As a downtown hotel, located near Rittenhouse Square, the Sofitel gives a touch of French elegance with oversized rooms and a very comfortable nights sleep.
After being on a whirlwind trip to the Middle East and Europe, we decided we wanted to visit family for a bit and get a bit of tech shopping done...time for some upgrades! Since I had never been to Philadelphia and it was pretty close to where Chris's family is, we knew Philly would be a great base. We wanted to stay in the city and decided that the Sofitel Hotel would be a good home for our stay. We love the brand as a whole and knew we would get great service and a fantastic location!
If you’re looking to be close to all the best shopping and plenty of restaurant options, this is a perfect option. Whether you’re in for a few days on business, visiting family or looking for a little cites-escape, they have you covered. It’s tucked away neatly on a busty street, yet once you step inside, the hustle of city-life tones down and an elegant lobby and lounge area greet you. Here’s what you can expect as a guest at the Sofitel…
The Service
As soon as you walk into the hotel, you’ll be instantly greeted with a a lovely “bonjour” by a bevy of doorman. These guys don’t miss a beat, they have a knack for remembering where you’re going and where you’ve been and are ready to give you some insider tips. We asked the concierge and the doorman for some recommendations of what to do and what to see and they were quick to suggest great craft beer places and family friendly (but cool) restaurants for us to take our niece.
You can expect a high level of service that isn't pretentious or uncomfortable. The entire team was quick to help us get connected (we faced some WiFi connection issues) and made sure we had all the coffee we needed.
The Room
As soon as we walked into our room, I was instantly taken back by the size. We were staying in a “Luxury Room” which I knew would be fairly large, but for a city hotel, this was huge. We had a small foyer area that doubled as a large closet and coffee area that further lead out to the small living room. We had a couch and coffee table and small desk area looking out to the city. Although the bedroom was connected to the living room, it was separated by french doors, making it feel like we had a small apartment rather than a hotel room. The design was a bit outdated for my tastes, but what they lacked in design they made up for in space and comfortable furniture - the bed was incredible!
Our bathroom was pretty large with all the usual components and wonderful amenities by Lanvin. I’m always hesitant about using hotel toiletries, but these were great and had a wonderful smell!
Since we had a bit of shopping to do and work to catch up on, we were very appreciative of the extra space, fast wifi and different seating areas. These little details go a long way, especially if you’re a digital nomad like us. If you only plan on being in your room to sleep, then one of the smaller rooms would definitely work as well.
Tip: Make sure to ask for a room with a view on one of the top floors
In the Hotel
In case you want to stay “in” and spend your time in the hotel, there is plenty to accommodate you. The hotel has a French brasserie, Chez Collete which also offers morning breakfast and Sunday brunch. You can also have some French-inspired dishes and craft cocktails in the hotel bar, Liberte, located in the lobby area. As we quickly came to realize the bar area becomes quite the hangout after dinner. The scene is crowded, but very cosy and comfortable.
Around the Area
Every morning, after breakfast in bed (truly the bed is that comfy, you want to get up) we would just head out and walk around the city. From the old architecture of the buildings, to people watching there was so much to see. We never really made specific plans, instead we just wandered to wherever looked interesting. Philadelphia definitely doesn’t lack personality, so my top recommendation of what to do, would be to just get lost and enjoy! You’ll always find a bar, a restaurant, a shop and a taxi in case you get lost.
Stop by The One Liberty Observation Deck For the Best Views of Philadelphia
If you are looking to do something unique and really get a sense of Philly, you have to check out the brand new observation deck at One Liberty. Located only two minutes away from the hotel, you can venture 57 stories up and get a complete 360 degree view of the city. You can see everything from center city to the suburbs with opportunities to view the cityscape in every direction. Around the observation deck are various art installations and interactive media that give you a peek into the Philly history.
“Make sure you arrive a half hour or so before sunset, because I am pretty sure, this is the best place to watch the sun go down.”
For more information about the Sofitel Philadelphia, visit their website: