Philly’s Hotel Monaco Gets Its Time in the Spotlight

Today, Paste Magazine ran a feature on the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia in its “Hotel Intel” category. The piece shed some light on a boutique hotel that is colorful and whimsical, yet also distinctly upscale. The Hotel Monaco is located at 433 Chestnut Street, right in the midst of “America’s most historic mile.” It is mere steps away from the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’s house, and Independence Hall, a tall building of gray brick that was built in 1907. It’s inaugural name, the Lafayette Building, can still be seen engraved over the entrance. But a newer, more prominent sign touts the name of the hotel, and lets you know that you have come to the right place.

The Hotel Monaco is all about frenzied pops of color and patterns, bringing each room to life.

Paste describes the entrance into the Hotel Monaco as a maze of sorts, with a “fancy mudroom” when you first walk in (decked out with a crystal chandelier and crown molding), followed by a large round anteroom that contains the elevators and many doorways, with another chandelier, this one shaped like a ship, glittering overhead. Only from here do you get to the actual reception area. In the magazine’s own words: “It is one of the most colorful hotel lobbies we’ve ever seen and one of the busiest, and not only because of the people coming in and out. There is so much character and kitsch in this space, it’s almost dizzying.” You’ll have ample opportunity to soak in the details – antique paintbrushes hung behind the reception desk, a chess set, photography tomes – thanks to free coffee and tea in the daytime, and free wine in the evening.

The rooms themselves are a riot of color and patterns, with no less than three different patterned wallpapers in a room smaller than 400 square feet. Some of the rooms have a copy of Alice in Wonderland on display, giving a clue as to the decor’s inspiration. Paste says that: “The loud and personality-filled rooms make it clear that if you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, you’ve come to the wrong place. But we loved that the liveliness is a far cry from the rest of the city that prides itself in its past.”

You too can get away to the Hotel Monaco. Rooms range from $159 – $616 a night.