The Best Hotels to Book Near Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.