The detail in the lobby alone is art itself. A blend of wood, stone, and metal is balanced by pops of gray, teal, and green as well as brown and black leather. Pieces of art are hung above couches, a glass fireplace is warmly lit, and pillows abound.
Hotel Vandivort’s rich history and a rich interior are drawing both travellers and locals through it’s doors, and stunning both every time.
As the first boutique hotel in Springfield, Missouri, it lives up to the hope of its name. The detail in the lobby alone is art itself. A blend of wood, stone, and metal is balanced by pops of gray, teal, and green as well as brown and black leather. Pieces of art are hung above couches, a glass fireplace is warmly lit, and pillows abound. The hotel is opulent in the coziest way.
As you walk further into the space, notice the nooks of space that have been created by making “walls” out of metal fixture pieces. Not a wall at all, but between these boundary points, even more couches, end tables, and pillows await, allowing guests to have gathering space for their group.
The area extends to other little seating nooks, and a few long tables surround bookcases that hold computers for guests, making a sort of community workstation and business center that’s called the “Library.”
Four floors above, is the Vandivort Ballroom, 2,800 feet of space that, according to the building’s history, has been hosting events for more than 100 years.
Across from the Library is the Pillar Room, a boardroom-style meeting room with the same thoughtful style, decor and ambiance as the rest of the hotel. An elegant, functional wood table with stylish chairs can accommodate up to 16 attendees. The advanced multimedia technology make the room ideal for a private meeting.
More interested in pleasure, than business? The corridor to the north leads way to the Cornerstone Room, a versatile space, perfect for presentations, rehearsal dinners or a cocktail hour. Four floors above, is the Vandivort Ballroom, 2,800 feet of space that, according to the building’s history, has been hosting events for more than 100 years. But this reimagined ballroom is chic like the rest of the hotel. It’s clean with neutral colors, and a touch of the industrial vibe with round metal chandeliers. The ballroom is in keeping with the atmosphere of the hotel, while also allowing guests a beautiful blank canvas to work with for their specific event or wedding.
There are also seven different kinds of rooms and suites in the hotel, a few of which have layouts that are specific to the building itself, with their own little nooks. Find surprises and delights in each kind of room as they aren’t all identical.
So, let’s get you in one of them! Check in, be sure to grab some infused water, and head up to your room. As the elevator ascends floor by floor, notice through the back glass wall the painted floor numbers on the original, exposed brick.
As you set your things down in your own little urban oasis, notice the chic music that’s piped in and the gold touches that make it seem like every day might be New Year’s Eve.
Once you reach your floor, take a deep breath. You might have missed it because of the aroma from the restaurant on the lobby floor, but the entire hotel smells like pixie dust and beauty. Head to your guest room, open the door and--although I always think continuing to explore a place is best--hang out awhile.
As you set your things down in your own little urban oasis, notice the chic music that’s piped in and the gold touches that make it seem like every day might be New Year’s Eve. Take your time and enjoy the space. Take a long bath or shower in your generously-spaced bathroom, jam out to the music (or plug your own device in, and listen from the ceiling-speakers), make a cup of coffee, take your time getting ready to go back out, and then, after basking in your beautifully-appointed space, go check out everything else.
No matter which meal you have at The Order, you cannot fail. The Order is one of few restaurants in Springfield that prides itself on using locally-sourced ingredients and lists each of its sourcing partners and their respective locations on the menu.
For dinner, plan to linger, and have at least one volunteer in your group who’s adventurous.
For brunch, you’ll find items like Avocado Toast with avocado-lime spread, tomato confit and kale pickled vegetable salad, and Duck or Pork Belly Confit Hash, with purple potatoes, carrots, onions, fresh herbs, citrus salad, and a poached or fried egg. Enjoy coffee from The Coffee Ethic, a partner that sits only a few blocks away.
