As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.

Traveling today means a slew of options when it comes to accommodation – from glampgrounds to Airbnbs. However, sometimes we just yearn for that classic hotel experience, where we arrive to a single piece of decadent chocolate on our pillow. For a taste of yesteryear, check into the Magnolia Hotel in Missouri. The historic destination even has a connection to those chocolates on our pillows.

Before it was known as Magnolia in St. Louis, the majestic hotel on North 8th Street opened as the Mayfair Hotel in 1925.
Facebook/Magnolia St. Louis
Its rich history includes having the first "female general manager in St. Louis" which, in part, helped it earn a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Facebook/Magnolia St. Louis
However, it's also known as the birthplace of chocolate on hotel pillows - and that's all thanks to Hollywood legend Cary Grant.
Wikipedia/RKO Radio Pictures
Legend says that Grant, sometime in the 1950s, created a chocolate trail through his penthouse suite, ending on the bed - where a lone piece of chocolate sat on a pillow alongside a letter to his love interest.
Facebook/Magnolia St. Louis

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Struck by the gesture, the manager of the Mayfair decided to start having staff leave a chocolate on guests' pillows. The rest, as they say, is history.
Facebook/Magnolia St. Louis
If you stay at the Mayfair, you can request the Cary Grant Suite on the 18th floor.
Facebook/Magnolia St. Louis
The Mayfair also hosted other such notable guests as Harry Truman, John Barrymore, and Lyndon Johnson.
Facebook/Magnolia St. Louis
The Mayfair ownership changed hands several times, the latest in 2013. It was rebranded as Magnolia St. Louis. If you check in, you'll still find a chocolate on your pillow.
Facebook/Magnolia St. Louis
Plan your stay on the official website of Magnolia St. Louis. Or, go here for Facebook.
Facebook/Magnolia St. Louis

Have you ever been to or stayed at the Magnolia Hotel in Missouri? What did you think? Share your experience in the comments! If you’re craving a delicious meal in a historic setting, head over to Hoof & Horn in St. Joseph. It’s been around since the late 1800s.

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Magnolia Hotel St. Louis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, 421 N 8th St, St. Louis, MO 63101, USA