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Sofitel Philadelphia
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
120 S 17th StPhiladelphia, PA 19103
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(215) 569-8300
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 am - 12 am
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
98 reviews for Sofitel Philadelphia
Review Highlights
"Great service, great neighborhood, AMAZING bed."
(in 52 reviews)
"Enjoyed having the separate bathtub and shower."
(in 4 reviews)
"...shopping and good restaurants all within walking distance."
(in 4 reviews)
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98 reviews in English
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Review from Sera A.
Brooklyn, NY
2/1/2012
This hotel is great.
I brought my small shih tzu here and they did not charge us to have him in the room, unlike the Marriott which makes you pay $75-$150 depending on location!
The staff was very friendly and the concierge was great. The room was spacious and clean. We actually extended for one more night because we loved our stay so much.
If I am ever back in Philly I would stay here again. -
Review from Mary D.
Toluca Lake, CA
2/7/2012
The first room they gave me was super nice, on the 14th floor. I walked in to the room that smelt musty and I immediately became congested and dizzy. I turned on the lights and the A/C (it was 72 degrees in the room) and noticed a black spot next to the leaking A/C unit. I am very allergic to mold, so I asked for a new room.
My next room was on the 4th floor, the room was not as nice but mold free as far as I could tell. I ordered room service - Chicken Caesar salad and Buffalo Chicken Wings. Caesar was good, chicken wings were cold and tasted old. As I finished my meal, I turned to the night table to charge my phone and I found a baby roach on the table!!!!!! I trapped the roach under a glass and called the manager - Jessica was very nice and apologized. I told her I was disappointed with the hotel, and that was the end of it.
I moved my phone to the other night table and found a nail and some pieces of the table next to the alarm clock. For about $600 for two nights, I expect more than this! I took pictures off all of the items I listed above and showed my husband. He asked if I stayed at Motel 6. -
Review from Michael F.
Philadelphia, PA
2/4/2012
I have the pleasure of running our strategic planning sessions at work. This duty extends to selecting location and coordinating the typical 2 to 3 day working session. Therefore, this review will cover both the rooms at the Sofitel and their conference center. My only comment on the hotel itself is that it is nicely located within downtown Philly and offers valet parking should you decide to drive anywhere (however, you can easily walk anywhere you need to go in the city).
The Rooms: Modern, high-end bathrooms and comfortable pillow-top beds. Honestly, I don't ask for much in a room, but the Sofitel delivers (and then some). Wi-Fi is available, for a fee, which always drops my hotel ratings a star. Sorry, its just how I roll.
The Conference Center: They offer various size rooms and the option to have lunch in the bar downstairs or up in the conference room. The IT staff was friendly and easy to get a hold of in times of need, but after all the various fees and minimums for the rental, they still required users to pay for Wi-Fi in the Conference area. I'm not a big fair of being nickel and dimed. While that seems to be common practice in the conference center biz, Sofitel found ways to take things a step further. -
Review from Alexandra C.
New York, NY
1/12/2012
Holy bad decor.. Can someone please hire a decorator to re-do the rooms here?
They haven't left the '80s.
(Marble bathroom is great though)
Room was spacious enough as I got some sort of upgrade. If you're allergic to down though as I am, forget the comfie bed as had to remove the featherpillow topper. That's the only thing that makes the bed comfie.
Service was friendly and good. Elevators are a PITA as the key card you have to insert wasn't working right.
The gym is ugly- bad lights and no windows, but the cardio machines were new with tvs.
Great location. Best thing about Sofitel = the amentities they give you - from L'Occitaine toiletries to the special hand mitten face cloth.
But as for the room - it's Embassy Suites. -
Review from Kara R.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
1/7/2012
My boyfriend and I stayed here in early December when visiting. We are from Philly and now live on the west coast. I knew the location was spot on and we got a great rate online.
We were uncomfortable every night. Down pillows are not for us. Also no top sheet?? The bed had a feather top on it and down comforter in a duvet. The air conditioner was "fake" we put it on but never felt the room cool off. Couldn't even find the hvac vents? The temp remained 78 to 80 degrees no matter what we we did.
