America’s historic gem, Philadelphia’s charm lies in its walkability, its sophisticated city centre, diverse neighbourhoods, pretty squares and green spaces. A contemporary-cool place to stay that puts you at the heart of it all, the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, is a firm favourite among discerning travellers visiting the City of Brotherly Love.
All Kimpton Hotels are housed in buildings with former lives, namely banks, post offices or libraries, and this sophisticated property is no exception. Built in 1931, its previous incarnation was the home of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is located on the busy intersection of 17th and Sansom Streets and very close to Rittenhouse Square, an ideal location for the theatre district, upmarket shopping on nearby Walnut and Chestnut Streets, excellent restaurants and, of course, lively entertainment in the Gayborhood, which is three blocks from Washington Square West. In 2016, after being completely revamped, the hotel opened with 230 guestrooms on 23 floors and conference rooms on the 24th and 25th floors (not that we were in town for business!).
First impressions were excellent as the attentive bellhop team opened the heavy front door and had a smile in store for each and every guest. If you arrive by car, the hotel also offers valet parking. which we frankly found essential given its location on a congested street corner in one of the most visited cities in the United States. The front-of-house chaps running the services were so wonderful they received a six-pack of the famous Beiler’s Doughnuts (from the amazing Reading Terminal Market, no less) as part of their tip when we checked out.
Upon entering the trendy ‘living room’, the alternative name for the lobby at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, guests are surrounded by subdued colours of plush furnishings and walls. A pop of colour is provided by three neon-painted identical busts of Benjamin Franklin, which oversee the front desk. However, this part of the property is also awash with artwork, unique paintings and a well-placed refreshment station. Though not a large space, the living room is adequate in size, comfortable and gives that quirky vibe which is a recurring feature across Kimpton’s Palomar properties.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Culturalist | PHL | GMT -5 |
| While you’re Out There |
| If art is your thing, then the Barnes Foundation and Museum of Art offer modern art exhibits alongside the classics and impressionists. Make your way to Broad Street for all the best theatrical productions at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Most importantly, visit the Gayborhood which is walking distance from the hotel and distinguished by its rainbow crosswalks. Check out McGillin’s Olde Ale House, the oldest restaurant in the city and book a table as it is always buzzing on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s also Sofi Corner Café, a stylish Moroccan café which is fabulous for breakfast. |
Also on the first floor is the Squared 1682 restaurant, which specialises in modern American cuisine and had installed a new Executive Chef, Patrick Czerniak, not long before our stay. It features a seasonal heated patio alongside a bar that seemed busy throughout our visit, and particularly during the ever-present ‘happy hour’ when office workers arrive in droves after work. The breakfast menu here is diverse, with plenty of options for vegetarians such as avocado toast, Greek yoghurt, a berry and fruit superfood bowl or an omelette with spinach. We felt it appropriate to try one of the city’s famous hoagie sandwiches, and the Philly breakfast sandwich with bacon, eggs and Cooper Cheese on a Parker House roll topped with spicy ketchup fit the bill nicely, though it was moderately more wholesome than the popular cheesesteak.
The hotel’s fitness centre is located on the 4th floor, featuring state-of-the-art cardio equipment: treadmills, elliptical machines and recumbent bikes, plus balance balls and ample space for stretching and toning exercises. Also on offer is a wellness program giving guests exclusive access to activations with partners such as The Lab, Physique 57 and Rumble.
Our accommodation’s size – we stayed in a King Premium Jetted Tub City View room – was ample yet comfortable at 35 sqm/377 sqft. Its marble walk-in rainshower with an enormous Fuji jacuzzi tucked in behind it was the standout feature of the room, and we loved that they had installed a large vanity area to spread out toiletries. Our bed with Frette linens, too, was exceptionally comfortable and we appreciated having black-out windows, not least because of the urban setting. Colours throughout the accommodation were muted and we enjoyed Art Deco touches like a unique, A-frame bedside lamp topped with a voluminous accordion-style, pleated shade. A similar lampshade style was echoed in the lights above the vanity, tying the space together nicely. For a non-suite room category, the addition of a sofa under the window added comfort and we even had a medium-sized desk to fire off some emails – not that we used this too much!
www.hotelpalomar-philadelphia.com
Photography courtesy of Kimpton Hotels
