With summer vacation long gone, the days getting shorter and a chill growing in the air, my boyfriend and I headed into Philadelphia seeking a little autumn getaway. Feeling nostalgic for our spring vacation to Paris, we selected the Hotel Sofitel, on the corner of 17th and Sansom Streets, and hoped to reclaim a bit of our French experience in our one-night holiday.

Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by the French-speaking concierge, much to the appreciation of my boyfriend, an aspiring bilinguist. After a quick change in our large, modern room, we made our way to the Liberté Urban Lounge on the first floor. It is a perfect hotel lounge, in my opinion — glistening in the evening lights and buzzing with people, though always a comfortable table or two available, which we took advantage of both before and after dinner.

After our aperitif at the hotel, our evening continued at one of my favorite Philadelphia restaurants. Just a few blocks away from the French Quarter, we arrived at the “Soul of Belgium in the Heart of Philadelphia” . . . Monk’s Cafe. Filled with people seeking a warm refuge from the first autumn temperatures of the year, the wait for a table was approximately one hour. This could be discouraging to some. Regardless of the crowd, I have always been able to find a comfortable spot where the attentive bartenders are quick to serve my selection from the extensive “Monk’s Beer Bible.” Before long, engrossed in the atmosphere and conversation, our beers were low and our name was called. We were given a table in the window where we shared a pot of the unmatchable “Monk’s Mussels” and frites, and continued our sampling of their fine beer selection.

As a lover of international travel, I count my best days as those experiencing new places and cultures. Yet on this night, I felt blessed that my city offered me such an enchanting evening a short drive from home.

— Danielle Hudena, director of sales and marketing