Lodging: Albuquerque

Twenties-Something

When I enter the lobby of the Hotel Parq Central, every cell in my body lets go and says sighs, “Ahh.” I’ve left the bustle of downtown Albuquerque and am surrounded by a past era. It’s the tranquil beaux arts style of the 1920s, the world immortalized by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby.
“Our goal was to keep the building a period piece . . . very toned-down, very earthy,” says managing director Yancy Sturgeon. Renovated to the tune of $21 million, the building housing this boutique hotel was constructed in 1926 as Memorial Hospital, and in 2010 Hotel Parq Central opened with 74 rooms. Inside, “the architecture is the art,” Sturgeon says; it incorporates arched windows, Spanish Deco tile, and Italianate moldings.

On the ground floor is an elegant terrace dressed by a marble fountain and hot tub. Nearby, a sunny conservatory features comfortable chaises longues enjoyed by leisure travelers, while an office center appeals to the business set. The rooftop Apothecary Lounge serves small plates—and Prohibition-era cocktails, such as Manhattans and Pisco Sours, that hark back to the 1920s.

In my room I find the same serene style, accented with views of city lights, high ceilings, 300-thread-count sheets, and the glimmer of a silvery chenille sofa. As well, I enjoy WiFi, a flat-screen TV, an iHome dock, and a safe, fridge, and robe.

But the best part comes when I crawl into bed. As Sturgeon told me earlier today, “The owners wanted an urban oasis for guests to escape from the grind of city life.” All I hear is quiet—except for the echo in my head, as I drift off, of the voice of Gatsby himself: “Good night, old sport.”

From $130 nightly; 806 Central Ave. SE, (505) 242-0040, www.hotelparqcentral.com—Lesley S. King