Hotel Indigo has a serious problem: it’s too cool.
The hotel, which just opened at the start of the year, is undoubtedly the talk of the town; the restaurant that occupies most of its first floor, West Chester Seafood Kitchen, is the hottest reservation in around; and simply getting in to their “secret” speakeasy in the basement, Room 109, often requires an hour-plus wait, which means securing a cocktail in this tiny club now comes with bragging rights.
Hotel Indigo is the long-standing vision of a man who could arguably be called the architect of modern West Chester, Stan Zukin, and it’s a testament to the way he shepherded growth in our community. He always fostered businesses and enterprises focused on bettering the town, while always making sure those improvements maintained our character. “The Zukin family is so excited to see the hotel become a reality,” says Stan’s son Scott, who now runs the family business. “My father’s legacy teaches all of us that dreams can become a reality with hard work, persistence — lots of persistence — discipline and a positive attitude. We just wish he were here to see it.”
Why is it so popular? Because Hotel Indigo has succeeded in bringing big-city sophistication to West Chester, while maintaining the heart of what makes this town unique, just as Stan would have wanted it. Stepping into the lobby feels like walking through the doors of a boutique hotel in New York City, while simultaneously keeping your feet fully grounded in our borough. And none of that is an accident.
Let me explain…
The Hotel
I had grown pretty accustomed to the West Chester skyline driving into the borough along East Gay, because for decades of my life it remained unchanged, so it is going to take me ages to get used to the way Hotel Indigo rears up at Walnut and Gay. A chunk of what used to be sky is now a six-story building, standing tall above what — for most of my life — was an empty former pharmacy and a half-empty parking lot.
But if you didn’t grow up here, if you didn’t once rip the sideview mirror off your car on an unpainted bollard in that parking lot, you’d have no idea this building hasn’t stood at this corner since last century. That’s because great pains were taken during construction to preserve the facade of the historic Spence Building along Gay Street, and the rest of the hotel is built of the same iconic red bricks lining the more scenic sidewalks of the borough. It’s a seamless fit into the landscape of our downtown.
The single sliding door along North Walnut is unassuming, it’s just any other entry along what is still a rather underwhelming block of the borough, but that unassuming entry is less a door and more a portal. And that’s not hyperbole. On the one side of the glass you’re in the West Chester of my childhood: a quiet suburb of Philadelphia where there is not much going on. This block of the borough is still pretty underwhelming — it’s the backside of the post office, a corner of the parking garage and a small office building. But on the other side of the glass, you get a glimpse of West Chester a decade from now, a West Chester that’s less a sleepy suburb and more a hub in its own right, a place that lures visitors from farther afield than East Goshen.
The hotel lobby immediately opens up before you, with ceilings a story and a half high, and comfortable seating areas tucked in either side of the main entry. It feels fancy, but approachable, and the high-end vibe is amplified by the staff manning that front desk. I’ve stayed in several of the other accommodations that pop up in your search results when Googling “hotel in West Chester” and the experience at Hotel Indigo — being greeted the moment you enter the hotel — is a far cry from my usual experience elsewhere in the area: standing in an empty lobby, ringing the bell and hoping someone is available to get me a room key. Despite showing up late at night, someone was awaiting my arrival with a smile.
That kind of service is the standard here. In a chat with Mike Moskowitz, general manager at the hotel, he explained that they’re just following best practices that he would expect to see in any service environment. “The 10-5 rule should always be applied in hospitality,” he said. “Within 10 feet, make eye contact and smile; within five feet engage in conversation with a warm greeting.” It seems like simple advice, but it’s all too rarely applied, so the conversation I had about the hotel amenities while checking in was a pleasant surprise.
If you’ve ever stayed at a nice Kimpton, you can likely conjure up a vision of the vibes in the room. It’s immediately obvious that design was paramount when building, and each room is outfitted with a series of little details that elevate your stay.
First up, the standard by which I judge every hotel room: the shower. If you’ve ever been unlucky enough to have a hotel with a bad shower, you know how much it can make or break your stay, even more so, I’d argue, than the mattress. Hotel Indigo invested heavily here. The shower is lined by large rectangular blue tiles alternating between horizontal and vertical rows that evoque a bookshelf, and it’s tucked behind a sliding glass door that feels sturdy and moves easily, plus a shower head with actual pressure that puts out water hot enough to steam the whole bathroom in minutes.
Each room is also appointed with a unique wardrobe equipped with a coffee station and room for a week or two’s worth of clothes, plus a desk large enough to double as work space and designated dumping grounds for all the stuff I take out of my luggage, use once, and won’t put away again until I’m repacking to leave.
