No. 1 North John Street, The Royal Insurance Building, Liverpool, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Stylish contemporary hotel housed in a Neo-Baroque building
Located bear corporate headquarters and tourist sites
Walking distance to shops, eateries and nightlife
Striking common areas with historic details and modern touches
Streamlined rooms with LCD TVs, iPod docks, and mini-fridges
Bathrooms have walk-in showers and Bliss toiletries
Stylish restaurant/bar with regular live music
Lobby lounge with a bar and pool table
Bright, well-equipped fitness room
Almost 2,350-square feet of meeting space
24/7 self-service snack station
Fast, free Wi-Fi throughout
Room's dark decor could feel too somber to some
Breakfast only included with some rates
No on-site parking
Part of Starwood’s urbane, upscale Aloft line, this city-center hotel delivers the up-to-date atmosphere that travelers expect inside a gorgeous Grade II-listed Edwardian building. The common areas -- a split-level restaurant/bar, lounge and meeting rooms among them -- combine old and new, cleverly juxtaposing arched windows, inlaid flooring, walnut paneling and other classic elements with fashionable, contemporary details. The 116 rooms are sleek and minimalist, done up in a charcoal gray that's either hip or dreary, depending on taste. But all are equipped with mini-fridges, iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. If you’re in the mood for more colorful digs, consider booking Hotel Indigo Liverpool, a nearby four-pearl property that’s aimed at the same demographic.
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Scene
A chic, 21st-century hotel housed in a landmark Edwardian building
The Aloft Liverpool opened in 2014; however, the imposing edifice it occupies (the former Royal Insurance Building) was constructed more than a century earlier, and it's still a showstopper. Outside, the granite-and-limestone facade is graced with Doric columns, carved figures, cupola-topped turrets, and a campanile which give it an aura of grandeur. Inside, the cavernous main level is full of original features which recall the building’s glory days -- among them Brazilian walnut panelling, inlaid marble floors, stunning stained-glass and ceilings notable for their ornamental plasterwork. Yet rather than decorate it in a clubby, old-school manner, the designers opted for a contemporary contrast, adding sleek-lined leather furnishings in the restaurant/bar and funkier, less formal ones in the adjacent lounge. It’s a striking mix that fits the sensibilities of the young professionals who tend to stay here.
Location
A central location, well suited to younger vacationers and corporate types
Situated amidst office buildings on a busy, city-center street, Aloft is a convenient choice for both business and leisure travelers -- particularly younger ones. Albert Dock (home to top attractions like the Beatles Story, the Merseyside Maritime Museum, and the Tate Liverpool) is an easy stroll away, as is Liverpool ONE (the U.K.’s largest open-air shopping complex). A variety of nightlife options are also accessible on foot, from the thumping clubs of Concert Square to the upper-crust Philharmonic Hall. Since public transit is readily available, too, guests won’t need a car here: if you do have one, however, discounted rates are available at a secure parking facility that's only a four-minute walk from the hotel. - Two-minute walk to Liverpool Town Hall
Rooms
Comfortable rooms with sleek furnishings and a dark color palette
Guest rooms at this Aloft are sleek and streamlined, decked out in modular, wood-grain furniture, platform beds, and prints of architectural sketches. But their gray-on-gray textiles and walls will either read as the height of hipness or too somber and dreary, depending on taste. Still, the addition of orange beanbag chairs and bright pixelated bolster pillows add a bit of color and cheer. The tiled bathrooms -- complete with walk-in rainfall showers and tempting Bliss toiletries -- continue the modern, minimalist look. All rooms are conveniently equipped with iron/ironing boards, coffee/tea-makers, mini-fridges (as opposed to stocked minibars), air-conditioning, digital safes, iPod docking stations, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Note that, despite being a designated heritage property, the Aloft Liverpool does have specially modified rooms for mobility-impaired guests as well as connecting ones that will appeal to families (free cribs are also available for the latter on request).
Features
A slick restaurant, multiple bars and meeting rooms
The Aloft brand aims to lure in a young corporate traveler, and its features generally reflect that. Chief among them is the in-house restaurant, NYL, which specializes in chops, cheesecakes and other “New York-inspired” dishes. Cool quilted banquettes upholstered in tan leather make the dining section a stylish place to eat; while a craft cocktail list and live music on the weekends make its bar area ideal for lingering. To the left of the reception desk, a lounge, outfitted with computer workstations, a pool table and a second bar, serves light bites; to the right, a 24-hour grab-and-go station sells assorted snacks. (If hunger hits after hours, room service is also offered). Other on-site facilities include five meeting room which combine vintage wood paneling with high-tech A/V equipment, and a fitness room with treadmills, elliptical machines and more. Other helpful amenities include dry-cleaning/laundry services and reliable free Wi-Fi.
