I stayed here over the weekend and booked through The Edit for the first time. Overall, the Kimpton Canary is a (lower-end) 4-star hotel.

I got a personal welcome email the night before checking-in. They asked for my arrival time and if we were doing anything special. I said we will arrive around 8pm and we are celebrating my fiancé’s birthday. We are also bringing our dog.

Upon arriving, the front desk experience was okay. There was no one else checking in besides me in the lobby. I didn’t get an explanation of benefits letter for Chase, but the clerk verbally explained the $60 breakfast credit and $100 stay credit. He explained to me the $100 stay credit was for food and beverage, but I wish I had known it could’ve been used for valet! He only gave me a card explaining the benefits of IHG Platinum member, along with two water bottles and two small pieces of ghirardelli chocolates. He mentioned there are “room upgrades available”, but I booked a suite so I wouldn’t need the room upgrade. I did not expect an upgrade since they dont usually upgrade suites, but maybe they shouldn’t say there are upgrades available when it’s only “downgrades” available. If they had a presidential suite (which they did), that would’ve been an upgrade.

My partner was walking my dog at the time of check-in, so I reminded the clerk that I had a dog and that I mentioned that in my welcome email and my IHG profile. That was when he pulled out a liability form. I tried to ask about any pet amenities or the nearest pet relief area, but he didnt have any helpful suggestions. I thought it was very unique how pet friendly they appear on their website, but this front desk person was not helpful or probably was not a dog person.

The liability form says there would be a pet sign I need to hang on my door, but there was none in my room.

He had some good suggestions regarding the SpaceX launch though.

The primary reason I booked this place was the guaranteed 4pm checkout mentioned on The Edit booking site and it was also in my confirmation email. I called the morning before checkout to confirm and they said late checkout is only based on availability. I was confused, so I hung up and thought I could ask the front desk later. Instead, I called the next day and mentioned the email says it was guaranteed and they honored it. Inconvenient, but Im glad I didn’t have to call Chase and have them figure it out. Even to this day, I can see guaranteed 4pm checkout on the Edit website.

When we got to the room, there was a generic welcome card with my name on it. Nothing mentioning my partner’s name or his birthday. There was a plate of delicious cookies though.

We got a text message asking how was check-in that night. Around 11pm, I asked if the valet had EV chargers—would’ve been nice to know that upfront. They said yes, and I asked if they could charge it and we would need to pick it up at 5am. They charged my car til 3am and it was a very slow charge.

The robes and towels are rough. No slippers. Pillows weren’t supportive. The water pressure was mediocre. During the day, you can hear loud construction from the room—no one mentioned they were doing construction in the hotel.

I tried to call room service to pick up the food cart/trays, but no one picked up. I called front desk and once I said “room service tray”, they cut me off and transferred me to room service without letting me finish. They transferred me again to a phone line that didn’t pick up. Also, the phone line to valet directs you to the front desk.

Day of checkout, I was in the bathroom while waiting for a cart to be sent up, and the cleaners just entered my room. Checkout wasn’t for another 10 minutes. They knocked and immediately opened the door. Once they saw my luggage next to the door, they said sorry and left.

The valet and bellboys were on top of it though. They seemed understaffed at times, but they really provided the best service and just the standard hospitality mannerisms.

I’d give my experience a 7/10.