The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Philadelphia, USA
The key to much of the history of the US, with some of its most beautiful architecture, Philly makes for a fascinating, arty and foodie city break. Lavish hotels occupy glamorous listed buildings and glossy, glassy skyscrapers, with a compact city center meaning you’re usually a short walk to world-beating museums, galleries and restaurants. A demanding business and culture crowd means standards are high, so expect nothing less than the best with these hotels, all bookable with Culture Trip.
The Notary Hotel, for a Philly landmark
Chain Hotel
A former City Hall Annex, the iconic 1926 building that houses this luxury hotel in Philadelphia is on the city’s Register of Historic Places. Government business has been replaced by civil service of a different kind, with the Notary Hotel offering posh accommodation in the center of town. Mixing the historic with the contemporary, you’ll find original marble floors and brass moldings mingling with slick latter-day décor for a sense of classic grandeur with a modern touch.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, for urban chic
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, for quirky cool
Chain Hotel
Proudly Philly, embracing both the city’s rich history and its quirks, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia has 268 comfortable guest rooms, a stunning ballroom and a celebrated neighborhood restaurant. What really sums up the sense of fun here, though, is the rooftop lounge Stratus with its lush green walls and leather couches you could sink into for days. Whether you are starting the evening with chef-crafted small plates or finishing a night out with curated cocktails, it’s a seriously cool place to hang out.
The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, for elegant grandeur
Chain Hotel
High ceilings, grand Ionic columns and lashings of marble characterize this beyond-elegant hotel, set in an old neoclassical bank. Rooms echo the classic cream-and-gold hues you’ll see downstairs, with this city’s historic architecture seen from every window. For dinnertime, Aqimero makes the most of the building’s palatial features. Drop in for mouthwatering margaritas and shrimp tacos in its glitzy setting.
Four Seasons Philadelphia at Comcast Center, for killer views
Hotel
Philadelphia’s tallest building, the Norman Foster-designed Comcast Center, huddles together like a deck of cards mid-shuffle. At its very top, bagging the killer views is the Four Seasons, flooded with light and looking down on the tops of other skyscrapers. On the 57th floor is a curvaceously-designed spa, with its smooth-edged design echoed in rooms with standalone, egg-shaped baths and mid-century modern furniture in mushroom and taupe.
The Rittenhouse Hotel, for sheer glamor
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Fitler Club, for wellness in style
Boutique Hotel
This member’s club-with-rooms has a smart, masculine hipster look, with framed black-and-white photography on the walls and bold geometric sheets on the beds. Alongside a relaxed location by the city’s Schuylkill River, its facilities are first-class: a fully kitted-out health club with a 75ft (23m) pool, a speakeasy-vibes bar and restaurant, and an alluring patio bar lit by smoldering fire pits. With just 14 rooms, the overnight crowd feels intimate and exclusive.
The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton, for luxurious suites
Chain Hotel
This approachable, modern stay has smart doubles and suites with crisp, white beds, color-pop cushions and Rorschach-style inky art. At the top end, some of the more luxurious suites have pool tables, grand pianos, or playrooms with bunk beds for kids. Location-wise, you’re a short walk from sightseeing spots such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art (with the Rocky Steps), the Rodin Museum and the 19th-century Reading Terminal Market.
Sofitel Philadelphia, for chic simplicity
Chain Hotel
The Bellevue Hotel, for wedding-cake ostentation
Hotel
An elaborate Renaissance Revival building dating back to 1904, this wedding-magnet hotel has a Grand Ballroom, a Tiffany jewelry boutique and a 19th-floor restaurant presided over by a chandelier like a giant pearl necklace. Rooms aren’t super-high-concept but they are spacious and comfy, with plump upholstered headboards and snuggly throws. Book XIX restaurant’s decadent brunch for crab cake eggs benedict and champagne cocktails on tap.
Want to discover where else to stay in the city? See our guide to the best hotels in Philadelphia, and book now on Culture Trip.
Pierre de Villiers contributed additional reporting to this article.