Philadelphia’s Small Hotel Scene Has Huge Appeal

Small hotels—properties with fewer than 75 guest rooms—have been seeing big demand among today’s travelers. The Philadelphia region answers the call for small with a robust variety of options. Some of these hotels are new and trendy. Others are undeniably historic. All are independent and stylish. And more are on the near horizon, notably, The Queen, an ambitious, art-filled 30-room destination property set to debut this fall on the edge of South Philadelphia.

Here is a look at some of the region’s standout small hotels:

Recently Opened & Coming Soon:

• Fitler Club – Opened in 2019, an expansive private lifestyle club overlooking the Schuylkill River offers members and overnight guests access to the lauded cuisine of chef Marc Vetri, a stellar cocktail scene, intimate live performances, a vast fitness center (yoga and boxing rooms, indoor lap pool, golf simulator), a private movie theater and posh gaming. Surrounding these assets: chic design and original modern art—yet not one ounce of pretense. Twelve queen and king rooms, along with an 860-square-foot master suite and a 1,095-square-foot Fitler suite offer retro polish that comes in the form of windowpane duvet covers, luxe baths with midcentury flourishes, rotary phones and classic alarm clocks. 24 S. 24th Street, (215) 575-9092, fitlerclub.com
• Ghost Light Inn – Charming New Hope’s historic, riverside Playhouse Inn received new life in 2019 as a luxury operation, featuring 12 rugged-chic suites; a three-room, bi-level carriage house featuring an 18th-century stone fireplace, and amazing views of the historic village and the Delaware River. Onsite perks include a refreshed river walk; Stella, a new American small plates restaurant by chef Jose Garces, and the historic Bucks County Playhouse itself. 50 S. Main Street, (267) 740-7131, ghostlightinn.com
• The Queen – Set to open this fall, this highly anticipated property comes from Sonder, a tech-enabled hospitality company known for combining curated living spaces and hotel amenities. Taking its name—and its character—from its South Philadelphia neighborhood (Queen Village), The Queen, comprised of seven distinct, connected buildings, features stunning craftmanship with reclaimed wood, handmade zinc and repurposed steel. There are 30 spacious rooms, an Ipe wood roof deck bar and an acclaimed New York City pizza and burger shop, Emmy Squared. 5th & Bainbridge Streets, sonder.com

Apartment-Style:

• Lokal Fishtown – Six loft apartments each named in local jargon—Baller Jawn, Big Jawn, Front Jawn, Garden Jawn, Your Jawn, My Jawn—occupy the heart of trendy Fishtown. True Hand Society directed 30 local makers to create modern, blond wood furniture and open shelving, earth-tone pottery and original art for the spare, naturally lit spaces, which are outfitted with automated coded check-in, in-room iPads with service-driven apps, Smart TVs equipped with HBO Go and Netflix and, with advanced notice, a real, live person to help score the best table at nearby Aether, Cadence, Hiroki, Suraya and more amazing neighborhood restaurants. 1421 N. Front Street, (267) 702-4345, staylokal.com
• Lokal Old City – Tara Mangini and Percy Bright of Jersey Ice Cream Co created six airy, serene apartments—referred to as “flats”—for Philly’s first invisible service hotel. Although the space and feel of the lodgings—hand-plastered walls, tall industrial windows, non-lacquered brass fixtures, sea blue kitchen cabinetry, midcentury vintage furnishings—are the aesthetic draw, the service itself makes both the Lokal and Old City feel like home. Nearby: great little art galleries, independent shops, amazing dining—and essential U.S. history. 139 N. 3rd Street, (267) 702-4345, staylokal.com
• Wm. Mulherin’s Sons Hotel – The four well-appointed living spaces above Fishtown’s acclaimed Wm. Mulherin’s Sons restaurant, carved out of a 19th-century whiskey bottling factory, are perfectly individual. They feature moody custom wallpaper, wood slab headboards, glazed tiling, polished concrete floors, restored, walnut frameless kitchen cabinets (full kitchen, Mauviel cookware), poured concrete countertops, plus topnotch amenities in rainfall showers, washer/dryers, blackout shades and Aesop soaps. And those are just standard. Room Four has a clawfoot soaking tub inside an old safe. 1355 N. Front Street, (215) 291-1355, wmmulherinssons.com
• ROOST East Market – The largest of extended-stay apartment hotels from Philly-based Method Co. feels the most apartment-like, thanks to its setting in the newly built Girard apartments designed by Morris Adjmi. Each of the 60 sleek apartments (one-bedroom, one-bedroom with den and two-bedroom apartment) has walnut furnishings, a full kitchen, Turkmen rugs—and access to an amenity floor with a 24-hour fitness center, sunken living room fireplace, billiard room, demo kitchen, private screening room and a lending library. Other perks: two outdoor roof-level terraces, one with a children’s play area, dog run and grills; the other, with a 20-meter lap pool. 1199 Ludlow Street, (267) 703-4040, myroost.com
• ROOST Midtown – Built in the roaring 20s, the elegant Charles S.W. Packard Building hosts the city’s first ROOST, a stylish and successful experiment in extended-stay accommodations designed by architect Morris Adjmi. Herringbone hardwood floors, midcentury-inspired furnishings and artwork, living plants, an Apple TV, a surround system and more home-y comforts are common to each studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment—27 of them in all, just one block from City Hall. 111 S. 15th Street, (267) 737-9000, myroost.com
• ROOST Rittenhouse – A stone’s throw from Center City’s most prominent park, Rittenhouse’s ROOST occupies a turn-of-the-20th-century building on a block of in-demand shops and restaurants. All of the above features—softly modern design, full kitchens, 24/7 service, international vintage and antique touches—grace each of the 27 rooms (studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom with den, two-bedroom and multi-bedroom penthouse apartment). 1831 Chestnut Street, (267) 469-0349, myroost.com