For lunch, you’ll find items like The Double Dip (an award-winning dip), made with smoked tomato, bacon, Terrell Creek Farm goat cheese dip and caramelized onion herb dip, served with naan and baguette, and a charcuterie board (every item represented is local) which rotates seasonally, as well as seasonal salads and soups.
For dinner, plan to linger, and have at least one volunteer in your group who’s adventurous because there are always four kinds of features on the dinner menu: Vegetarian, Wild Game, Blackgate Farm’s Chef’s Cut, and the Chef’s Seasonal Catch. Suggestion, try the Wild game (because, why not). The entire rest of the dinner menu is stunning as well, featuring items like the Crispy Skin Chicken, an airline chicken breast, served with mushroom farro, wilted spinach, basil oil and flash fried Brussels sprouts and Rosemary Gnocchi (don’t be that person, YouTube this word and have the nice people tell you how to pronounce it) with Willow Mountain mushrooms, grilled asparagus, leeks and basil cream, served with shaved parmesan.
Now, let’s talk about the bar program. It’s among the best. There are 10 beers on tap, rotating regularly and they’re--you guessed it--all local, and all delicious. The wine list is extensive for both whites and reds, but, most noteworthy is the cocktail menu. They are hefty, detailed, craft cocktails. These are to be savoured, and their layers to be discovered. Approach them with curiosity, and if you’re brave enough, ask the bartender to surprise you. But let’s take a look at some of them.
When the ingredients have been stirred together, the glass is lifted up from its ‘smokehouse,’ a singular two-inch thick cube of ice is added, and the shaker contents are poured over the frozen cube.
The Lady Vandivort is a must. Don Abraham Reposado is mixed with lemon juice and maceration, fig and thyme shrub and Fernet Branca, and voila, a star is born. The classic partnership of tequila and lemon meets thyme and aromatic bitters and marries into a stunning coupe cocktail.
The smoked Old Fashioned is also a must, but you should choose a seat at the bar to watch the bartender make the drink. A blow torch is taken to a maplewood plank, and the glass that will hold the contents of your drink is quickly placed face down over the smoke that ensues to contain it while the ingredients are assembled. When the ingredients have been stirred together, the glass is lifted up from its “smokehouse,” a singular two-inch thick cube of ice is added, and the shaker contents are poured over the frozen cube. At first sip, the smoke comes through, fresh and welcoming, followed by the sweetness and bite from the simple syrup and bitters, with the lingering punch of bourbon trailing behind; worth every melody it sings.
Surprised Springfield has a restaurant and hotel this advanced? Good! Let’s continue to dessert. Select the one featuring Askinosie Chocolate. They’re a local chocolate company that practices Direct Trade and turns product out in small batches, running the entire process here in Springfield from bean to chocolate bar. The Order usually has a dessert feature that has taken these round-the-world-sourced chocolate bars and turned them into beautiful large-format chocolate desserts.
Springfield has experienced a renaissance of sorts and even more surprises than Hotel Vandivort await you.
Full? Happy? Excellent. One last to-do: head down to the bathrooms, because they have their own hashtag. The bathroom is actually multiple bathrooms, consisting of several single rooms with bright, white light surrounding the mirror. The white light is considered by most selfie-taker-experts to be the perfect lighting to hide all blemishes. So check your hair, get all your friends in the light, and use #hotelvandivortbathroomselfie.
Now let’s get you to bed. Awaiting you is the perfect mattress with clean, crisp, high thread count, plush luxury linens. Enjoy. And when you’re ready in the morning--only when you’re ready--head down to brunch, then go explore our little downtown. Springfield has experienced a renaissance of sorts and even more surprises than Hotel Vandivort await you. Boutiques, salons, coffee shops, breweries, record stores, upscale barber shops, a market and butcher shop, the list goes on and on.
Check it all out! Hotel Vandivort will be waiting as home-base. The chicest home-base in town. Great choice--we salute your taste!
Event Capacity
Pillar Room: 12
Cornerstone Room: 75
Vandivort Ballroom: 200
Want to learn even more about what Hotel Vandivort has to offer? Go visit them.
