The Merrill Hotel, Muscatine, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Great boutique hotel, right on the River. Great views from multiple areas of the hotel. Large, well equipped gym. Nice restaurant and bar with excellent food. Rooms were on the smaller side, but were very clean, quiet and comfortable. Well stocked mini bar and snacks. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else when traveling to the Quad City area.

I’ve been wanting to bring my wife to this hotel for the longest time and finally was able to. We arrived on Friday November 28, 2025 just before a major snowstorm hit the Midwest. Driving up to the main hotel entrance was very convenient. The lobby was very elegant with Christmas decorations and a tree as well as the dining area and the bar. I can’t say enough kind words for all the hotel staff as well as our server for breakfast, which was absolutely fantastic. Parking was convenient with either garage parking (but you have to get there early enough as spots were limited) or plenty of parking in outdoor lots. Our room was a King with a view of the Mississippi River. Rooms are very clean and decorated very nicely. The only downside with this type room was the bathroom counter which we felt was a little too small as well as only half door to the shower (burr!). Waking up the next morning after the snowfall over night was a breathtaking view of the riverfront and the fesh fallen snow covered trees on the Illinois side of the river. Other than that The Merrill Hotel has my highest recommendation to stay here. My wife is hard to please and has excellent taste when it comes to hotels and she definitely wants to come back here and stay in the Chairman Suite.

Great hotel with wonderful amenities and even better people. I’d like to call out Mackenzie at the bar in particular. She’s just a wonderful person-made me feel right at home.

Stayed her for one night with my teen daughter. As a mom traveling alone with a teen I felt very safe. Parking was close and well lit. There was no valet on duty. Emma at the front desk made check-in easy. I was able to stay parked in front of the hotel until my daughter was settled into our room with our belongings. A huge plus since we were traveling with her giant upright double bass. We didn’t realize there is a football game in Iowa City tomorrow until we tried booking a last-minute hotel room. This has been a lovely detour on our little trip up from St Louis. Beautiful hotel. Room appears to be updated. It’s got the Marriott fresh smell and crisp bedding. Bonus: smart tv thank goodness. I’m still shocked many properties don’t have them. I need my Netflix and forgot the streaming stick I usually carry “just in case”. My only silly complaint is that the hotel dinner menu doesn’t have pizza or fries for the teen. There are plenty of places to dine close by, and the hotel dining looks lovely if you have a more refined palate… lol. Marriott status was recognized with multiple options of welcome gifts. I think I currently only have gold status but we had the option for nicer perks than you typically get with gold status. It was reminiscent of my platinum days before I became a hermit. Probably the best “value” for a nice Marriott property ever.

The front desk staff were exceptionally kind and helpful. The hotel, in general was very clean and well kept. Our only hiccup was the shower. The water wouldn't drain properly so while taking a shower, the tub was filling with water. Also, there isn't a full shower door or curtain so the bathroom walls and floor get wet while you are showering. We thought it was just our room that there was only half a shower door but when we called down to the front desk, they said all the rooms are like that and they get complaints about it. They did offer to switch us to a different room because of the drain issue but we were already settled in for the night and didn't want to move. We appreciated the suggestion.

My first trip to Iowa and The Merrill did not disappoint!! Muscatine is a must-see gem, with a ton of history and charm. Don’t miss this pearl of the US!