City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Accommodations

Telephone: (816) 756-3800, (800) 821-5343

Address: 325 Ward Pkwy.

Description: Thank goodness, some things get better with time. That’s certainly the case with one of Kansas City’s most beloved hotels, which just had a major facelift without losing any of its charm. Its location, just across Brush Creek from the famous Country Club Plaza and near stellar art museums, makes it a perennial favorite with travelers. The many amenities earned the Raphael a nod as one of the world’s best places to stay by Travel + Leisure magazine in 2009, the same year readers of KC Magazine named it “Best Boutique Hotel.” The Raphael has 35 rooms and 88 spacious suites filled with amenities as plush as the robes. The makeover extended to the hotel’s restaurant, renamed Chaz, with a new color scheme that’s the equivalent of a Valentine’s Day box of chocolates in red and gold. The romantic vibe continues with Executive Chef Peter Hahn’s menu, which focuses on classic American fare with a continental twist. There have been countless marriage proposals at the sumptuous booths and tables here, with piano music filtering in from the bar lounge.