In its first life, The Raphael Hotel was the upscale, nine-story, European-style Villa Serena Apartments, which opened in 1928 to privileged Kansas City residents. A complete restoration of the building in 2009 saw the vintage style and classic design of this landmark structure come to life again. It was from this refurbishment that the elegant Raphael was reborn. The mahogany-paneled ceiling and ornate woodwork in the lobby recalls the graciousness of a bygone era. Reflecting the hotel’s European heritage through touches of grandeur, the guestrooms accommodate the comfort and technological demands of upscale travelers. The hotel is located on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza, the nation’s first shopping district designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by automobile.