Sonesta Philadelphia Downtown

This contemporary hotel places a strong emphasis on style. The sleek lobby features an impressive modern art collection that’s the result of a partnership with Philadelphia’s Center for Emerging Visual Artists. All the art is for sale, with exhibits rotating every six months, and it's beautifully displayed between columns of light that cast a warm glow on the pieces. Designer-quality, ultra-modern furniture provides comfortable places to take it all in. Decor is accented with an energetic combination of red, gray, white, and black, and there's a striking glass chandelier at the entrance next to a curved, backlit front desk. The hotel’s downtown location attracts a diverse mix of travelers, from those on business to vacationing families and locals on getaway weekends. It’s a friendly and generally peaceful place that gets livelier when large events are taking place. 

The Sonesta is in the heart of Philadelphia’s business district that’s chock full of restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s a busy area, with a Starbucks across the street and other hotels nearby. Rittenhouse Square is a six-minute walk, it’s two minutes on foot to the 19th Street trolley station. The Shops at Liberty Place are a four-minute walk. The Temple University Center City Campus is a five-minute walk, and walking to the Pennsylvania Convention Center takes approximately 14 minutes. Independence Hall is 13 minutes by public transit, and Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, and Wells Fargo Center are about 30 minutes away by public transit or a 20-minute drive. Travel time to Philadelphia International Airport is approximately 25 minutes by car and 30 minutes by public transit.  

Like the hotel’s public spaces, guest rooms have decor with gray, red, and white accents, but they're more contemporary, and a tad less stylish. There's gray geometric-patterned carpet, heavy drapes with wide, horizontal stripes, and striking, screen-printed headboards depicting city maps and buildings. The modular light-wood furniture includes desks with leather office chairs, and all units come with 40-inch flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, safes, and free Wi-Fi.

Deluxe (standard) rooms are smallish but comfortable, and come in King and Double Queen options. Larger Suites and Club-level rooms include sleeper sofas, and some suites add wet bars and separate living rooms. Guests staying the in Suites and Club rooms gain access to the Club Lounge, which offers a free weekday continental breakfast and afternoon snacks and soft drinks. Also, amenities are upgraded to include Keurig coffeemakers and robes.  

Average-size bathrooms have sleek gray tiling, excellent lighting from backlit mirrors, magnifying mirrors, and handsome white ceramic vanities with polished steel frames. The shower/tub combos have dispensers with Poggesi Italian toiletries. 

Some units in the 25-floor building feature impressive city skyline views, while others simply face other buildings. Rooms are generally quiet, but like most big-city hotels downtown, those on higher floors tend to hear more ambient street noise. 

This full-service hotel has a a solid lineup of amenities to suit its diverse clientele. For dining, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, just off the lobby, is the hotel's in-house restaurant, open for dinner only. There's also Art Bar, which service breakfast (fee), lunch, and dinner, with a focus on lighter fare, to-go items, coffee drinks, and craft cocktails. Room service is available.

Another highlight is the seasonal outdoor pool located on the eighth floor, set in a rooftop terrace that offers sweeping city views. The pool is a bit small and not heated, but it's eight feet deep at one end. The 24-hour fitness center overlooks the pool, with several pieces of Life Fitness cardio equipment, a weight-training machine, and free weights, but they're wedged into a cramped space. Free passes to the Philadelphia Sports Club across the street is a nice perk. 

For business travelers, the Sonesta’s 16,000 square feet of meeting space includes the Wyeth Ballroom, which can host up to 600 people. There's also a 24-hour business center with multiple computers. Other amenities include valet dry cleaning and laundry, concierge services, and while parking is valet-only and expensive, it includes unlimited in/out privileges. Wi-Fi is free throughout.