We were busy everyday running around with our plans but by the 3rd night of such lousy sleeping we wanted out.
The hotel bar is great, room service is spot on.
Again, the location is terrific but a great's night sleep is worth it's weight in gold. I won't stay here again but would recommend the bar for meeting up with friends/family. -
Review from Sarah S.
Richmond, VA
12/10/2011
I treated myself to a night at Sofitel as an early Christmas present, to myself. Go me!
It had everything I wanted in a luxury hotel: big bed, soft comforter and pillows, fluffy robes, bathtub, and nice toiletries for me to take home! From the minute I pulled up in my car, the service here was extraordinary. It was $34 for valet parking. I was going to try to save a few dollars by parking at a nearby lot, but I was so tired from interviewing/driving through the streets of Philly, I didn't want to have to drag my suitcase for another 5 blocks on top of that. Walking through the hotel lobby was fun because it was full of people and energy, and a giant gingerbread house! The first thing I did when I walked into my room was flop onto the giant bed. It felt like I was laying on a giant cloud of softness. The bathroom had granite countertops with both a shower and a bath. There were two fluffy robes hanging in the closet. Bliss!
The concierge Brian was more than helpful. He suggested that I walked to the restaurant where I had dinner reservations instead of taking a cab, and I'm really glad I did. The Rittenhouse Square area is really charming, and full of shops and restaurants I wish I had time to explore. When I got back from dinner, the lights were dimmed in the room, and the bed was turned down, waiting for me to climb in as smooth jazz drifted from the Bose radio. Unfortunately, the bed had to wait because I wanted to go down to Liberte, the hotel lounge, for a nice cocktail.
Liberte was a really nice space, and if I were local, I'd probably stop by for some nice cocktails with my friends for a quiet night on the town. I ordered the Dark and Stormy, which was tangy from the lime and ginger puree. If it wasn't for my asian intolerance to alcohol, I would have ordered several more cocktails just to taste the difference between a real drink and the cheap crap I've been ordering from the bar up to this point. My drink came with a small tray of nut mix, green olives (yuck), and cheesy crackers on the side. I usually count myself lucky if I can get a maraschino cherry!
Unfortunately, I didn't get to try the room service at the hotel. It was partially because I was full from dinner, but I didn't order anything for breakfast, either. The menu seemed especially overpriced for what you get, and there is a service fee and delivery charge on top of that. Nothing on the menu looked tempting enough to make me want to splurge on overpriced food that would probably be tepid by the time of delivery, especially with so many delicious options within a few blocks of the hotel. I skipped room service in favor of a morning at Reading Terminal. I'm too asian to quietly pay so much money for a few slices of toast and some eggs. I was also disappointed to see that internet came at a fee. Really, Sofitel? It seemed like a strange way to cut corners at a hotel as nice as this. I also regret not bringing my workout gear since it sounds like the gym is really great.
Overall, I had a great experience at Sofitel, and would recommend it to anybody looking for a nice retreat in a fun area of Philly. -
Review from Sarah E.
Philadelphia, PA
12/7/2011
You know what's nice? Escaping reality by staying in a swanky hotel room in just cause. Don't believe me? Try it.
Anywho, the Sofitel lives up to what it wants to be. A beautiful hotel that makes us middle classers sigh and wish that we had a rich relative that would kick the bucket and leave us their estate.
The room was formidable, clean, and spacious. The bathroom was highlight, with it's huge tub and L'Occitane toiletries. The bed was one that makes you fall asleep by just looking at it. There is a mini-bar and room service, however my paycheck does not figure in $10 cashew nuts and a $40 ham sandwich. Wifi worked excellently.
So why 4 stars? Cause I don't have a rich dead relative and I'm bitter. But for a one night escape, it was bliss. -
Review from Daniel N.
Queens, NY
12/4/2011
A disappointment compared to previous Sofitel experience.
I stayed at the Sofitel in DC on Lafayette Square in March and had an exceptional experience. The room was luxuriously appointed and the restaurant provided a delicious and satisfying breakfast with friendly and attentive service.
The same cannot be said about the Sofitel Philadelphia. The room was drab and uninspired although the bed was extremely comfortable. In DC, I was charmed upon returning to the room in the evening to find the bed turned down with classical ambient music playing on the stereo. The housekeeping staff in Philly were not so attentive.
