The Aladdin

Stately black pillars frame the Aladdin's art-deco lobby, hinting at the lodging's jazz-era past. The pillars are original to the 1925 structure, along with the wide twin staircases and checkered marble floor. At one time the tallest building in Kansas City, the boutique hotel is now on the National Register of Historic Places; past guests include Mickey Mantle and Greta Garbo. Sleek, geometric furniture gives the rooms a 21st-century twist. Guests will appreciate wide-screen HD televisions and in-room DVD players; when it's time to sleep, choose from a "pillow menu" to guarantee the perfect place to rest your head. Rooms from $122. hiafaddin.com