aloft is a vision of the W that’s trendier than the Sheraton but less seductive than the real thing. In place of spacious lounges and the music tempo of a heartbeat is the type of rec room you’d find in a college dorm or a swanky tech office. There is a coffee bar and grab’n’go section, a pool table, and the type of lounge chairs we’re used to seeing occupied by engineers taking naps. The only reminder that this is a W is the font, and of course the bar, an XYZ in name only.
Curbside Appeal:
DIY:
Martinis and Shopping:
Featured Hotel
Le Meridien Chambers
The Chambers hotel was the most gorgeous stop on our Minneapolis tour, with a lobby art installation (a video painting very much like the Clift in which the actors hold poses with slight movement), a shop reminiscent of a shelf at the SF Moma store, and a long hallway of painting and photography that bleeds into a gallery and event space. Our favorite was the comfortable patio courtyard with a booming gas fireplace. The Lobby and Outdoor Lounge: The Lounge and … Read More about Le Meridien Chambers
Let’s Take Minneapolis
We've had the pleasure of an experience outside of our norm - the space between LA and New York, and north of San Francisco. We love this town of buildings connected by above-ground walkways, with pockets of Starwood style that have us crushed.
What’s Happening in MPLS?
Le Meridien Chambers is our favorite spot in downtown Minneapolis. The outdoor courtyard and ground floor art gallery are the perfect afternoon retreat. We're also partial to the bright dining room and Scandinavian menu of FIKA Café located in the American Swedish Institute.