The Duke Ellington Suite at Maison 226 | Luxury Historic Suite near Bathhouse Row

The Duke Ellington suite at Maison 226 is a Jazz themed self check-in boutique hotel that once was the historic Darch Hotel, one of several Jewish-owned hotels that drew travelers to Hot Springs to bathe in the healing thermal waters. Right in the heart of downtown, we are only a block and a half from Bathhouse Row and the entrance to Hot Springs National Park, The Grand Promenade, Quapaw Bathhouse, Buckstaff Bathhouse, Superior Bathhouse Brewery, the Gangster Museum of America, and the Hot Springs Mountain and West Mountain hiking trails. ************ Welcome to the Duke Ellington Suite at Maison 226 — a beautifully restored jazz-themed apartment that sleeps 4 in one of downtown Hot Springs’ most distinctive historic buildings. 🎵 The Jazz Experience Named for the legendary Duke Ellington, who actually performed right here in Hot Springs during the city’s golden jazz era. The suite features hand-painted artwork by local artist Patrick Cunningham and original art pieces collected from Jackson Square in New Orleans. 🛏️ Sleeping One spacious bedroom with a plush king bed — the same premium mattress used by the Capital Hotel in Little Rock. The living room sofa converts to an additional bed, comfortably sleeping up to 4 guests. 🍳 Full Kitchen A fully equipped kitchen with full-size oven, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, Keurig coffee maker, and all the cookware and utensils you need. We provide coffee and basic condiments. Save on dining by cooking breakfast and enjoying it on your own balcony — something no hotel in Hot Springs can offer. 🌿 Your Private Balcony Step out onto your New Orleans-style balcony overlooking Prospect Avenue, shaded by towering magnolia trees. Morning coffee here is a ritual you won’t want to end. 📐 Space At ~806 sq ft, the Duke Ellington Suite offers more than 3x the space of a typical downtown Hot Springs hotel room — with a full kitchen, living room, and private balcony included. 🏛️ The Building Maison 226 is a completely restored 120-year-old historic building with original architectural details and New Orleans-inspired design throughout. The jazz theme pays homage to the legends who actually performed in Hot Springs during its golden era as a destination for music, healing waters, and Southern hospitality. ♨️ Climate Central HVAC for year-round comfort. 🔐 Check-In Keyless entry with a personalized door code. ****** In the 1930s and ‘40s, Duke Ellington and his orchestra brought a new kind of elegance to Malvern Avenue. Just a few blocks east of where you are standing, the Woodmen of the Union Building — a four-story Black-owned hotel, bathhouse, and 2,500-seat auditorium, designed by acclaimed Black architect Walter T. Bailey and built in 1923 — was one of the Chitlin’ Circuit’s premier southern stops. Ellington played to packed houses here. Because Hot Springs’ thermal waters were federally regulated, the city offered something rare during segregation: a place where Black entertainers could perform, stay, and take the baths. Arkansas vocalist Al Hibbler, who went on to sing with Ellington’s orchestra for eight years, came up through this same Arkansas circuit. The elegance Ellington brought to Malvern Avenue is the elegance this suite is named for.