At Yowie Hotel, an Overnight Stay Is Also a Crash Course in the Best Design You’ve Never Heard Of

Yowie has always been the place to discover something new. That’s because the Philadelphia design boutique’s founder, Shannon Maldonado, started it as a way to promote a roster of talented makers and artists you probably aren’t familiar with. Often, the reason their chairs, throws, or pillows haven’t pinged your radar is because the store is the first one to share them.

Now, after a years-long lead up, the shop is sharing and caring on a few new levels. In April, Maldonado closed the original Queen Village brick-and-mortar to open a hospitality space, the 13-suite Yowie Hotel with an accompanying design shop and cafe, located in Philly’s South Street neighborhood. She hopes the hotel will allow people to connect in a greater way to her world of design, and her hometown.

"We want it to feel like even though you’re at the hotel, we’re really setting you up to have a great experience in the city. Then when you’re in your room, we’re making it as comfortable and cozy and inspiring as possible," says Maldonado.

For the rooms, she collaborated with designers on much of the decor and furnishings, a lot of which can be purchased in the downstairs shop. Her must-haves included custom bowls and coffee mugs from Cloud 9 Clay, Personal Best Ceramics, Domenic Frunzi, and Francesia Darola. "They all just really make the kitchenette in each space pop, and I just love the idea of someone using them during their stay and coming down to see us in the shop and taking them home with them," Maldonado says.