The Best Hotels to Book Near Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

Fairmount Water Works is just one of the attractions near Fairmount Park | ©Mira / Alamy Stock Photo

15 October 2021

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How to book the best base for a stay in the City of Brotherly Love? Start right here, with a reservation through Culture Trip.

Philadelphia is a city known for its vibrant arts scene, colonial history and sports teams. On top of that, it’s home to Fairmount Park, a massive expanse of green space containing one of America’s earliest and most beautiful waterworks, several mansions, gardens and trails. Accessible to the public since 1855, it’s a top spot for a scenic outing. Here are some of the best places to stay around Fairmount Park.

NICHE

Courtesy of NICHE / Expedia

True to the name, NICHE is a tiny slip of a building on the western periphery of University City. Like many of the Penn students who throng the sidewalks on their way to class, it has a serious, thick-rimmed-glasses vibe – rooms and studios are smart, monochrome and businesslike – and you can choose flexible and long-stay. It’s a quiet contrast to the nearby host of small restaurants dishing up a kaleidoscope of colors and cuisines ranging from Indian to Thai, and dim sum to upscale Mexican street food.

Warwick Hotel

Courtesy of the Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square / Expedia

You couldn’t be better placed for your Philly weekend than this close to Rittenhouse Square: the Warwick, with its alabaster-white Renaissance façade, has been a fixture on 17th Street since its construction in 1925. A favored base of sporting celebrities, politicians and movie stars, it has 301 rooms and suites filled with sofas, beds, tables and chairs in earth and stone tones. For many the serene spa is the star – although you might want that revitalizing hot stone massage in your own room. Don’t miss steaks and oysters at Rittenhouse Grill, one of three restaurants inside the hotel.

The Logan, Curio Collection by Hilton

Courtesy of The Logan, Curio Collection by Hilton / Expedia

Right off Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Logan combines Philadelphia quirkiness with upscale Hilton design. Boutique chandeliers, antique photographs and bronze-cast statuettes hint at the collections of the renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art and Barnes gallery. Rooms are plush, with big pieces of wall art, while the view of Logan Square from the rooftop bar is a highlight. So too is the proximity to cultural and family-friendly institutions around the Park: the beloved Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, and Parkway Central Library.

Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City

Chain Hotel

Courtesy of Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City / Expedia

There’s a slightly Parisian feel to the elegant rooms and suites at this favorite spot near Reading Terminal Market – see the polished mirrors, giant overhanging headboards, snazzy wallpaper and statement chandeliers. Set in a landmark 19th-century building that was renovated in 2020, it has plenty to keep you occupied. Visit the fitness center for a workout, or the Wayward restaurant for oysters and gin-laced cocktails. Grab a bike – free for guests to borrow – and discover Beiler’s Doughnuts at Reading Terminal Market or the wonders of Independence Hall.

Fitler Club

Courtesy of Fitler Club / Expedia

This speakeasy-esque hotel is in the heart of Center City. Highlights include an incomparable view of 30th Street Station over the Schuylkill River from the chic circular dining room. Then there are the 14 pale, Scandi-style suites – pure Philly class. While it’s also home to a private members’ club, the exclusivity is tempered: hotel guests and club members mingle in the private bowling alley, pool, gym and courtyard – or over whiskies in the two private bars.

Maj Hotel

Hotel

Courtesy of Maj Hotel / Expedia

Bare red brick and low-dangling lamps lend a sense of smart loft living to the rooms at this hotel, steps away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation. It’s made with tech-savvy modern travelers in mind: self-checkin, a 24-hour gym and smart hotel apps all feature. The location’s great, so step out and explore Center City and Fairmount Park.

Wm. Mulherin’s Sons

Boutique Hotel, Independent Hotel

Courtesy of Wm. Mulherin’s Sons / Expedia

Less a hotel than a wood-paneled retreat, Wm. Mulherin’s Sons is an Italian restaurant with options upstairs for a boutique overnight stay. Four rooms each have their own hipster-vintage charm, perfectly capturing the character of the Fishtown neighborhood. The residence is scaled for a quiet getaway beyond downtown, but you miss eating the restaurant’s wood-fired pizzas and flat iron steak at your peril. Close to low-key local music venues as well as the Fillmore, it’s a prime location for alt-music enthusiasts who like bar-hopping.

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