Breakfast in the morning was overpriced and underwhelming, and I'm pretty sure we never actually received the selection of pastries that were supposed to accompany our breakfasts. The "Philly breakfast," called the "American breakfast" on the room service menu, was tasty but small for $21 and the wait staff took their sweet time attending to us.
These are petty concerns, yes, but when you are paying for a stay at a luxury brand-name hotel it's not too much to expect a high level of treatment and consistency from location to location.
One thing Sofitel has going for it here though is location. It's very close to major shopping and dining areas. -
Review from Patty S.
Philadelphia, PA
1/31/2012
You have posted an incorrect phone number, which is for a Hampton Inn in Delaware. The correct phone number is 215-569-8300. Please correct
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Review from Mike M.
Thorofare, NJ
1/2/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Despite a seriously low rate I managed thru Priceline, I still cant help but feel a little disappointed with our stay here. I mean, the location is great and all, but when we got to our room, we were underwhelmed, to say the least. Things looked dated, there were these 2 chairs and an oval table awkwardly jammed between the bed and window, 8th floor views were nothing to call home about. The bed looked nice... until we pulled the big, fluffy duvet back - no sheets. OK... so we pulled back another layer. Sadly, this layer was an improvised mattress pad/pillow topper consisting of yet another duvet, wrapped around an 80's era pink flowery matress. Even after a night of binge drinking, it was difficult to get comfortable on. The bathroom was nothing special, although the shower looked like it was an afterthought. Walls were thin, to say the least. Be kind to your fellow guests - dont let the door slam behind you. Bose wave radio a nice touch though.
Theres a douchey lounge in the lobby. I dont know what it is, but Ill never understand why people dwell in these mediocre, overpriced lobby lounges and act like they are living the dream, while ignoring everything else the city has to offer. Anyway, skip the lounge and room service - thats for suckers (and the aforementioned lobby dwellers). There's a neighborhood gem not even a block away - a classic 24 hr diner that is both good and cheap - not to mention an entire city full of other great places to eat and drink.
Parking was ridiculous - front of the hotel constantly jammed, $34+ to valet / no self park option, grumblings of 20 minute waits, etc. I however, used a simple parking app, and found a nice little garage not even 2 blocks away that was $20 for 24 hrs. They even let us run up to the car a few times to grab/unload stuff.
Having said all that, the Sofitel is by no means the worst hotel Ive ever stayed at. I've just come to expect more from hotels in this category. I might consider staying here again, but I would never pay whatever the regular nightly rate is. For that kind of money, Id probably stay at a Kimpton property. -
Review from Jill T.
Updated - 9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
The General Manager contacted me via Yelp in an effort to "fix" things.
He offered me a weekend at the hotel. Tell me why on Earth I'd be interested in spending another weekend at this hotel when $3,800 was stolen from my room on the night of my wedding?! In addition, I live mere blocks from the Sofitel Philadelphia, I think I'll stay in my own house and keep my money. Thank you!
After I declined his offer, he proceeded to tell me I could speak with his lawyers or my insurance claim representative for all additional matters.
The insurance company notified me that the hotel did an investigation of my case. The Sofitel told the insurance company that only my bridesmaid had used the key to my room that evening- which is in fact a total lie. I know for a FACT that AT LEAST two hotel employees entered my room that evening. FACT. So in addition to an employee stealing from me, the Sofitel is now falsifying records to deny my insurance claim.
Classy, Sofitel.Listed in: Wedding Vendors
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/16/2011
I wrote my review prior to checking our belongings. It's a sad, sad state of affairs when a hotel… Read more »
Comment from Angela B. of Sofitel Philadelphia 8/22/2011
Bonjour Jill, Thank you for taking the time to tell us… More » -
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Review from Sarah D.
Calera, AL
10/16/2011
I was here of business this past weekend. I'm going to go ahead and say that I wish that they would make it clear that if you're going to use your spouse's credit card, then you need to fill out paperwork and fax it to them. (Even if you are an authorized user on it.) But, I called and asked beforehand and we did it. So, check-in was easy.
