What it is

A 1926 Classical Revival gem, reinvented as a Deco-inspired retreat with two Instagrammable restaurants, an outpost of La Colombe, and 24-hour gym.

What it isn't

Stocked with a spa and pool. But interiors are so pampering and so sumptuous, you won’t need them.

What we think

Philadelphia has long been a city that embraces history while pushing the envelope. The Declaration of Independence was inked here in 1776; and the first-ever computer was born at Penn in 1946. Likewise, the Notary retains its Art Deco lines while embracing a modern sensibility that today’s glitterati demand. Guest rooms are stocked with marble-lined bathrooms, smart TVs, neutral and inky black color palettes, and soundproof windows for unflappable sleep. The King Guest Room is 325 square feet; for even more room to roam, we love the 470 square foot Executive Corner King for its plush sitting area and prime overlook of the cityscape. The Founding Fathers would be gobsmacked.

You're here because

You’re a history nut, and the building was originally designed by local starchitect Philip H. Johnson (a.k.a. The man behind Philadelphia Civic Center and City Hall Annex).

The Moment

Within your alcove banquette at Sabroso + Sorbo, the hotel’s tapas joint, you feel like you own the keys to the city. Your Burn after Reading cocktail is going down like an elixir of life, and the basque burnt cheesecake is nothing less than transcendent. Bliss.

Restaurants & Bars

Sabroso+Sorbo - Spanish tapas restaurant and bar

La Colombe® - Coffee house with lite bites

Location

Just a block from Philadelphia’s iconic circa 1901 City Hall, and 10 minutes drive from the Museum of the American Revolution (a must for any Hamilton fan).