The Bradley is a collaboration between Vera Bradley co-founder, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, and Provenance Hotels—a lineup of luxury boutique hotels emphasizing the ingenuity of its partners. The Vera Bradley company produces a line of American handbags, and the company is based in the founder's hometown of Fort Wayne. In fact, Baekgaard is often seen in the hotel adding fresh flowers to common spaces decorated in the patterns she helped create. The signature Vera Bradley style runs throughout the hotel in a stylish and grand example of refined taste. Deluxe and Premier rooms with king or double queen beds offer Midwestern charm and sophisticated accents with modern simplicity (there are no phones, coffee machines, or plastic cups).

Dining at The Bradley ranges from ultra casual to a more refined setting. The Arbor offers street level, seated dining with brunch served daily starting at 7:00 a.m. and dinner Wednesday through Saturday. I sampled several breakfast options during my stay with the highlight being the lemon ricotta pancakes and for lunch I had the bacon double smash burger. Evenings at Birdie's Rooftop Bar feature selections from a casual, globally inspired menu with a creative cocktail menu and zero-alcohol options like a matcha mojito.

The Bradley provides three suite options. Corner King Suites are 625 sq. ft. of living space located on the building's northeast corner facing the junction of Fort Wayne's three rivers: St. Mary's, St. Joseph, and Maumee. Balcony King Suites offer views of Downtown Fort Wayne from a furnished balcony. And the largest suite, the Premier, offers a wet bar, soaking tub, and the option to expand into an adjoining deluxe queen room. The Bradley is equipped with a variety of accessible room types, too, with appropriate amenities.

Besides showing off the creative talents of Baekgaard, The Bradley features collections of local artists like Theoplis Smith III (a.k.a. Phresh Laundry) and Julie Wall, and the hotel's gallery hall displays artwork from other locals and organizations. Art and Fort Wayne are seemingly synonymous. Fort Wayne is one of the most walkable cities I have ever visited. And art is everywhere in the form of murals, museums, and public installations—Art This Way capitalizes on this aspect and partners with the Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District to promote an inclusive pedestrian gallery throughout the city.

Useful links

https://www.bradleyhotel.com

https://www.visitfortwayne.com

https://www.visitindiana.com

https://www.artthiswayfw.com