My room was amazing! I had stars in my eyes when I walked in! OK, OK, I know it's just a room, but I loved it! The bed was big and comfy. The TV was great and it had the E! network. The bathroom had both a bathtub and a big shower. All good!
The staff was very friendly. When I wanted breakfast, the valet helped me find a great place. When it was time for me to go at 5:00 am the day after, they got me a cab easily.
Overall, I was thrilled with my stay. I recommend this place 100%! -
Review from Rich P.
Plainfield, NJ
12/26/2011
Very nice upscale hotel at reasonable price.
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Review from Abegail A.
Washington, DC
10/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The Sofitel Philadelphia is in a great location (Rittenhouse Square)! It's walking distance from the Amtrak and steps away from many stores (lots of high end ones at that!), restaurants, and bars.
The room is very welcoming, nicely decorated, and modern looking. The bed is super comfy, although a little lumpy. Enjoyed having the separate bathtub and shower. Loved using the L'Occitane toiletries. Turndown service (and free bottle of water for that late night drinking) was a nice touch.
The hand a 24 hour fitness center that was equipped with the latest equipment. Loved being able to watch my own TV while running on the treadmill or using the elliptical. Machines and free weights were plentiful for strength training.
Staff was friendly and the housekeeping services were on point.
Hooray...I'm a fan of the Sofitel Philadelphia! -
Review from Stephany B.
Manhattan, NY
1/17/2012
While the Sofitel rooms were very comfortable, we experienced a very sub-par experience with customer service here. On our first night at the hotel a fire-alarm went off around 2:45am and required every guest to leave the building and stand outside for 20mons while the firefighters declared it was a false alarm. There were many families staying with infants/young children and it was less than 20 degrees outside where we had to wait. The next morning there was absolutely no mention of the incident and when we asked about it, all that was said was they "apologized for any inconvenience." I would have expected a revered international hotel cooperation to take such an inconveniece more seriously and offered its guests something more than a half-hearted apology.
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Review from dean y.
Los Angeles, CA
9/21/2011
Love this hotel's location and service. Well trained staff - very welcoming and attentive. Gym is very nice- latest equipment and everything is well kept. Beds are very comfortable - forgot where I was when I woke up!
In room safe is great idea - and the rooms are modern with clean and modern bathrooms. Love the dual shower and bathtub layout. Definitely the choice to stay while in Philly. -
Review from Celia B.
Portland, OR
12/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I like this hotel. My whole family comes here every year for thanksgiving, and we are regulars who rent out multiple rooms. The location is PERFECT. The rooms are nice, although I wouldn't call them very large. The bed is extremely comfortable. The bathrooms are nice. The price is very good for what you get. The restaurant and bar is good, and the wait staff have always been friendly. There is no pool, but there is a gym. The front desk staff are nice and everyone that helps us with our bags is extremely friendly.
I would have given this hotel 5 stars but had to bring it down to 3 based upon our most recent negative experience (which I think is being generous). I have felt several times that people who work here have been rude, possibly because I am younger (25). When we visited the previous year, we were waiting outside of the hotel for a family member to pick my partner and I up to attend our thanksgiving family gathering. As we were waiting, the man who appears to be the security guard (dressed in a suit but has the security guard type attitude) walked up to us and asked us where we were going. We thought that he was trying to engage in friendly conversation, but as he started asking more questions we felt like he was interrogating us and we got extremely uncomfortable. When we told him that we were going to a family gathering he said "Where?". We told him that we didn't know the name of the area since we don't live here. He asked us if it was in town. He then said "Hmmmm... are you two dating?". My partner and I looked at each other, acknowledging that this guy was rubbing us the wrong way. We didn't answer him. He then responded "Are you guys just friends?". He got the hint that we were uncomfortable, and walked away. Something felt odd.