I know I’m not alone in having a bedtime routine that’s borderline religious. I follow each step as I slowly settle into a drowsy stupor. The two most central parts of my routine are that I need to have my phone plugged in within reach, and I need to have a dim, soft light I can read by but which I can easily shut off without moving from my designated side-sleeping position. If I don’t have those two things, I’m guaranteed to be anxious and awake, creating this self-fulfilling prophecy for myself where I’m afraid I won’t get good sleep, so I don’t get good sleep.
But I slept like a baby at Hotel Indigo, all thanks to an absolutely brilliant bed design.
The headboard runs to several feet beyond either side of the king bed and has integrated nightstands on each side, both equipped with built-in outlets and USB ports and independent lamps, easily controlled by an easy-to-find switch at the base of the lamp. But best of all? There’s an LED strip running the length of that headboard, tucked neatly behind, that emits a soft yellow light that can ease you into sleep, and the switch is right beside your head as you’re resting on the pillow.
I could go on about all these little details, but suffice it to say this just felt like a hotel room designed by someone who had stayed in a lot of hotel rooms and found solutions to everything that had aggravated them: the simple coffee machine that still produces a decent brew; the integrated outlets on the desk; the marble countertop of the bathroom vanity with enough space to carelessly spill your toiletry bag across its surface and leave room to spare. It all adds up to an accommodation where you’re comfortable, and that’s something new to town.
Yet, the room is still very much West Chester. On the walls there’s a picture and quote from Frederick Douglas, the abolitionist who gave his final speech here in town. On each of the wardrobes the handle is a ram’s head door knocker… it’s golden. In the morning, as I headed downstairs for coffee from the hotel’s cafe, I read a long quote from William Darlington that was affixed to the wall of the fifth-floor elevator lobby. The name Darlington should certainly ring a bell for our readers.
The tie to our community was very much intentional. “Our goal was always to create something that stayed true to the character of the town,” says Jonathan Silver, one of the owners of the hotel and vice president of Onix Group, which owns and operates nine hotels in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida. “We interviewed a number of hotel franchises and one of the main reasons we went with Hotel Indigo was we loved the fact that it’s ‘The World’s Neighborhood Hotel.’ It was important to bring an elevated feel, while still being deeply rooted in everything that makes West Chester unique and special.” They’ve certainly succeeded on that front.
THE DINING
According to Silver, the hotel was always going to have a restaurant; it was one of the brand requirements of Hotel Indigo. To him, the choice of who would run it was obvious. “We knew immediately we needed to bring in Eric Sugrue. Eric is the owner and managing partner of Big Fish Restaurant Group.” The restaurant group came up with the concept for what is now known as West Chester Seafood Kitchen, and since it opened in the beginning of February, it’s been the hottest reservation in town.
My first night staying at the hotel was a Thursday, and I assumed that on a weeknight I’d be able to saunter up and get a seat no problem. Boy was I wrong. Not only were no tables currently available, but the hostess politely informed me that they were no longer taking any reservations for the rest of the night… it was 6:15pm. So, first piece of advice: plan ahead.
I was better prepared the following day and snagged a reservation for myself and a friend for right when they opened at 4pm. We planned to meet in Indigo, since you can reach the restaurant by ascending a half flight of stairs from the hotel lobby, in addition to its main access of Gay Street. As I awaited my friend, I watched people “sneak in” through the hotel up into the restaurant in an effort to secure a seat at the bar before they even opened. Kudos to the bartenders for the polite way in which they handled these over-eager guests, because it was probably the nicest I’ve ever seen someone treated when seating themselves period, let alone before the manager has even unlocked the front door.
I want to be clear that I am not encouraging this behaviour, you absolutely should not do it, and I promise you the serving staff hate it if you do (even if they’re too polite and well-trained to show it). I’m merely using this anecdote to illustrate that this place is so highly hyped on the word of mouth wagon that it’s got grown adults acting like over-excited teens.
And it turns out, the hype is right.
I have lived in several seaside towns with a solid food scene, places like Cape May, Key West and Charleston, SC. The meal I had at West Chester Seafood Kitchen rivals any I’ve had in those coastal communities, and it came at a fraction of the price.
The Bouchot mussels diavolo I started with from the apps menu were absolutely an entree-sized portion. The large plate came piled with perfectly steamed mussels, drenched in a slightly spicy red sauce full of crushed tomato pieces, alongside fresno peppers and shallots. I used the toasted focaccia to shovel sauce into my face between mouthfuls of mollusk.
Not expecting the mussels to be so massive, I had also ordered a second app, one I expected my dining partner and I to peck at as the meal went on. Instead, we devoured it entirely within minutes of it hitting our table. It was a dish delicious in its own right, but it also evoked a Ratatouille moment, as my first bite sent me down memory lane.
