In 2024, there was growing excitement for the opening of a significant new venue in downtown Frederick—the Visitation Hotel. Ever since its grand opening in December 2024, the hotel has generated quite a buzz.
Recently, Nicole and I decided to spend a Friday night at the Visitation Hotel to experience it for ourselves. In this article, we’ll share our reasons why we think the Visitation Hotel has totally changed the downtown Frederick hotel scene.
The Visitation Hotel in Frederick, Maryland
A New, Special Venue in the Heart of Downtown Frederick
I’ve traveled for work my whole career, and staying at Marriott properties has been my virtual second home. I’m quite loyal to the brand
Not many would consider any brand of Marriott hotel a boutique property. But if you are familiar with their Tribute Portfolio, you know that Marriott runs a group of ~120 boutique hotels as part of the Marriott family.
With the opening of the Visitation Hotel, Frederick now has a member of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio. Like most in the collection, it is certainly a boutique property combined with all the familiarity and reliability of a Marriott.
The Visitation Hotel - Basics
The Visitation Hotel was created by transforming a historic building in downtown Frederick along N Carroll Street between Church St and 2nd St. The prime location is two blocks east of N Market Street, the main drag in downtown Frederick.
- Address: 211 E Church St, Frederick, MD 21701
- Web: VisitationHotel.com
- Price Range: $$$$
- Facebook: facebook.com/people/Visitation-Hotel
- Phone: +1.240.931.1120
- Reservations: marriott.com
- TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor Rating
Watch Our Visit to the Visitation Hotel and Wye Oak Tavern!
This article has everything you need to know about the Visitation Hotel in downtown Frederick. You can also read our separate review of the in-house restaurant – the Wye Oak Tavern.
But watch the video below for a personal tour of both venues by Nicole and Glenn from our recent stay at the hotel.
Location, Luxury, History...
There are many reasons why a stay at the Visitation Hotel is such a neat experience. The place has a distinct history, which has been retained as part of the hotel, including right into your room.
The location is fabulous, two blocks from North Market Street in the heart of downtown Frederick. Its the perfect place to stay for visitors to Fredrick who what to explore the bars, restaurants, and rest of the city.
The on-site restaurant is a worthy destination on its own. The Wye Oak Tavern is one of the best dining experiences in Frederick.
A Building Filled with History, Converted to a Hotel
You could spend a significant amount of time just studying the history of the building that now houses the Visitation Hotel. The original structure dates back to 1824, when it opened as a monastery and school for young girls.
The hotel’s name originates from the Sisters of Visitation, who took over the school in 1845 after one of several fires that affected the building.
The chapel that the Wye Oak Tavern now occupies was built in 1852 (and has since been deconsecrated).
The facility was also used temporarily to house injured Union soldiers in 1862 after the very fierce Battle of Antietam.
The Visitation Academy accommodated students until 2005 and continued operating until its closure and sale in 2016.
One fascinating aspect of staying at the property is the rich history that has been preserved in the hotel. Our room featured a small hanging legend that described the historic artifacts and photographs decorating the space.
Nicole also quickly noticed carved names in the windows, likely left by students who had previously occupied the same room.
The Rooms at the Visitation Hotel
Nicole and I were assigned a Deluxe Guest Room on the third floor just above the lobby and restaurant. As mentioned above, I’ve stayed in countless hotel rooms, and generally quite picky. Our room at the Visitation Hotel was fabulous.
The rooms are best described as modern and sophisticated, fully integrated with the history of the property. The king Marriott beds are their usual luxury, and the bathroom in particular is strikingly new, sleek, and classic.
The walls in our room featured several sections of exposed brick foundation, which contrasted with the contemporary furniture and décor, giving the room a distinctive character. Our room was also spacious and comfortable.
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A Stunning Onsite Restaurant - Wye Oak Tavern
A key part of the development of the Visitation Hotel was the establishment of a signature on-site restaurant, and the result is stunning. The Wye Oak Tavern, from Executive Chefs and Frederick’s Own Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, is worth a visit alone.
The Wye Oak is situated in the former chapel of the Visitation Academy, transforming the space into a stunning venue with soaring cathedral ceilings and a pipe organ.
At the heart of this unique setting lies a bar strategically positioned at the site of the original altar, which is hard to stop staring at and has sparked some debate.
The Wye Oak is quite a place, even before you look at the menu.
The menu features some of the best cuisine in Frederick, with a focus on local ingredients, similar to Voltaggio’s other restaurants in the area. It represents a unique fusion of tavern fare and upscale dining.
The bar and cocktail menu is executive chef worth, the dinner menu has a heavy emphasis on beef, and the wine list will have you asking for a sommelier.
Acorn Provisions Cafe
The Wye Oak Tavern is only open for dinner, and of course we needed coffee and breakfast (in my case).
Luckily, the accompanying Acorn Provisions Cafe is right downstairs ready to brew up coffee drinks and serve up breakfast sandwiches and pastries.
We were also impressed that even the grab-and-go section of the Acorn Cafe was filled with local items, like beers from Olde Mother Brewing and Elder Pine, and canned cocktails from Old Westminster Winery.
Amenities Other Reasons to Stay at the Visitation Hotel
Besides the fabulous property and bucket-list restaurant, the Visitation Hotel’s best feature may be its location. It’s in the heart of downtown Frederick, a easy walk to many of the best bars, restaurants, and shopping in town.
If you are a picky hotel guest, or traveling for business, you can rest assured the place has all the amenities of a elite Marriott property. There’s fast wifi, a nice gym, and valet parking.
Considering all these factors: the location, the history, the fabulous restaurant, and the comfort of being a Marriott Tribute Property, this hotel changes everything in Frederick.
The Visitation Hotel has immediately become the best boutique hotel in Frederick and one of the best hotel experiences in all of Maryland.
What Else You Need to Know About the Visitation Hotel
- The Visitation Hotel is fully ready to host your event, and will no doubt soon be highly in demand for weddings in Frederick
- The hotel goes out of its way to welcome pets (just mention them at booking)
- If you missed it above, reading this article just secured you 12% OFF Standard Rates with this LINK!