We felt funny after that encounter, but quickly forgot about it. This year when we returned, we ran into the same man in the elevator on our way down to the lobby for some drinks. We were the first to initiate conversation, and asked him how he was doing. He said "Fine, how are you" We said "Fine". My partner then asked him if he could recommend any drinks at the bar. His response was shocking: "First off, you have to be 21. But they do have a really good chocolate milk". We were offended as soon as we noticed that he was not laughing. He exited the elevator quickly as we came to his floor and he said "Do you want me to call down and have a chocolate milk ready for you when you arrive? I can do that for you. It's really good, I promise". Again, he was not smiling and his tone of voice was extremely inappropriate. We are in our mid-twenties and were NOT amused. It was not only offensive but extremely unprofessional. We are guests.
We immediately returned to the lobby to complain to the manager. The manager was a french woman who seemed very short. She told us that she did not have an office or anywhere that we could talk in private, and made us talk to her in the middle of the front lobby with people walking by. She quickly ended the conversation, didn't even ask us what he looked like or ask us to describe him, but simply said "I'll look into this". The conversation literally lasted 20 seconds. Considering we come here every year, we were pretty surprised to not have a better answer and felt as though she did not take our request seriously. It is very important to feel comfortable at a hotel that you are staying at, and when we told her that this man (and don't forget, STAFF MEMBER) made us feel uncomfortable and offended, we didn't feel as though any action was taken. We would have dropped the whole thing if she had told us "I am so sorry that this happened, I will take care of this, etc." and actually showed some serious sense of concern, but that did not happen.
To sum it up what they offer is great, the wait staff at the bar and restaurant are great, the location is fantastic, but the customer service from higher up is not ideal or professional and makes me really question our decision to continue our routine of having the whole family stay at this hotel annually. -
Review from Maureen L.
Middletown, CT
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I stayed here for marathon weekend and had a great experience. The rooms are beautiful and very comfortable. And the hotel really catered to the marathoners - the room keys were marathon themed; they had a late checkout for the marathoners, which they agreed to push back even later on a case by case basis; they delivered extra water bottles to the room on Saturday night (!!) and had free coffe, tea and water, with a la carte munchies starting at 5:30 on Sunday morning. I really couldn't have asked for me. I would definitely stay here again and would recommend for anyone participating in the Philadelphia Marathon.
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Review from Melissa P.
Boston, MA
8/22/2011
I'm so glad we used the Sofitel as our home base for our wedding weekend! The majority of our guests stayed here: About 35 rooms worth of Bostonians, Canadians, Californians, and locals just looking for a place to crash within walking distance of the wedding venue. My husband and I stayed here too, in a Junior Suite that was large enough to host my bridesmaids, a hair stylist, a makeup artist, and a photographer for all the prep work the day of the wedding.
The staff was over the top polite and classy. We felt like we were in good hands the whole weekend and we knew our guests were too. Even though the front desk area seems to be bustling constantly, and there's a heavy flow of traffic in and out of the lobby at all times, I never felt like we were ignored or even had to wait to speak to someone. All of our special requests were met without hesitation. My only complaint was that it did take longer than usual for our room to be made up each day, but every time I notified someone, we saw immediate results.
Thank you, Sofitel, for giving me one less thing to worry about during a stressful time of planning and organizing. And an extra thank you for the 2am room service after our reception. Nothing says "marital bliss" like eating a cheeseburger and fries in bed on your wedding night. -
Review from Maria M.
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hubs took me here for a nice weekend getaway. I really liked it here. The staff is very nice and helpful. Our room was very clean and luxurious - the bathroom is huge for one thing, and the bed is so soft.
The comforter is down comforter and so soft. I definitely felt like I was sleeping on air or something. Best bed/bed set ever. Pillows were fluffy and soft.
The hotel is smack-dab in the middle of the city where all you need is from a block to a couple of blocks away. Definitely worth spending a little more to stay here =). loved! -
Review from Markus N.
4/7/2011 1 photo
From the first "Bonsoir" I knew. I was going to like this place.
And, this time, I was right. Every last aspect of my visit, from the greeting to the toothbrush for forgetful men to the impeccable room to the location - all perfect.
My bed, as is shown in the attached photo, was a den of pillowy loveliness. Feather top on the mattress, billowy comforter over me, pillows galore, all feathery and perfect. Soft jazz from the turn down would greet me on my three evening returns from the flesh-pressing at the conference. So tiring, the flesh pressing.
