title: Hotel Stories: Legendary Hideaways of the World
author: Francisca Matteoli
description: Francisca Matteoli was born in Santiago, Chile. Now living in France, she writes about countries as diverse as Rwanda, Turkey, France, and Japan for National Geographic France, Conde Nast Traveler, Air France Monsieur, and the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
zlib_text: To the regulars at NECon,
  
  where we first cooked up this story
  
  PARI
  
  ![](images/00015.jpg)
  
  ![](images/00017.jpg)
  
  Auyust
  
  Jake heard from Fredo Papillardi the usual way: a typically verbose note to
  Jake's Atlantic City post office box: "Call Fredo."
  
  So Jake called. But instead of Jake telling Fredo the where and when of the
  meet, as was customary, Fredo insisted on next Tuesday at 4:00 P.M. in a place
  with a TV. Jake didn't like that. One of the rules—Sarge's rules—was always
  set the conditions of a meet. But Fredo was insistent this time, said it had
  to be this way— "Totally necessary"—so Jake gave in. Fredo pushed for a hotel
  room but Jake wasn't giving in that much. He told Fredo the address of a place
  on Fairmount in AC. Leonardo's Bar & Grille.
  
  Jake got two drafts from Ernie at the bar and settled himself at an isolated
  table in a dark corner. Next best thing to being invisible. Leonardo's was a
  particularly dingy dive, which was one of the reasons Jake liked it. Always
  night 