Take a sneak peek inside downtown Phoenix's newest hotel where you check in at the bar
A historic downtown Phoenix tower that once was Arizona's prohibition headquarters is now a party-centric hotel where you check in at the bar.
After delays that pushed back its opening several months, the Moxy Phoenix Downtown opened in late December. It occupies nine floors of the historic Luhrs Building at the intersection of Central Avenue and Jefferson Street, a short walk from Chase Field and Footprint Center.
It's the second Arizona location for the Marriott hotel brand that started in Europe. Its first, in Tempe, was also the brand's first in the U.S., said Jairah Ramirez, director of sales for the downtown Phoenix hotel.
The downtown Moxy has been in the making since 2019, when PEG Companies and A.G. Hill Partners purchased the Luhrs Building for $14 million to develop the hotel.
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When will the Moxy Phoenix Downtown open?
The Moxy Phoenix Downtown opened in late December 2023.
What is the concept of Moxy hotel?
The unconventional vibe of the Moxy experience starts at check-in — at a bar instead of a desk.
Fitting for the check-in setting, guests will receive a welcome cocktail upon arrival.
Common areas include a "Plug and Meet" gathering space with seating, a large writing wall and televisions for presentation projection.
The Phoenix Moxy is influenced by the vibe of the downtown neighborhood, noticeable in the desert-inspired mural in the bar designed by a local artist and the inclusion of local brands like SanTan Brewing Company, Huss Brewing Co. and Cartel Roasting Co.
Aspects of the historic building remain intact, including an original mail drop and the marble patterns that grace the walls of some parts of the hotel, including the first-floor stairwell.
A fitness center in the basement has includes treadmills, ellipticals and a punching bag. A 178-square-foot boardroom provides meeting space. A library on the second floor can also be reserved for private events, Ramirez said.
What are the rooms like at Moxy Phoenix Downtown?
The downtown Phoenix Moxy has 164 rooms, eight of which have two queen beds. The rest either have one queen or one king bed. Initial plans to put bunk beds in the rooms didn't work out, Ramirez said.
Rooms include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, built-in USB ports and free WiFi. There are rotary phones equipped with a button in the center that will tell a bedtime story.
The ninth-floor rooms have French doors, but they're just for show. There's no accessible balcony.
Each floor has what's called a stash closet, filled daily with bed and bathroom items like toothpaste, toilet paper, face wipes, ironing boards and pillows.
What is Moxy known for?
Described as a hotel for "weekend warriors" and "fun hunters," the Moxy is designed to attract visitors and locals for short-term stays, Ramirez said.
The hotel maintains a casual vibe, right down to the team of about 30 employees referred to as "crew" and general manager Eren Bicakci preferring the title "Captain." He wore a white T-shirt, jeans and black boots while watching the crew working in the bar.
The prominence of the lobby bar, plus communal tables and games like foosball and Pac-Man, encourages guests to socialize.
"You're supposed to have fun, be social and not go straight up to your room and be alone," Ramirez said.
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Reach Michael Salerno at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Moxy Phoenix Downtown: Sneak peek inside new Marriott hotel
