HotelChatter

The new bar is part handcrafted cocktail den, part lounge, with three seating options: perch at the bar itself, take a seat in the dining area, or settle in on a couch or cozy chair by this working fireplace. (Which, funnily enough, reminds us of the fireplace in the lobby of Philly's Hotel Palomar--which is directly across the street from the Sofitel.)

But enough about furniture, let's talk booze. Liberté serves more than 20 wines by the glass, and there is a well-priced classic cocktail list (Classiques, if you please) that includes a Margarita, Sazerac, Negroni and Manhattan ($12–14).

The house cocktail, the Liberté, sounds right up our alley, made with Absolut Pear Vodka, St. Germain, Champagne, and lemon.

Meanwhile, in other Philly drinking news (double hooray!), the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown--a short stroll away from the Sofitel, on Market Street--also has a new bar. It's called Circ, and what do you know? It's circular.

From what we can tell, it looks like a decent spot for a drink and a dose of classic bar food like Caesar salad and cheeseburger or pulled-pork sliders. Even better: there's a late-night menu, available from 10 p.m. until midnight, and it includes a turkey club, chicken noodle soup, and a Philly Cheese Steak.

OK, so it's not Pats' or Geno's, but if you're staying at the Marriott, it has the advantage of being a short elevator ride away from your room.

We'll take two.

[Photo: Sofitel Philadelphia on Facebook ]