The Bottom Line
A gathering place for sophisticates, the elegant Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia is a full-service city hotel located on the Avenue of the Arts, across from City Hall. In keeping with the Ritz-Carlton's ethos of "we are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen," staff is gracious and accommodating. The ambiance is genteel and romantic and guest rooms are spacious and comfortable.
Pros
- Fantastic location, classical building in the center of downtown Philadelphia.
- Gracious staff dedicated to achieving guest satisfaction.
- The Grill is a superlative -- and very romantic -- hotel restaurant.
Cons
- Bathtub is too small for two (although showers can accommodate a crowd).
- Dining and valet parking can get expensive.
- Aromas from the Tobacco Lounge waft into public areas.
Description
- Opened 2000, the hotel stands inside a 1908 neoclassical building that's an historical landmark.
- A soaring, 140-tall skylit dome overlooks the Rotunda, the majestic ground-floor lobby.
- Guest rooms are decorated in pale gold and warmly hued wood.
- Historic, hand-tinted prints of Philadelphia and large picture windows adorn guestroom walls.
- Rooms feature a minibar and small fridge but no CD or DVD player.
- A bath butler can make steeping in the tub a sensual experience -- for one person at a time, alas.
- Marble bathrooms lack a magnifying mirror, but housekeeping can provide one.
- Rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia feature T-1 lines for high-speed Internet access.
- In winter, relax in the Rotunda and have the Hot Chocolate Sommelier prepare a custom beverage.
- Cross the street to shop at Tower Records or the three-story Borders book shop.
Guide Review - The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
Under the majestic skylit Rotunda surrounded by soaring columns, The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia is a glorious public space. Elegantly upholstered chairs and sofas make it an ideal place to pause for afternoon tea or, in winter's cold, a hot chocolate (the Hot Chocoloate Sommelier will customize one to your liking). In your room, you'll sleep well on a feather bed with down pillows. If you are fortunate to have access to the Club Floor, you'll enjoy views of the city from the 30th floor, daily newspapers, and complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening desserts and nightcaps. On the ground floor, The Grill restaurant provides a menu of updated classics from the open kitchen of chef Terence Feury. It was recently named one of the top fifty hotel dining rooms in America by Food & Wine magazine. Soft lighting and leather banquettes make it romantic and welcoming. The warm lobster salad with crisp artichokes, Yukon gold potato salad and citrus is a tantalizing start to a dinner. Fish-lovers will agree the seared Arctic char with wild mushroom ragout and truffle-chive butter is deeply flavorful from the first bite to the last. Based on its excellent location, elegant ambiance, opulent architecture, first-rate dining, and service, The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia is an idea spot for a romantic weekend getaway.
