True to its name, Aloft has a very boutique hotel feel. While the new property opened in early fall 2008, there’s the sense that it could be retrofitted industrial space.

Enter the lobby to find a small round front desk that resembles a check-out stand. Behind it is the open gift shop/food vending area with pricing displayed on signs. To the right as you enter the lobby is the open bar with a very hip feel to it. Find a pool table, a tall bar-high table for computer users and cozy sofas scattered around for places to connect with friends or have a business meeting and a martini. This could be a living room from the 60s?

The front desk staff is quick and efficient and when asked “Where’s a good place for dinner?” They ask, “What type of food do you like?” So refreshing to deal with a capable individual.

While the room request was for a unit with no noise (away from pool, ice machine, elevator), the front desk clerk advised that she had hoped our room met that...

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True to its name, Aloft has a very boutique hotel feel. While the new property opened in early fall 2008, there’s the sense that it could be retrofitted industrial space.

Enter the lobby to find a small round front desk that resembles a check-out stand. Behind it is the open gift shop/food vending area with pricing displayed on signs. To the right as you enter the lobby is the open bar with a very hip feel to it. Find a pool table, a tall bar-high table for computer users and cozy sofas scattered around for places to connect with friends or have a business meeting and a martini. This could be a living room from the 60s?

The front desk staff is quick and efficient and when asked “Where’s a good place for dinner?” They ask, “What type of food do you like?” So refreshing to deal with a capable individual.

While the room request was for a unit with no noise (away from pool, ice machine, elevator), the front desk clerk advised that she had hoped our room met that expectation and she would move us if necessary.

The room featured modern architectural details, European-size (small) rooms and the latest in technological innovations - an adapter box where you can plug in your computer or other AV devices and they display on the TV - and more electrical outlets than usual (16 unused plug-ins). The decor is contemporary with a bit of retro. Note the turquoise alarm clock with hands, dual desks separated by an upholstered bench rather than a wooden credenza to hold luggage. Maybe this is a dorm room.

The bedding is fairly standard for most hotels – white linens. But rather than the foofy pillows that you throw on the extra chair every night, there were two long bolster pillows with fabric made to match the bottom of the dual blinds that roll down from the maybe seven-foot high windows.

The mattress pad moves around all night under the sheets so it’s like sleeping on rolled up wash towels verses nice smooth bedding. Never experience that at a hotel before. Maybe the mattress pad is not anchored on the four corners.

It's a standard hotel set up - bathroom to the right as you enter the room. Find no closet, but a floor-to-ceiling book-case looking unit with a curtain over a large opening for hanging clothes, an in-room safe, a cubby-hole with the coffee and maker, a built-in book rack with publications like the New Yorker, American Songwriter, dwell, Spin and Wired. Across the aisle is a bowl sink and floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the side (a pocket door) and front. How you don’t splatter water on them is beyond me). Below the sink is a small (a la dorm days) frig for use. It wheezes and best to unplug it to eliminate a layer of noise.

Enter the restroom via the pocket door to find the toilet (far from the sturdy ones typically found in a commercial building) and a nearly floor-to-ceiling glass-enclosed shower with liquid dispensers for the eco-friendly types. Lots of tile all the way around on the walls and floors.

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