the larger room and she was very accommodating and switched us. She did warn that it wasn't ready. I had to move some items over to the new room. This wasn't problem. For both rooms, there wasn't a wardrobe or closet to put our stuff - just a coat rack in the wall. If you are traveling with a wardrobe for events - I don't see how these rooms would work - no ironing board - but I am sure the front desk would give you one. Both rooms still did not hang their toilet paper holders which I found odd. Showers had good water pressure. Linens were nice. The carpet in both rooms were not vacuumed adequately. They have a deep blue carpet and every spec of dirt shows up. They made a big fuss about the cleaning fee for our dog and we were a little surprised. Little things in a room go a long way: glasses and an ice bucket in room. A welcome package for your pup (water bowl, treats, poop bags). We travel a lot and this is standard. Their bar is not open yet so they did have complimentary drinks, coffee, tea available at all times - this we appreciated. HERE was the main problem. We don't know what was going on with HVAC in our section of the hotel. The room was uncomfortably hot with no way to open a window. Neither one of us could sleep, woke up with headaches and left as soon as we could. My husband told them that the room was un-habitable and he expected them to right it. We did get the pet fee waived but no apology was sent. This was the worst experience we have had staying somewhere. We would love try the hotel again when the cocktail bar is open and after they have ironed out the wrinkles.

e12ec701-1234-4ae8-b1e2-9d3ec38b9655

What an amazing find! Tucked away on a quiet side street adjacent to Albany's Washington Park, this just-opened boutique hotel is a passion project in progress. The owners, Tara and Matt, have worked for more than a year to bring this lovely old mansion back to its glory days. Their attention to detail, craftsmanship, sense of style, and design are evident as soon as you walk through the door. It is a beautiful home and a lovely place to stay. Two of the three floors are open, and there are 16 rooms ready for occupancy. Future plans include refurbishing a carriage house in the back, opening the rooms on the third floor, and working their way through the thousand details that must be on their "things-to-do" list. It will be wonderful to come back to see the progress they will be making as they expand their operation. In the meantime, if you are visiting Albany, and you are looking for a beautiful and comfortable to stay, don't pass this unique hotel by!

3c87b749-ab3d-4fe8-a370-6e888952dc62

The Argus Hotel in Albany is a wonderful boutique hotel that was very welcoming right from the start. Terra leaned out the window to welcome us and told us to go ahead and bring our bicycles in through the front door. She and Matt have imbued this place with a warm and friendly atmosphere and everyone we encountered was super helpful. The place is uniquely beautiful, and the rooms are large. The inhouse cocktail bar was a plus and we invited nine friends over we had just met on the ECT that day and Jess and Nick made it a super fun evening.

260acb24-82cf-4281-ac50-72e1a9334fa6

Wow just wow! Anyone travelling to Albany, or the Capital District should look NO FURTHER for a place to stay(except maybe the Renaissance Hotel....) Love love love everything about this place. Like a magical trip back in time to when things were beautiful and real before corporate takeovers of all things travel and hospitality. The bar is officially now my favorite place to hang with people to have a nice beverage and a quiet conversation.....cannot wait to return! Two thumbs up to the owners to provide this great great place for us!

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The Argus Hotel in Albany, NY - Prime Downtown Location

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