Hotel Anna & Bel
a neighborhood(y) resort stay in Fishtown
Hotel Anna & Bel is the type of hotel that feels simultaneously like a resort and staying at your friend’s well curated, cozy home all at once. As soon as I checked in, I immersed fully into a world of beautiful decor, lush plants, and lots of cozy nooks that invited me lean into the feeling you get on vacation. From my ground level room, I opened the french doors that open up to a wrap around veranda overlooking a heated pool. Although this property is in the heart of Fishtown in Philadelphia, I felt as though I was somewhere else entirely.
In the morning, I made my way to Bastia, the hotel’s coastal Mediterranean restaurant concept for a cappuccino and croissant. After enjoying breakfast I took a stroll through the neighborhood. The hotel is well appointed—tucked in between the folds of Fishtown with a façade so subtle that one could certainly miss it from the street. In fact, the hotel is housed in a historic building, most famously known previously as The Penn House—an asylum for widowed women in the 1800s. With the power of femininity on their minds, owners Galli and Dor lovingly restored the building keeping many original elements like the grand staircase in the entrance and the Penn House placard placed by the guest elevators, while also adding in new elements that speak to the beauty of a strong feminine archetype.
There are many nods to the two personalities, Anna & Bel throughout the property—represented sometimes literally by two women or feminine figures in the artwork on the walls, or often, more subtly through the thought process behind the materials used for the furniture and finishes. Anna & Bel aim to represent the hard and soft sides of the divine feminine coming together, and it has resulted in an incredibly rich story for guests to discover.
Some of my favorite elements at Anna & Bel:
The tile design in the common spaces and the bathrooms.
The layout that feels super communal and cozy.
The meditation patio garden on the second floor.
The in-room kitchenettes complete with a refrigerator, sink, kettle, fresh citrus (hello hot lemon water in the morning), and a coffee maker.
The essentials closet on each floor well-stocked with everything you might have forgotten or need more of during your stay.
A reading nook tucked behind a velvet curtain on the second floor, complete with a selection of art books to choose from.
& of course, the Sunlighten sauna in the gym.
And although I felt as though I never had to set foot outside the hotel during my stay, if you do want to explore the surrounding area, here’s where I explored:
Head to Riverwards to pick up groceries to stock your kitchenette, or splurge on the custom gummies in the mini bar made in collaboration with the brand.
Vestige for your dream wardrobe and unique homewares. I could spend hours in this perfect little shop.
Goldie for falafel and limonana.
LMNO was suggested more than once as a great place for dinner and it did not disappoint. I especially loved the prickly pear margarita.
Urban Exchange for a top notch offering of vintage graphic tees. They’re a little pricey, but truly every single one of them is one I want in my closet.
La Colombe because it’s La Colombe. This is one of my favorite coffee brands and it was great to visit their HQ.
Castellino’s is the perfect spot for a mid-day Italian sandwich and unique pantry items.
Jaffa opened the day before I left town and because Oli pup was with me during my stay, I was unable to check it out. However, Jaffa is a new addition to the neighborhood serving up oysters and Middle Eastern cocktails.
Sadly, Suraya and Kalaya remain on the list of places I’ve yet to try, but I put them on the list because I know that they are both well worth a meal.