At the corner of 17th and Sansom in Philadelphia's Center City, a warm-toned brick tower dating from the mid-twentieth century carries the kind of Art Deco-inflected commercial architecture that the city's Rittenhouse Square corridor does particularly well — solid, ornamental at the entry, restrained above. Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, which took over the building as part of the brand's expansion into the mid-Atlantic market, works with that inherited geometry rather than against it, preserving the chamfered corner and the grid of steel-framed windows while threading a thoroughly contemporary interior through the 230-room, 23-floor structure. The lobby, designed by Cheryl Rowley, sets the tone with a curved velvet sectional edged in brass, cobalt tufted armchairs flanking a white marble fireplace, and dark-stained hardwood floors inlaid with a brass compass motif — the whole room carrying the atmosphere of a well-appointed private club rather than a hotel receiving hall. Gold mosaic tile panels punctuate the columns, picking up the warmth of the building's exterior brick at a different scale. Guestrooms continue the graphic energy through chevron-patterned headboards in mocha velvet and navy-and-gold Greek key bed runners, mirrored side tables catching the light from the original steel-framed windows. The Square 1682 restaurant on the ground floor shifts registers with lacquered red kitchen panels, a dark granite bar, and geometric diamond-pattern wallcovering — a deliberately louder room that holds its own against the lobby's more considered restraint.

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Our Art Deco classic digs with a modern twist in the middle of Center City prove the perfect launching pad for exploring our Rittenhouse Square neighborhood and beyond. With easy access to a thriving culinary and arts scene, a tranquil urban park and multiple means of public transit, we can't think of a better place to call your Philly home. Inside our beautifully converted, 1920s building, you'll be quietly seduced by our luxurious amenities and air of intrigue. We can't wait to let you in on the secret.