Whitney Peak Hotel Reno, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Whitney Peak Hotel in downtown Reno is a modern hotel featuring a climbing wall, live music venue, and scenic view rooms

After a restful and luxurious visit to The Ritz-Carlton in Lake Tahoe, I knew I wasn’t quite ready to head home. With a few friends living in Reno, I decided to extend my trip and spend a few nights in the city to catch up. After a bit of research, one hotel seemed to stand out among the options – Whitney Peak Hotel in downtown Reno. It had a distinct vibe that immediately caught my attention.

Check In

Getting to the hotel was a little bit of an adventure. The self-parking situation is, in a word, confusing. The parking structure is located diagonally across the street from the hotel and navigating it is not exactly intuitive. After circling a bit and figuring out the right elevator, I finally made my way to the hotel entrance. Stepping inside, I was genuinely surprised. The exterior gave no hint of what was waiting within. The contrast between the outside and inside was so striking that I even mentioned it to the front desk host, who laughed and assured me she hears that reaction all the time.

Despite the odd first impression, check-in was smooth and welcoming.

Stay and Room

To my pleasant surprise, the room was more spacious than I had anticipated. I was given a quiet, corner room on a high floor, which I appreciated immensely. The layout made the room feel roomy but still cozy and functional—none of that weird, empty space that sometimes makes hotel rooms feel cold or awkward.

The bathroom was clean and modern, with a style that reminded me of a typical Hilton hotel – efficient, if not particularly luxurious. My only real gripe was the large, installed shampoo and soap dispensers in the shower. I know they’re more sustainable, but I still prefer the traditional travel-size amenities. That said, everything worked as expected and was spotlessly clean.

The one thing I didn’t appreciate was the housekeeping knock and attempted room entry at 8:30am. I know the hotel has a valid, up to date occupancy list. It should be a given that if the room is occupied for two nights, you can do a check after 10am. No, I’m not dead. I’m just sleeping. Excessively knocking is not going to get me out of bed, open the door and stare at you. Also, you don’t need to open my room door to have the door immediately hit the door stop, then quickly say “sorry” and then close it. It’s 8:30am. Give me the peace that I pay for in renting a room.

Parking

Now, let’s talk about the parking – because, unfortunately, it deserves a section of its own. I really disliked the parking setup. Every time you exit the lot, it costs $7 unless you purchase a $12 daily pass, which you absolutely should do if you plan on using your car at all. The garage itself is awkwardly laid out with two elevators, but only one accessible entrance/exit from the outside  – which you can only access from the front entrance of the parking structure on East Plaza Street, which makes for a confusing and inconvenient experience.  It’s not the end of the world, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.

The Club Next Door

One surprise that came with staying at Whitney Peak was the nightclub directly next to the hotel lobby. While the convenience might be great for partygoers, the bass was so intense that I could literally feel it in my chest while I waited for the elevator. Thankfully, being on the 10th floor, I wasn’t kept awake by it directly. However, the next morning, I spoke to a dad and his kid as they were coming out of their room across from mine. He mentioned that the heavy bass and noise from the club, which is very loud in the elevator area, spooked his dog so much that the dog didn’t even want to get into the elevator.

Another factor is that this seems to be an upscale party hotel. I was disturbed by what I assume was a loud private party happening in the room next to mine, after I returned from my night’s events. Around 1 a.m., the noise was still going strong. Unfortunately, once my mind hooks onto night noise, it’s all I can hear. I used the Hilton app to message the front desk, and they were very responsive – someone came up and asked the guests to quiet down. To their credit, they did. I appreciated that.

This experience reminded me of a past stay at The Crockfords in Las Vegas, where I learned just how sensitive I can be to noise depending on the room and the hotel layout. While my room at Whitney Peak didn’t have an adjoining door (thankfully, because those are often worse for sound insulation), I could still hear the music and voices clearly through the walls.

I’m not against a good party – just not at 1 a.m. in a hotel where the rest of us are trying to sleep.

Overall

Whitney Peak Hotel has a lot going for it – stylish interiors and a great location in the heart of Reno. But it also has its annoyances: confusing parking, proximity to a loud nightclub, and some noise issues that could be deal-breakers for light sleepers. If you’re a deep sleeper or plan to party yourself, you may love it. If you value peace and quiet, consider requesting a high-floor room far from the nightclub side of the hotel.

Or bring earplugs, just in case.

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