Look around at the stunning façade, convenient location, unrivaled amenities and spectacular views of Lake Mendota from nearly every room, and you’ll quickly understand why The Edgewater Hotel (above) is Madison’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel. It first opened its doors in 1948, and in 2012 it underwent a two-year renovation that significantly upgraded its offerings while maintaining its historical charm. Today, The Edgewater Hotel’s two buildings house 202 guest rooms and suites featuring elegant accommodations, spacious bathrooms, spa showers and exquisitely cozy bedding.

You could enjoy an entire luxury vacation without leaving the premises. Feeling hungry? The hotel is home to three on-site restaurants, including AAA Three Diamond The Statehouse, serving modern Midwestern cuisine with a fine dining spin; Augie’s Tavern, which serves new American fare in a cozy yet refined setting; and The Boathouse Bar & Grill, a casual waterfront spot. Also, for your convenience, there’s The Market, where guests can pick up a quick breakfast sandwich, snacks and coffee to go.

The Edgewater Hotel’s waterfront spa is one of Madison’s finest, offering massages with a blend of techniques, rejuvenating facial and body treatments, nail services, and a hair salon, along with a fitness center that offers free-range gym equipment, group fitness classes and private training sessions.

Guests get an extra treat when they visit during the winter months: As temperatures allow, the hotel operates an on-site ice-skating rink (above). The rink is open four days a week, from Wednesday through Sunday, and offers skate rentals, heated warming areas and fire pits for relaxing after a day on the rink. Did you skate up an appetite? The pop-up pizza shop, the SLicehouse Pizza Company, dishes up hot pizzas while the rink is open.

If you can possibly pull yourself away from the hotel itself, you’ll find it’s conveniently located near the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison; is just steps away from the state Capitol building; and is within walking distance of downtown Madison’s best shops, restaurants, museums and nighttime entertainment.

AAA Inspector Notes:

“This hotel features amazing lake views. Guest rooms are spacious, with fine furniture and exquisite bedding. Enjoy the on-site skating rink. The property hosts concerts, movies and festivals. Be sure to visit the unique photo/video ‘tour wall.’”