The lobby bar was filled with happy pretty people and were not Jesus in the corner waggling his finger at me saying, bonsoir my son there are four more weeks in Lent, I'd have bellied up and made me some new friends. Not that you have to be drinking to make new friends. But if you are they're so much more fun.
The hotel is set in a narrow streeted part of Philly, a sign on the lamppost says French Quarter. People are out at night strolling, the fellows that ask for the change do so politely.
When I return, and I will, there's no place else I'll stay.
Cinq Étoile Brillante. -
Review from Shalin D.
5/30/2011
I recently attended a wedding reception at the Sofitel and this hotel KNOWS how to execute an event. Hands down one of the best event spaces and staff I have encountered in several years of serial wedding attendance.
First of all, the food was fantastic. From the wide spread of hors d'oeuvres (all piping hot and tasty) to the expertly turned out shrimp and scallop kebabs in a tasty sweet and sour sauce, the nibbles here impressed. Not your standard catered affair, the food here tastes as though it was specially prepared moments before for each guest rather than cooked en masse for a large event. The next morning, during the wedding brunch, the food was equally fantastic (including a chocolate croissant I should have grabbed moreo of for the flight back home).
Second, the event staff is professional and aims its entire focus to ensuring the event is stress-free for the host and hostess. The staff listens, is helpful, and don't require a lot of coaching or babysitting to ensure things get done. They are consummate planners and executors.
Lastly, the space is elegant yet unintimidating. Some hotel spaces tend to be so grand that they inhibit guests from letting loose and having a good time. The Sofitel event space walks the fine line between being buttoned-up enough to lend solemnity to the event but also casual enough to ensure that people aren't afraid to get out onto the parquet and dance, dance, dance.
A great space. One that I would consider for my own nuptials. -
Review from Ciao H.
Astoria, NY
10/23/2011
The bed alone is worth the 5 stars, lol. SOOOOO comfy! The service was good, the location is great, good god man, why aren't you staying here?!
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Review from Megan Y.
Philadelphia, PA
4/3/2011
We got a block of rooms for our wedding guests at the Sofitel this past weekend, and reserved a regular room for ourselves for our wedding night so that we wouldn't have to return home to our condo, which had been overtaken with wedding mess. As people started checking in, we heard stories of the best beds ever and cocktails at the hotel bar featuring raspberry puree. Everyone raved about the hotel - comfortable beds, friendly staff, amazing drinks.
We experienced it for ourselves on Saturday night, and I'm so glad we did. The room was larger than I expected, and we had a shower and separate bathtub - I made use of both taking down my wedding hair. The beds were as comfortable as our guests told us they were. And, we got to spend one of the most memorable hours of our wedding day enjoying the company of friends and fantastic drinks in the lounge.
We will definitely be back for drinks, and the occasional special occasion. I'm so glad we chose the Sofitel. -
Review from Pinky and the B.
New York, NY
4/12/2011
I have stayed at 3 Sofitels. I have found that each Sofitel I have stayed at had the best security. It is just my experience and not something I can prove. I love the neighborhood of Rittenhouse Square. For me it is my favorite neighborhood to stay in in Philly. One of my closest child hood friends live there so we go when we can afford it.
Everything about the hotel is top notch. Then why not 5 stars? I would not award any city hotel 5 stars unless there was something unusual or outstanding about them. Such as an outstanding spa or pool. But as far as everything it does offer it is great! -
Review from Julie V.
Arlington, VA
6/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Definitely a great place to stay. Rooms were clean and the front desk extremely friendly. The hotel is close to city hall, the cathedral, several shops, and restaurants. The museums were also very close and within walking distance.
It was my grandparents first time to Philadelphia and they loved every minute of their stay in the hotel. We purchased the package with breakfast and parking included and it was well worth it. The bathrooms are amazing and even the views from the sixth floor great. The rooms were not exactly what I thought they were going to be from the pictures, but we may have been placed in a room that was not yet updated.
YES, the bed was terrific! -
Review from Chris V.
Arlington, VA
5/31/2011
Service here was excellent, made it well worth it. Rooms were fairly spacious but looked a little old/worn (side note: bathrooms looked updated so were pretty nice). We got parking and breakfast included in our rate so it made the price point worth it. Centrally located we were able to walk to a lot of areas and go for our morning run to slightly further areas just as easily.
