Even before you step inside the Hotel Modera, the garden courtyard (with it’s "living wall" of vertical plantings), gravel patio, and outdoor fire pits signal this is a sophisticated, yet cozy, place. The Modera was refashioned from a 1950’s motel, and today has a bold, contemporary lobby, all glowing orbs and burnished hardwoods. That stylish design flair carries on into the rooms, which have a bit of a modernized Mad Men-vibe. They're small, but touches like anti-fog mirrors, large massage showerheads, and switch-activated "do not disturb" lights outside the door help make them comfortable. The on-site restaurant Nel Centro is good, if overpriced. We’d recommend, instead, grabbing a cocktail on the patio next to one of the fire pits—ah! One drawback: it's a bit far from the heart of downtown and main dining and nightlife districts like the Pearl.