If you want an authentic experience when you visit Philly, you might prefer to stay away from the look-alike chain hotels. Boutique hotels are typically more intimate, offer a local feel, and can make your visit authentically memorable.
Here are a few of the boutique inns in the City of Brotherly Love (spread out from Washington Square to Fishtown to Rittenhouse) that you might want to consider.
1. Morris Hotel
The perfect spot for the history buff, the Morris House near Washington Square Park is a National Historic Landmark built in 1787 that’s been renovated into a luxury boutique hotel. It’s a place where you can relax and enjoy the ambiance no matter the season. Winter brings the cozy ambiance of the Revolutionary-era lounge where you can warm up by the fire, savoring home-baked cookies and a hot cup of tea. Or relax in the summer in the formal courtyard garden. Steps away from Washington Square Park and historic Old City Philadelphia and walking distance to many other neighborhoods, the Morris Hotel is uniquely positioned to tourists and local getaways alike.
Address: 225 South 8th Street
Neighborhood: Washington Square
Website: https://morrishousehotel.com/
Image compliments of Google Maps
2. Lokal Hotel Old City
If you prefer a more eclectic environment, the Lokal Hotel may be up your alley. It’s in the heart of Old City where you can fall back in time. For instance, take a horse and buggy ride or visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Inside the hotel, you’ll find six units (one or two-bedroom) that offer warm, contemporary design mixed with vintage furnishings, such as a clawfoot bathtub. Plus, the hotel has kitchens, living rooms, and laundry facilities so that you can make your stay your home away from home. Experience invisible service which means no onsite staff but a revolutionary technology platform to deliver service. Each room features a TV, high-speed internet access, and an iPad. With a hotel in Fishtown and one coming soon to Cape May, Lokal is a rapidly growing boutique hotel brand.
Address: 139 N 3rd Street
Neighborhood: Old City
Website: https://staylokal.com/lokal-location/lokal-location/
Image complements of Google Maps
3. WM Mulherin’s Sons
This boutique hotel in Fishtown is garnering lots of national press. With only 4 rooms and an on-site restaurant, it was recently rated the #1 hotel in the country by USA Today. Once a former whiskey blending and bottling facility from 1890, just four airy rooms, each with king-sized beds, kitchen and laundry facilities plus living space. Here, the vintage charms of the restored whiskey distillery, brick, and beams, mix to perfection with contemporary furnishings. Since the venue is small, visitors have to do without some of the typical hotel conveniences, such as check-in and room service. But if you’re looking for something a little different in a neighborhood that’s buzzing with activityย stores, coffee shops, bars and more it might be worth a visit.
Address: 1355 N. Front Street
Neighborhood: Fishtown
Website: http://wmmulherinssons.com/hotel/
4. The Dwight D Hotel
Visitors describe The Dwight D Hotel, a cozy brownstone in Rittenhouse Square, as elegant, beautiful, luxurious and historical. They also note the friendly, go-above-and-beyond service. Here, you can choose the space you needย everything from queen- or king-sized rooms to a studio apartment or three-bedroom cottage suite that sleeps up to five people. And you’re right in the heart of the city, close to dining, shopping, theatres, museums, historic attractions and more.
Address: 256 S. 16th Street
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse
Website: https://www.thedwightd.com/
5. Alexander Inn
The Alexander Inn, a charming hotel adorned with artwork and flowers, is located near the Washington Square West neighborhood. With 48 rooms, it’s a little larger than some of the other boutique options and caters to both pleasure and business travelers. You can enjoy the continental breakfast, all-day snack bar, keep trim in the fitness center, and stay up-to-date on work with the help of the business center.
Address: 301 S 12th Street
Neighborhood: Center City / Washington Square West
Website to learn more: http://www.alexanderinn.com/
Image compliments of Google Maps
6. The Deacon
The Deacon is a 1906 Gothic-Revival-style church in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood that’s been reimagined as an eight-bedroom hotel and event space. Brand new (2019), it retains touches of its history, such as the stained-glass windows and vaulted ceilings, but has modern furnishings, including comfy couches and luxury bedding. The eclectic blend of old and new creates a modern, unique space. In addition to your room, you have access to the centrally located common area, which includes a kitchen and media room.
Address: 1600 Christian Street
Neighborhood: Graduate Hospital
Website: https://www.thedeaconphl.com/
7. Roost Midtown
Looking to stay a little longer in the city? At the former historic 1920’s Charles S.W. Packard Building, Roost Midtown, next to City Hall, you can rent space ranging from a studio- to a penthouse- apartment. They cater to stays greater than 30 days, and minimum lengths are generally 7 to 10 days per the website. With 27 furnished rooms, you’ll experience the luxury of walk-in rainfall showers and Bluetooth sound systems. The vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, custom artwork, plants, and handcrafted furniture all add to the ambiance. Visitors speak highly of the convenient location, which is close to transportation, shopping, and restaurants. Plus they give kudos to the friendly service and luxurious style. The same brand has locations in Rittenhouse and East Market as well.
Address: 111 South 15th Street
Neighborhood: Center City
Website: https://myroost.com/philadelphia/midtown/faqs/
Image compliments of Vik Nanda on Flickr
8. Chestnut Hill Hotel
In the quiet residential neighborhood of Chestnut Hill (NW Philly) is the historic Chestnut Hill hotel. The existing hotel was constructed in 1894 to replace an earlier hotel which was built in the same location in 1772. With on-site dining, ample boutiques and restaurants nearby on the quaint Germantown Avenue, and on-site meeting space, each room in the 36-room hotel is unique. Coffee and tea are offered in the lobby and there is complimentary breakfast. Enjoy the quaint comfort of the hotel and convenience of the nearby amenities.
Address: 8229 Germantown Avenue
Neighborhood: Chestnut Hill
Website: https://chestnuthillhotel.com
Whether you’re looking for history, luxury, a home away from home, a church reinvented or all the modern-day conveniences, you’re sure to find a boutique hotel in Philadelphia that fits your style.