A++, would recommend and do service with again in future.
(The only reason I dock it one star is that for Sofitel I expected a more updated room). -
Review from Scott P.
Middlesex, CT
3/15/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Just stayed here for 2 nights for a conference. Tried the Westin which was sold out and ended up here at the Sofitel. Got a great deal on the rooms.
The place is really great. A few highlights:
- Great location
- Really nice bar area - some weird European music but could expect that part. It's a French chain afterall.
- Rooms and beds are clean and super comfortable
- Bathroom was sizable and clean
- Free water in the room (I hate when hotels charge for bottled water)
- Internet was relatively inexpensive, and you can get 15 minutes for 3 bucks if you just need to check e-mail
- If you like France, the staff all says "bonjour" to you (no freedom fries here!). Made me feel special. Oui, it did.
Small nits on the green side - they should have recycling for guests, and they do wash your towels if you hang them up regardless of what that sign says (why do hotels even have that sign since they don't do it.
Best of all, every time I picked up the phone and went to the front desk, I was addressed immediately by plentiful staff. Even at the best hotels, you rarely get that type of service these days. Viva la Sofitel! -
Review from Norbert W.
Chicago, IL
11/29/2011
4.5 stars.
excellent. good value. fantastic location -
Review from Dave H.
9/5/2010 1 photo
Sofitel's suites are well-lit and decently appointed. The living room is a modest size, with couch seating and a 37-inch[1] flatscreen, with room for friends to carry on, or a couple to relax. And relax you will; the bedroom's bed is dreamy soft.
The bathroom has marble surfaces, with a glass-enclosed shower (no curtains for the modest), and is accessible from both the living room and bedroom. My only gripe is that the doors leading into the bath aren't equipped with locks, which could be problematic depending on the situation, though that provides ample opportunities for naughty mischief.[2]
This hotel is near many shopping and dining destinations, so if you can pony up the dinero for a room, you'll be enjoying the suite life. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
[1] According to their web site. It's not like I carry a tape measure on me.
[2] Not that I'd know.Listed in: Philly Lodgings
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Review from S. L.
San Mateo, CA
12/14/2010
The most comfortable bed that I have ever slept in in my entire life and there were plenty of pillows, which I love and need.
Room service: Ordered the French Toast with Canadian Bacon, the bowl of fruit and a cappuccino. The French Toast, even not being hot, was to die for and absolutely perfect, the Canadian bacon (Good Bless its Soul) was not dried out at all and had grill marks, which equal flavor and had like a smoky taste to them...OMG!!! The fruit bowl was serious. It consisted of Blackberries, Strawberries, Blueberries and Raspberries. Are you freaking kidding me!!? Never does a fruit bowl have that type of variety or even half as much. I saved some for the next morning. And my cappuccino, even after being covered with plastic as they do, was the BOMB!! Almost better than ordering one at Peet's.
Great location, you are in the center of EVERYTHING. Great staff, neat and clean, hotel bar is awesome and awesome people come through as well, Just splendid!
I would highly recommend. -
Review from Tom B.
Bethlehem, PA
12/9/2010
This is a great hotel, with a prime location, and a fantastic staff.
There isn't much more I can say with 52 other reviews on here....but I can only add that what I liked about this hotel was the total mixing of clientele; businesspeople, young, old, etc. The price is often a bit more reasonable if you book well in advance, but between the french restaurant (had breakfast there.....very good....try the French Toast Madame), the beds that you melt into.....I simply cannot say enough.
If you pinned me into a downside......our room person next door decided Metalica at 8am was what he / she needed to get their day going....and enough that the rooms around knew it too.
Without a doubt......a sure thing if you need a hotel in Philly. -
Review from Joey M.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2010
Really nice hotel, especially for the price. The service was excellent on all ends (valet, check in, check out, bar, etc). I called in ahead and told them I would be arriving late (1:00 AM). They said no problem, that they would have my keys already made, and I would be checked-in to make sure my reservation wasn't taken away. When I arrived, the front desk guy quickly found my keys. I asked for a late check-out, and instead of saying A) that wasn't possible or B) telling me what time my late check-out could be, they C) asked me what time worked for me. Never had that happened before.
