21 May 2026
Lobby Lounge
54 Degrees, Cloudy
There’s been a lot said about the state of connection in America. Headlines about a loneliness epidemic. People who can’t quite connect but desperately want to. And somehow, in that same cultural moment, there are memes, TikToks, and Substacks full of yearning. We want connection. We just don’t always know how to reach for it, or we’re too afraid to look foolish trying.
Maybe that’s exactly the vulnerability required.
Part of it is intentional seeking — traveling with awareness, not always with a goal, but with the understanding that not everything will happen upon you. Sometimes you have to be part of the action.
I keep seeing the solutions to loneliness everywhere. Third spaces being one of them. People say they don’t exist anymore, but I disagree. I see them all the time. What’s changed is how we inhabit them — headphones in, laptops open, or sealed inside large groups with no room for anyone new. Maybe we need to approach them differently. A more open demeanor. Genuine eye contact. Curiosity about strangers. The willingness to let a moment of connection be exactly that — fleeting, unrepeated, but still worth something.
I’m working on this myself. I’m usually the one with headphones or locked into work. But when I’ve shown up more openly and taken the first step, it’s paid off in ways I didn’t expect. It’s actually how I met one of my closest friends.
When Guido Pfister built this hotel, he was intentional about creating a place where locals and travelers could meet and linger together. The expansive lobby, the paintings, the architectural details that make you feel important and welcome. None of that was accidental. The tagline on the Pfister’s website says it plainly: A Palace for the People.
That spirit is still here. The lobby bar is lively and warm, with live music that fills the whole room. The mezzanine is undervisited and quietly wonderful — elevated enough to feel removed, but close enough to still hear the bustle below. And the hallway on the seventh floor, nestled between the Imperial and Grand Ballrooms, lined with plants and intimate seating and some of the best art in the collection — that one is a personal favorite.
Other places of note are:
The Cafe at the Pfister — great for a coffee/tea meet-up. There are many regulars too! I’ve seen so many interesting people come and go.
Mason Street Grill — I recommend the bar here. There is also lounge seating. It is very much British pub style with the large leather sofas. It’s lively and has music on weekends!
Blu Lounge — A classy and very popular rooftop spot overlooking the city. They have live music on the weekends. You’ll have to go early as spots fill up fast!
These spaces are waiting. The question is just how we choose to show up in them.
— Megan