Center City is Philadelphia's downtown: City Hall, the office towers on Market Street, Rittenhouse Square, the Convention Center and Washington Square West, all walkable and tied together by the L and the B at 15th St/City Hall. These five hotels, sorted by star rating and then guest score, run from the five-star Notary and Ritz-Carlton to a small boutique on South 8th Street.
What sets these five Center City hotels apart
Center City packs a lot of hotels into a walkable grid, so being close to things is a given. What separates these five is star rating, guest scores and the feel of each block.
- Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City is LEED Certified, the only hotel of these five with a green building certification, and is a block from the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Ludlow Street.
- The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia, Autograph Collection is one of two five-star options here, near City Hall on North Juniper Street with a guest score of 8.5.
- Loews Philadelphia Hotel is in the former PSFS Building on Market Street, a landmark, and scores 9.0 with guests at four stars.
- Morris House Hotel has the highest guest score on the page at 9.3, a three-star boutique on South 8th Street in Washington Square West.
- The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia is the other five-star hotel, on the Avenue of the Arts with a guest score of 8.3 and a 2-minute walk to 15th St/City Hall.
Center City Philadelphia hotels at a glance
| Hotel | Stars | Guest score | Nearest SEPTA station |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia, Autograph Collection | 5 | 8.5 | 13th St (L, T) |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia | 5 | 8.3 | 15th St/City Hall (L, B, T) |
| Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City | 4 | 9.0 | 13th St (L, T) |
| Loews Philadelphia Hotel | 4 | 9.0 | 13th St (L, T) |
| Morris House Hotel | 3 | 9.3 | 8th-Market (L) |
Getting around Center City by SEPTA
- The L (Market-Frankford Line) and the B (Broad Street Line) share the 15th St/City Hall complex, giving you direct access to both east-west and north-south rapid transit from a single station.
- A single SEPTA Metro trip costs $2.90. A One Day Convenience Pass costs $7.50, which beats three single fares.
- Jefferson Station on Regional Rail is a block from the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 1101 Arch Street, useful if you are arriving from the suburbs or Gray 30th St Station.
Neighborhoods within Center City covered by this list
Center City is really a set of smaller areas, each with its own street character.
The Convention Center area is around Arch and Market Streets east of Broad. The Canopy by Hilton on Ludlow Street is here, a block from the Pennsylvania Convention Center and a short walk from Reading Terminal Market at 1136 Arch Street, open daily 8am to 6pm except on major holidays.
Avenue of the Arts is the stretch of Broad Street south of City Hall. The Ritz-Carlton is at Ten Avenue of the Arts, 2 minutes on foot from 15th St/City Hall.
Washington Square West is quieter and mostly residential. Morris House Hotel on South 8th Street is here, a good fit if you'd rather stay somewhere small than in a convention-size hotel.
The Market Street corridor runs through the middle of it all. The Loews Philadelphia Hotel and The Notary Hotel are both a 2-minute walk from 13th St station on the L (Market-Frankford Line).
The hotels
The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia, Autograph Collection
21 N Juniper St
8.5973 reviews
2 min walk to 13th St (L and T lines)Five stars and an 8.5 guest score, in the former City Hall Annex on North Juniper Street near City Hall.
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The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
Ten Avenue of the Arts
8.3321 reviews
2 min walk to 15th St/City Hall (L, B and T lines)Five stars at Ten Avenue of the Arts on Broad Street, with an 8.3 guest score.
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Canopy By Hilton Philadelphia Center City
1180 Ludlow Street
9.0848 reviews
3 min walk to 13th St (L and T lines)LEED Certified with a 9.0 guest score, a block from the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Ludlow Street.
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Loews Philadelphia Hotel
1200 Market St
9.01,199 reviews
2 min walk to 13th St (L and T lines)In the landmark former PSFS Building on Market Street, four stars with a guest score of 9.0.
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Morris House Hotel
225 South 8th Street
9.3587 reviews
7 min walk to 8th-Market (L, Market-Frankford Line)The top guest score on this page (9.3), a three-star boutique on South 8th Street in Washington Square West.
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Frequently asked questions
Do any of these Center City hotels have a green building certification?＋
Among the five hotels on this page, only the Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City is certified: it holds LEED Certified status. The other four have no LEED certification.
How do I get from Philadelphia International Airport to Center City hotels by transit?＋
SEPTA's Airport Line runs between PHL and Center City stations including Suburban Station and Jefferson Station every 30 minutes on weekdays. The fare is $8.75 when purchased in advance, or $11.00 bought on board. A taxi from the airport to Center City costs a flat $32 for one passenger, plus $1 for each extra passenger.
What SEPTA stations are closest to Center City hotels?＋
Most Center City hotels are within walking distance of the 15th St/City Hall complex, which serves the L (Market-Frankford Line), the B (Broad Street Line), and the T (subway-surface trolleys). Of these five, the Notary, Canopy and Loews are 2 to 3 minutes from 13th St on the L and the T, and Morris House Hotel is 7 minutes from 8th-Market on the L. A single Metro trip costs $2.90.
Is Reading Terminal Market walkable from these hotels?＋
Yes. Reading Terminal Market at 1136 Arch Street is open daily 8am to 6pm and is a short walk from the Convention Center area hotels, including the Canopy by Hilton on Ludlow Street. The Loews and Notary Hotel on Market Street are also within easy walking distance.
What is the hotel tax rate in Philadelphia?＋
Philadelphia's total hotel tax is 15.5%. Factor this into your budget when comparing rates across properties.
Which of these hotels is best for guests attending events at the Pennsylvania Convention Center?＋
The Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City on Ludlow Street is about a block from the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 1101 Arch Street, and 13th St station on the L is a 3-minute walk.
