The Quoin

Wilmington, Delaware flies under the radar for a number of reasons, but boutique-hotel aficionados have at least one reason to keep it on the list: the Quoin, a Romanesque bank building in the historic downtown center, now renovated by the Philadelphia-based Method Co. and Stokes Architecture + Design into a warm, livable, and richly detailed boutique hotel.

“Richly detailed” is worth saying twice — the minimalism that used to be the calling card of the urban boutique hotel is nowhere in evidence. Instead you’ll find vintage and custom furnishings, abundant visual texture in the form of artworks, graphics, and printed wallpapers, and plenty of living plants. The public spaces feel homey, as do the rooms and suites, even as they’re equipped with boutique-hotel comforts like Aēsop bath products and Lavazza espresso machines.

Also key to the success of a hotel like the Quoin are a variety of dining and drinking spaces. The Quoin Restaurant combines the flavors of northern Italy and the south of France, along with wines and craft cocktails, while Simmer Down converts the old bank vault into an opulent cocktail bar. Atop the hotel is Wilmington’s first rooftop bar and lounge, and the Quoin Café serves coffee and pastries in a welcoming living-room-style space.