Right in the heart of Philadelphia, across from the Liberty Bell, Hotel Monaco is full of artistic design, quirky decor and very comfortable beds!
I am a sucker for restored, historic buildings. If I had my way, our next home would be a converted victorian house, made to be modern yet comfortable. I love the juxtaposition of old and new, so when we pulled up to Hotel Monaco and I saw the old architecture on the outside and the bright colorful lobby, I knew we picked the right spot, for my first time in Philly.
The hotel itself has a quirky sense of style about it. To describe the decor or style, the adjectives, historic and glamorous come to mind. Yet the design reminds me more of a incredibly fashionable person, who knows how to mix patterns and colors, yet looks effortlessly chic and not like a complete mess. Everything at the Monaco is sophisticated, yet has an edge about it.
“If you’re into design, love a great location and appreciate art, Hotel Monaco is great choice for your Philly trip!
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Our Room
After checking in, and trying to meander my way around the busy lobby, I grabbed my complimentary wine (wine hour is available for all guests - talk about checking in at the right time) and we were off to our room. The hotel itself is fairly large at 268 rooms, yet the layout of the building makes it feel like you’re in a much smaller hotel. The hotel was nearly sold out, yet we rarely saw other people on our floor, or heard our neighbors.
For our stay, we were in a Spa King room which had all the amenities of the other room types, yet a great big bath tub in the bathroom. Our room was pretty large, with a small desk area, very comfortable lounge chair and a king bed. However the most impressive part of the room was the decor. Never before have I seen so many mixed patterns and colors all work together. Bold carpet led the way, large graphics were scattered on the wall and the color palette was a mix of blue, yellow, black & white with pops of red. My only regret, was that we didn’t get a park view room. Next time, I’ll definitely request a view room, as waking up a beautiful park, seems a lot better than staring at air conditioning units.
It’s All in the Details
What I loved most about this hotel was their attention to detail and passion for quirkiness. As soon as we got into our room, we were greeted with a hand written note and ingredients and directions to make our own cocktails. Our pillow had a fun quote on it and the random objects found throughout the property definitely became conversation starters. I think the statues mimicking “when pigs fly” was my favorite. Since Hotel Monaco is a Kimpton hotel you can also expect the usuals like leopard print bathrobes and those bright yellow rubber duckies found at all Kimpton properties.
What’s at the Hotel
Grab a bite to eat at the hotel's restaurant, Red Owl Tavern where you can get dishes like, oven roasted bone marrow, or a churrasco steak with chimichurri sauce and yuca fries. Or you can take advantage of their 24 hour room service. If you’re feeling thirsty, you can head up to the top floor, where Stratus Rooftop Lounge takes over. The crowd is trendy and the prices are a little high, but the roaring outdoor fire, cozy nooks and impressive views make up for it!
For more information about Hotel Monaco, visit their website: