Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix

In Phoenix, once known primarily for its endless low-rise sprawl, there’s something suddenly happening in the city center. Two new downtown college campuses, a busy light-rail line, and a spate of urban redevelopment have left downtown Phoenix utterly transformed. A hotel like Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix — a stylish modern boutique hotel in a city-center high-rise — simply wouldn’t have been possible even a decade ago, and it’s no exaggeration to say it’ll put this rejuvenated city center on the map for a whole new generation of travelers.

The interior style is surprisingly chic, an authentically Southwestern sort of modernism that conveys a strong sense of place without ever lapsing into desert kitsch. And though the hotel occupies the lower floors of the tower, the views from the rooms are still dramatic and far-ranging. Frette linens and down duvets are a matter of course, and like all Kimpton hotels, the Palomar is thoroughly pet-friendly.

On the third floor there’s an open-air rooftop bar as well as an outdoor pool, and Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, is a very worthy downtown option. Of course, it’s hardly the only one — from here, at the heart of downtown, you’re a stone’s throw from any number of nightlife, dining, and entertainment options.