Cris Molina for Kimpton Hotels
A king model room at the hotel.
From $169 to $469.
Basics
Hotel Monaco is a big instant classic in Philadelphia's Old City. Philadelphia's second Kimpton property, the LEED-registered Hotel Monaco opened in October 2012 in the Lafayette Building, an imposing 1907 Greek Revival edifice with an eclectic, colorful interior (porthole-shaped mirrors in the elevators and a Swarovski crystal galleon hanging in the entryway). From the moment we arrived, and were greeted with a disarming "Welcome home," the Monaco had uncommon warmth.
Location
The 11-story, 268-room Monaco overlooks the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Although the hotel is just blocks from Interstate 95 and accessible by car, parking is either inconvenient or pricey (the self-park garage, two blocks away, is about $20 a day; valet is $40). For public transit, the Fifth Street subway is a three-minute walk away. From there, it's five stops to the regional buses and Amtrak train service at 30th Street Station.
The Room
With its many mirrored surfaces, giraffe-print bathrobes, walls papered with images of grandfather clocks and peacocks, and a color scheme heavy in reds, blues and yellows, the décor was whimsical, as in Alice in Wonderland meets the Ringling Brothers. Our 465-square-foot corner King Spa Room had a king-size bed with Frette sheets, a 40-inch flat screen TV and an iHome docking station. The mini-fridge, which had inadvertently been left unplugged, offered a room-temperature bottle of Mendocino County chardonnay, a selection of regional beers and snacks like Kopali organic chocolate-covered bananas and KIND snack bars. Glass doors to the wrought-iron balconies do not open.
The Bathroom
The enormous bathroom had cherry red tiles, ornate floral wallpaper and bright tubes of Kimpton's house brand Etro of Italy toiletries. There was both a massive, stand-alone, egg-shaped soaking tub with a view of the brick facades and leafy parks below and a separate shower with a small teak bench.
Amenities
The hotel's rooftop lounge, Stratus, has bulbous wicker lounge chairs, garage-style doors to guard against the seasonal cold, and a dramatic winged sculpture on the deck. With a full bar and a menu of "social bites" like yellowfin tuna tostadas ($14) and spicy pulled-pork sliders with caramelized onion ($5 each), it has become a hot spot for stylish 20- and 30-somethings — a success that seemed, on our visit, to have overwhelmed its servers. Other, more practical hotel perks include a well-equipped workout room, free Wi-Fi for guests who sign up for the Kimpton loyalty rewards program, and a modest two-computer business center with a universal phone charger for those who find themselves without. There are also thoughtful touches, like a pair of slipper socks ($15 to purchase) in each closet, an umbrella available for borrowing, and a daily wine reception.
Room Service
The room service left something to be desired during our stay in the hotel, then newly opened. Our breakfast (a bagel with lox and oatmeal) came lukewarm, 45 minutes after being ordered from the Red Owl Tavern, the hotel's street-level restaurant.
Bottom Line
A charming, colorful and affordable addition to Philadelphia's downtown, with some room for improvement in its in-room dining and lounge service.
Hotel Monaco; 433 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia; 215-925-2111; monaco-philadelphia.com.
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