"Give us the lowdown on this place.This being a non-hotel hotel—think fancy Airbnb, with "invisible service" in the form of a loaded iPad—the entrance is pretty inconspicuous. Gray-blue doors are bookended by tall flower pots, and some old-timey calligraphy above denotes that it's a "Hotel & Salon" (there's a hipster hair place next door). Far up on N. 3rd, one of Society Hill's more charming stretches, in the shadow of the Ben Franklin bridge, the location couldn't be more ideal: The surrounding area is made up of tony furniture stores, upscale boutique shops, and sidewalk cafes that'll actually inspire you to rise early.
Sounds lovely—but you mentioned something about it being a non-hotel. Given that, how was check-in?Instructions for entering the building and your room come through in an e-mail before you arrive: "Push this hard on the buttons, make sure you enter in the code in exactly this way"—it's detailed enough to make you laugh, thinking about the distraught midnight phone calls that people have probably made to the offsite staff. Oh, and by the way—prepare yourself for the stairs. There are four floors, with two rooms on each—if you land on top, you’re schlepping that weekender (and yourself) all the way up, maybe several times a day.
Oy, okay. What are the handful of other guests like?Again, this is in the style of Airbnb, so the only service you'll get is light housekeeping (by request) and an iPad loaded with apps like Caviar. It's easy to envision trendy twenty- and thirty-somethings in town for a week or two on business, and youngish (probably childless) couples taking a much-deserved staycation as the primary customer base. The weekend I stayed, I was alone on the fourth floor for the first night—but the next day a whole family moved in, and I shared my floor with a couple of teenage boys. I could hear them shouting as I hauled myself up the stairs; fortunately, as soon as I got in my room, there was total silence.
Phew—that's good. Speaking of which, let's talk digs: Tell us about your room.I stayed in a fourth-floor suite called the "Ben" (rooms are named for notable Philly figures; one is the "Betsy," that famous flag maker, and another is "Louisa," for May Alcott) that came equipped with a kitchenette and a queen-sized bed. Once I managed to make it up the stairs (which, charmingly, still kind of smelled like fresh paint, since the place opened in late spring of 2017) it was lovely; the whole suite looked and felt like an artisanal coffee shop, with poured concrete counter tops in the kitchen and bathroom; "beer" hand soap, made with hops and barley; slim wooden mid-century furniture; and hefty coffee table books à la Agnes Martin and Josef Albers. I also loved the "Lokal Guide"—a thoughtfully curated catalogue of nearby restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and shops that would no doubt be of help to the uninitiated Philly traveler.
We love it. How about the little things, like the minibar, or shower goodies—any wow factor?Totally. My room had a bar cart loaded with goodies from Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, a nearby whiskey tasting room and home bar supply shop; there were small, slim vials of angostura bitters, natch, and glass bottles of Fever-Tree citrus soda and tonic water. All you have to do is supply the actual booze. The terrycloth bathrobes were a nice touch, as were the locally produced Duross & Langel toiletries. To say I was disappointed that the "beer" conditioner didn't actually smell like an IPA is an understatement; but the hoppy soap did make my hands awfully soft. If we're really being honest, I would've smuggled the two unframed Old Master-style paintings from the suite; the quasi-Vermeer artwork really made the space special, and maybe more like a "home" than anything else.
Paradise, found. How about the room service situation? (Is there a situation?)The only room service you're getting here is via Caviar or Grubhub—so this one's all on you.
Got it. And staff?Well, funny story—you'll probably never meet them. That said, when I e-mailed to ask about the coffee situation, Barbie Welsh, the assistant manager, was helpful and quick to respond, as was Courtney Ludeman, the owner and manager.
Cool. Any other services or features you especially want to shout out?The location was really ideal—I've been to Philly a million and one times, and couldn't believe I'd never stumbled on that stretch of N. 3rd before. Now I know where I'll be heading next time I'm in town, and it's all because of this little place. Oh, and this being a sort of extended stay gig, there's a washer/dryer unit, as well as a microwave, an oven, an electric range, and a fridge.
Super. So, bottom line: worth it, and why?Frankly, the hotel's a little pricey, considering there's no restaurant, room service, gym, or staff—rates are from $170 per night—but the rooms are very quiet, the design considered, and the location for exploring Philly's Old City, ideal. (And, if you're planning on staying in town for a little while, the washer/dryer set-up is a nice perk, too.) Bottom line: you will actually feel like a local here, especially when you saunter out of your apartment on a sunny Saturday to go grab a coffee and a copy of the Inquirer." - Betsy Blumenthal
