Once the swank home of a cotton magnate (in the 1920s and 1930s), today this is where the celebrities, politicos, and business tycoons tend to stay. You'll understand why. Guestrooms are huge, with an upgraded country club décor (think pretty pastels, burnished wood furnishings, top-of-the-line soaps, and carpets that feel an inch and a half thick). The restaurant is one of the finest in town and provides room service. The public areas are even grander, with stained glass, inlaid wood ceilings (sometimes brought over from monasteries in Europe), and acres of marble floors. But the sign of a truly great hotel is its service, and here the Mansion doesn't falter: You'll feel like you have your favorite aunt taking care of your every need. Guests are not only attended to, they also feel coddled—the freshly baked cookies in the lobby go a long way toward accomplishing that.