I was indoctrinated into Eagles fandom through snacks. On game days, Dad pulled out the dips, the chips, the pretzels and the sauces, and I could have as much as I wanted. Long before I could comprehend the difference between offsides and a false start, I knew I loved French onion dip. So, since early childhood the snack has been a favorite, and it’s one I make at home most every Sunday from September through February. But the mush I make at home is just a pale imitation of the House Cut Fresh Potato Chips & Dip. The chips themselves were still warm, and the perfect thickness, leading to a satisfying crunch without being dense or overly hard, but the dip… oh my, the dip. It was essentially a cup of beautiful caramelized Vidalia onions, lightly coated with just enough seasoning and what I assume is sour cream to adhere the thin slices of onion into little lumps as you scoop. I’ve never enjoyed the taste of onion more.
The extensive menu here is built around regional standards. “We felt the community needed an approachable East Coast seafood eatery with recognizable items that are simply prepared with the freshest ingredients available,” says Jason Asher, general manager of West Chester Seafood Kitchen.
Those “freshest ingredients available” shine on the daily specials insert, which features the chef’s takes on fresh catches and a rotating list of fishes. Because that insert changes based on availability, you probably won’t be able to order the same dish I had, the barramundi, but let me describe it in detail anyway just to highlight the level of execution. The fish was served skin-on, and that skin was crispy while the meat was tender and juicy. The warm filet was served over a bed of chilled cous cous and heirloom cherry tomatoes, making each bite a symphony of textures and flavors: salty and sweet, warm and cold, savory yet light.
West Chester was ripe for the concept, and folks spoiled by summers at the shore were clambering for high-quality, approachable dishes at home. “We felt with our long standing success with seafood restaurants, the community in West Chester was the perfect fit,” says Asher. They nailed it.
SPEAKEASY
Arguably the only seat in town tougher to secure than a table upstairs is a stool in the basement at Hotel Indigo’s speakeasy, Room 109. The bar is a poorly kept secret, and it would’ve been raided by Elliott Ness a dozen times in the two weeks it had been operating by the time of my visit — it was the talk of the town.
On Thursday night I used the hotel gym, also located in the basement, and I entered the facility at 4:30pm, 30 minutes before the bar opens. Yet I was already joined in the elevator on my way down by a cutely dressed couple planning to line up and await entry to the speakeasy everyone was talking about. By the time I’d finished shoulder day an hour later, the bar was at capacity and there was a line of other cutely dressed couples 20-deep, chatting and leaning up against the walls, biding their time until the doorman allowed entry.
The bar itself is dimly lit and feels straight out of the 1920s. The furniture speaks of opulence, with ornate arm rests and leather upholstery. There are wingback chairs, and dark wooden tables with gold accents on much of the furniture. The walls are all of exposed brick, with an extensive book shelf, lined with leather-bound volumes and Gilded Age ornamentation. The wall to the right of the bar shows an “exposed” plaster section, with a painted sign for West Chester’s first inn, so while the environment might make you imagine you’re in an exclusive NYC locale, the design is made to ensure you remember you’re firmly in the borough. The only other space in town with this type of vibe is a members-only club with a price tag that puts entry beyond the budget for many residents, so it’s no wonder Room 109 is packed to capacity every night.
The cocktail menu is currently limited, and the liquor list is small but well-curated. I ordered their take on an old fashioned — expecting to settle in and relax — while my partner in crime ordered the espresso martini, clearly expecting our night was going to escalate quickly from here (he was wrong — this would’ve interfered with my bedtime routine). We snagged a claw-footed, velour sofa seat where we could quietly chat as we sipped.
If you’re tired of having to shout to be heard at happy hour, if you’re of an age where you’d rather communicate than consume, or if you’re just looking for a place to relax after a long day of work or travel before heading up to your room, I don’t know if I can think of a better venue than the basement of Hotel Indigo… assuming you can get in. Now, if you want to make sure you’re able to snag a spot, there is a workaround: book a room at the hotel and make sure to select the speakeasy package. The hotel will automatically hold a spot for you, giving you VIP treatment and easy access to the most coveted reservation in town. I highly suggest going for the full experience.
When I checked out Saturday morning, I was already planning my return visit to Hotel Indigo. As someone who grew up in West Chester, and who will always think of the area as home – even if life has momentarily taken me elsewhere – Hotel Indigo is going to be my new base of operations each time I return to the borough. The rooms are comfortable, well-appointed and sizable. There’s a passable gym, a first-floor cafe with quick breakfasts or pastries and well-executed coffees. The restaurant is one of the best this borough has ever experienced, and the basement bar is already one of the coolest in town. You could happily spend two or three days in the building without ever leaving the premises, and there is an easy argument to be made for booking a stay at the hotel even if you live in West Chester: it’s like a big-city getaway without ever having to leave home.
