The Kimpton Palomar Is My Go-to Philly Hotel (And My Dog Loves It Just as Much as I Do)

The Basics

• Name of accommodation: Kimpton Hotel Palomar
• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Distance from NYC: 1 hour, 45 minutes
• Price: from $269 per room, per night
• Accommodation options: rooms and suites (ADA compliant)

What to Pack?

If, like me, you’re arriving from the Big Apple, you can expect the weather to be pretty comparable, so pack accordingly. One item you won’t need to try to shove into your suitcase, however, is a raincoat—every Kimpton room has a large umbrella stashed in the closet for you.

Philadelphia is an extremely walkable city (so pack those sneakers) and there’s a ton to do, so plan to be out for most of the day. This means grab those sweaters and coats in particular for the winter months as it can get quite chilly. That said, the Kimpton is centrally located so if you need to pop back in for a costume change or to restock your daytime tote, it should be easy enough.

The Room

The rooms are luxe and extremely clean—and you’ll definitely be getting a great night’s sleep on the super comfy bed (I often struggle with hotel sleeping but didn’t have a problem here). My one-bedroom suite’s bathroom featured an enormous bathtub in addition to the standup shower, and the separate living room was great for an impromptu Law & Order marathon when I needed a break from exploring the city. The traditional rooms are quite nice too with the same comfy beds and a mini fridge to store your Wawa hoagies (more on that later).

Bubbie made himself comfortable as well (he thoroughly enjoyed using his Kimpton-provided doggie bowl). And both of us were pleasantly surprised at the appearance of an adorable Barkcuterie Board in our room. It featured banana bites, dehydrated sweet potato, apple slices, green beans and cage-free duck-tato jerky. Needless to say, the little guy was in heaven.

The Amenities

Let me start with the most important piece of info about the Kimpton Palomar: They offer free happy hour in the lobby every day from 5 to 6 p.m. Pro tip: Show up five minutes early and secure a comfy seat right by the fireplace (ideal for sipping your Chardonnay—don’t worry, it’s not buttery, I promise—or snagging a fireside photo for the ‘Gram).

If, like me, you always pack workout clothes for that workout you never actually follow through with, here’s another chance: The hotel has a 24-hour gym. And the gym features complimentary oranges if citrus is the motivation you’re looking for to pull the trigger on that treadmill stroll.

On that same note, you’ll find a yoga mat in your closet. I obviously didn’t use it, but it was comforting to know it was close by if I felt so inclined.