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A die-cut-steel chandelier signals to guests that The Latham Hotel is now contemporary.
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THE LATHAM HOTEL
135 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA
lathamhotelphiladelphia.com; (215) 563-7474
Distance by car: 2½ hours
When it opened as a hotel in 1970, The Latham welcomed its first guest: comic actress Imogene Coca. It’s been regarded as one of Philly’s most upscale hotels ever since. Built as an apartment house in 1907, The Latham Hotel retained its beautiful bow windows though several renovations, the latest a $14 million overhaul of rooms, common areas, and the restaurant. It reopened in the summer of 2012. Antiquated décor has morphed into contemporary cool, with white leather seating and a dye-cut-steel linked cylindrical chandelier greeting guests in a small lobby.
ROOM: A collage of purples, grays, and golds, each room features a pillow-top bed, flatscreen TV, and iPod docks.
BOARD: New in-house eatery Urban Enoteca opened earlier this year. Jumping on a new trend in wine bars, Enoteca offers 24 wines on tap, in addition to meat and cheese boards, and small and large plates. If you don’t want to move a muscle, order some nibbles up to your room.
WHILE HERE: Have you already seen the Liberty Bell, bounded up the steps of the Philly Museum of Art à la Rocky, and taken the kids to the Please Touch Museum? Then it’s time to learn about Philadelphia through its food. Your witty guide from the City Food Tours (daily 1:30 to 4 pm, $39) will usher you through town, making five stops to sample the most iconic cuisine that the City of Brotherly Love has to offer.
JUST THE FACTS: Room rates range from $169 to $499 and include free WiFi.
