Aloft Philadelphia Downtown

Most of the hotels belonging to Marriott’s Aloft sub-brand are, for all their contemporary-design accoutrements, somewhat pod-like affairs — identical rooms with identical layouts, often in locations that are chosen more for convenience than character. But the Aloft Philadelphia Downtown is a different story. It’s located, first of all, not in a purpose-built matrix of repeating corridors alongside some lonely airport road, but in the 1925-vintage Liberty Title Building, a North Broad Street landmark, right in the city center, that’s full of vintage Classical Revival architectural personality.

The lobby’s soaring 27-foot ceilings and massive triple-height windows date back to the days when bank lobbies were grand; today it’s home to the reception as well as a lounge and bar, and some large-scale contemporary art. Upstairs, the rooms bear traces of their former lives as well — the building’s historical layout means there’s some variation in floor plan from room to room, the original windows are still intact, and they’re all decorated with artwork bearing the seal of Liberty Title & Trust. It’s a low-frills experience, to be sure — beyond the bar and a 24-hour snack bar, you’re at the mercy of the neighborhood, which, to be fair, offers plentiful options — but it’s a considerable step up from the ordinary bare-bones business hotel.