Historic Properties:

• Chestnut Hill Hotel – This elegant 1894 property befits the city’s leafy northwestern enclave whose name it bears. Along boutique-lined Germantown Avenue, the 36-room hotel is more than an overnight; it’s also a quiet hub of neighborhood activity, thanks to the nearby Market at the Fareway (a farmers market-meets-food hall), and its two restaurants, Chestnut Grill, a lunch-through-late night American bistro, and Paris Bistro, known for French cuisine and live jazz. Rooms onsite are contemporary queen, double queen, king and supreme king, contemporary in feel and function, with Victorian touches. Offerings in the charming adjacent Carriage House include real fireplaces, while the on-property Post Office has a mod, 50s vibe, and kitchenettes in some rooms. (The Post Office and Carriage House are accessible via stairs only.) 8229 Germantown Avenue, (215) 242-5905, chestnuthillhotel.com
• Logan Inn – One of the country’s oldest continuously operating inns dates from 1727 has been a staple in New Hope, Bucks County, for generations. Sixteen queen and king rooms—with more to come—are outfitted with modern flourishes and furnishings. Onsite dining features local, seasonal fare, and an original, circa 1722 tavern opens to a patio with a firepit that’s ideal for marshmallow roasting. 10 W. Ferry Street, New Hope, (215) 862-2300, loganinn.com
• The Morris House Hotel – The Morris family purchased this Georgian-style manse from the Reynolds family, who originally built it in 1787, when their property line marked the edge of developed Philadelphia. Today, the National Historic Landmark hotel honors its heritage with 18th-century-inspired décor, including antique heart pine floors, and timeless hospitality, including a standout continental breakfast and afternoon tea (and cookies). Luxury rooms, suites and a loft suite—17 units total—adjoin a tree-shaded courtyard leading to French-influenced American restaurant and cocktail bar, M Restaurant. The Morris House is less than one block from Independence National Historical Park and welcomes in visitors and curious history lovers. 225 S. 8th Street, (215) 922-2446, morrishousehotel.com
• The Racquet Club of Philadelphia – An elite private club that dates to 1882 allows overnight guests to grace its hallowed, red-brick, Georgian Revival clubhouse. The club’s 13 guest rooms are traditional, featuring queen or king four-poster beds, access to the polished, old worldly 1889 Pub & Grill—and paid access to the property’s esteemed and historic indoor playing facilities: squash singles and doubles; court tennis (invented in the 12th century) and racquets, the world’s fastest racquet sport. 215 S. 16th Street, (215) 735-1525, rcop.com
• The Washington House Hotel – Sharing an address (and owner) with the historic Washington House Restaurant, next door to the popular Sellersville Theater, this dramatic Victorian house has nine handsomely refreshed guest rooms, including several suites—one with its own tower observatory and another with a walkout sun porch. 136 N. Main Street, Sellersville, (215) 257-3000, washingtonhouse.net
• Wayne Hotel – Along the Main Line’s main street, this circa 1906 Tudor Revival is both a landmark and a point of pride. The 40-room property once served as the sole transient hotel between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Today, it’s a member of the National Register of Historic Places and offers modern conveniences and handsome furnishings, especially in its two luxury suites. In fall 2019, the property will welcome Rosalie, a refined Italian restaurant. 139 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, (610) 687-5000, waynehotel.com

Traditional Boutique:

• Alexander Inn – At the end of a tree-lined block of Spruce Street, the Gayborhood’s Alexander Inn stands out for its value and its options. The property’s 48 rooms range from simple single twin to deluxe king or double full. Each has a private bath, access to an ample breakfast buffet and snack bar and details such as stained-glass windows and oak moldings. 301 S. 12th Street, (215) 923-3535, alexanderinn.com
• The Dwight D. – Feeling very much like an elegant private residence in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, this eight-room brownstone adjoins Belgian Monk’s Café, famous for a beer list its owner calls a “bible.” Pollock-esque artwork and vintage brasserie posters impart a contemporary air to traditional, luxurious décor. BVLGARI products tend to make guests want to spend more time alone. A Cottage Suite (in a neighboring residence) offers three bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, den and rear garden. 256-258 S. 16th Street, (215) 772-1901, thedwightd.com
• The Independent Hotel – In the heart of Midtown Village—in fact, atop two acclaimed restaurants (Bud & Marilyn’s and Little Nonna’s) by prolific power couple, chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran—the Philly outpost of a small, selective hotel group makes its independent statement with two dozen accommodation choices, plus custom breakfast baskets, daily happy hour and pet-friendliness. 1234 Locust Street, (215) 772-1440, theindependenthotel.com
• Inn on Camac – Location, location, location (and privacy) draws guests to this corner gem in the heart of Washington Square West’s beloved Gayborhood. Atop the refined watering hole UBar, the six-room inn offers recently remodeled rooms with midcentury-inspired furnishings and W Hotel mattresses and bedding. Guests must be at least 21 years old to stay. 1220 Locust Street, (267) 449-0515, innoncamac.com
• Penn’s View Hotel – A family of veteran restaurateurs runs this recently renovated, charming 51-room hotel, near but just out of the way of the hustle and bustle of Old City. Penn’s Views’ rooms are known for their romance; some have a private balcony and a fireplace. Downstairs, restaurant Panorama is known for its pasta and wine, served from the world’s largest cuvinet (wine dispensing) system, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. There are also multiple private event spaces, including an intimate wine cellar. 14 N. Front Street, (215) 922-7600, pennsviewhotel.com

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