My Stay at Hotel Nia

This past weekend I had the opportunity to stay at Hotel Nia, an Autograph Collection hotel located in the heart of Silicon Valley. It’s located right off Bayshore Freeway 101 in Menlo Park, and is a hop and skip away from the tech tycoons, Google and Facebook. It’s the perfect spot to stay for those who are visiting Silicon Valley for business or pleasure.

I know what you’re thinking: why would one come to Silicon Valley for pleasure? Well for one, Hotel Nia is located 30 minutes from San Jose where there are plenty of shops and entertainment. You can grab a drink at San Pedro Square before a Sharks’ game, or shop ’til you drop on Santana Row. The hotel is also located a short drive from Stanford, if you feel like watching a college game or grabbing dinner on University Avenue.

If you don’t feel like leaving the hotel at all, Hotel Nia provides everything you need for a comfortable stay. The hotel thrives on being a tech savvy oasis. With innovation found all over the place, the hotel wants to inspire guests pursuing entrepreneurialism, as well as create a relaxing stay that is unforgettable.

What I love about Autograph Collection hotels is that no hotel is the same. There’s details to be found in every nook and cranny, making the entire property totally instagrammable! The lobby and courtyard has boutique touches, while the bedrooms are cool and sleek.

Speaking of bedroom, the rooms are equipped so you can get stuff done! We stayed in the King Corner Room which has a work space with plenty of USB ports and a lounge with a desk. Along with the sleek design of the room are pops of abstract art and color. If you prefer to work outside, there is private balcony.

If you’re feeling super comfortable in your room (and trust me, you will!), there’s 24 hour in-room dining. As much as amazing breakfast in bed sounds, I do recommend heading downstairs and to check out the hotel’s onsite restaurant and bar: Porto Blu. Porto Blu defines its menu as “Coastal Californian meets Mediterranean cuisine with fresh, farm-to-table dishes updated regularly with partnerships showcasing nearby farmers and producers.” Porto Blu serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and a weekly cooking series on Friday nights. Upcoming events can be found here.

My friend and I were fortunate to try the restaurant for breakfast and their annual Easter Sunday Brunch. Between the French toast and the amazing ham and egg benedict, the breakfast was so delicious and surely did not disappoint. The dining room took my breath away. It was a mix of modern and shabby chic.

There were sleek leather lounges with the liquor shelves on display on one side of the dining room, and tables with cabanas on the other. There’s also a separate dining room with a long communal table for private parties.

As for the Easter Sunday brunch, Porto Blu definitely delivered. They had an amazing spread of breakfast staples along with seafood, cheese, a carving board with meats, and much more. We grabbed plate after plate while a live jazz band played in the background. Everything was great, but nothing got me more excited than the petting zoo with ducklings, bunnies and baby goats. Talk about cuteness overload!

Because Hotel Nia is at the heart of Silicon Valley, the hotel provides a lot of working space for tech professionals in the area. For instance, there are conference and meeting rooms on the second floor. Or for those trying to catch their early morning meeting outside the hotel property, there’s a cafe next to Porto Blu serving Verve coffee and pastries that you can grab before you rush out.

Even though Hotel Nia does cater to its business travelers, don’t think you can’t come here for leisure and relaxation. There’s plenty to do and see on the hotel property. You can lounge in one of the cabanas around the pool, get your sweat on at the gym, or test one of the featured b8ta products during your stay.