The Capital Hotel

With palatial accommodations steeped in Southern tradition, the Capital Hotel has earned its renown as "the front porch of Little Rock." Its grand opening in 1870 was indeed grand, with the first electric light fixture installed in a hotel in the South and an elevator massive enough to carry a horse. Since then, this Arkansas institution, a Preferred Boutique property, part of the Preferred Hotel Group, has served as both a welcome respite with luxurious rooms and delectable cuisine and a doorway to the illustrious historic monuments and dynamic contemporary culture of the region for business and leisure travelers alike. Ninety-four lavish rooms, including 15 semi-suites and four suites, envelope guests with designer linens, free Wi-Fi and, from most windows, expansive views of downtown Little Rock. Dine on-site in the elegant Ashley's restaurant or socialize with the city's movers and shakers at the Capital Bar and Grill. Both feature Chef Lee Richardson's "New Americana Cuisine," menus handcrafted from local and seasonal ingredients with cutting-edge techniques.