At the lounge area I wanted to get a soda to-go, and the bartender went out of their way to go find me a bottled soda - no questions asked.
Maybe these are small things, but when you put them all together it makes for a nice experience.
Only negatives: *Had to pay for internet. *Parking cost money. (both not a big deal since the price was cheap to begin with)
Overall, it is one of the best hotels I've stayed in. -
Review from Steven W.
1/19/2011
Very nice hotel!
Clean, big rooms, with large bathrooms.
Great bar/lounge area in the lobby
Very convenient for getting around the city.
-.5 star for high parking fee
-.5 star for steady street noise until about 2am (car horns and there must be a club very close by)
I'd still go back in a heartbeat! -
Review from Pauline S.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2011
I met some friends in the lounge for drinks a few weeks back and I was Very Impressed. The atmosphere was relaxed- you could hold a conversation with people without having to shout- and the service was attentive and mindful. The drinks were delicious, the fireplace was cozy... I couldn' t have asked for anything more on a snowy December night.
A real classy spot! -
Review from Emily M.
Palo Alto, CA
11/14/2010
I love this hotel. The rooms are modern, sleek, sexy and clean. The bar in the lobby area is awesome and they make my absolute favorite Moscow Mule. I've eaten a few appetizers in the bar and they have been great, as well. I've only had breakfast in the restaurant, but I enjoyed it.
My only complaint is the two times I've stayed here, they have tried to overcharge me for extras. One time, they tried to charge me for food/drinks at the bar that I never had. That time, they also tried to charge me for two nights of parking, when I only had one. The second time I stayed here, they again tried to charge me for two nights of valet parking, when in fact, I had only parked for four hours on one day. Both times, they were very helpful and remedied the situation... just be sure to check your bill when you check out!
Other than that, great staff and beautiful hotel! -
Review from craig c.
Buffalo, NY
10/19/2011
Overall very nice and clean hotel. negatives- be prepared to get milked. valet is mandatory and 34$ per day plus 20% valet tax. room service adds 20% gratuity plus 2.50 delivery charge on every order. it is against their policy to let you move your own bags, they actually stopped me as I grabbed a bag cart. translation- tip the bell man, tip the valet, and add all the rest as above. room service prices are an absolute rip off. also, no swimming pool.
-
Review from Brian L.
11/3/2010
This hotel reminds me of a W in NYC...really cool fun hip vibe. I might've needed commas there, but who cares, I needed to get it all out that quickly.
The room was large and modern, but not too modern. The bathroom was legit - really nice and inviting. I'd say the bed wasn't all that comfy, but it was still fine. Great location...I'd recommend staying here def. -
Review from Catherine K.
Philadelphia, PA
11/6/2010
I loved this hotel. The price, location, and service was impeccable. Ian and I stayed here for a few nights while we searched for an apartment in Philly. We brought our french bulldog, Sadie, who was welcomed into the hotel immediately. I can't remember if we had to pay a fee for her but we did sign a deposit form in case she were to have an accident.
If/when my parents visit us, I plan on putting them up here. I think they would love it. -
Review from stephy s.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2008
You know what I realized sitting here in the Philly Int'l Airport today? No one writes letters anymore. It's becoming a lost art, so today is the day I will make my move to change that!
Dear Sofitel Bed,
It's been pretty amazing getting to know you this week. Your plush king-sized comforter, your 4 super squishy, large and delectable pillows, your thick and floating happy on cloud soft pad underneath your bottom sheet and your headboard that framed your entire self so well. I really couldn't have slept without ya, so thank you for everything. I'll call ya and maybe we'll do it again sometime ;) huh huh, I said do it.
Sincerely,
Stephy "12 year-old sense of humor" S.
Dear Room Service Menu,
Are you serious? Dang, spenny is an understatement. And while I know that room service is always a rip off, $16 for a latte and a somewhat stale bagel with cream cheese seems a bit extreme, don't you think? Yes, I think you do.
Take care,
Stephy "Puhh to the mo fo lease" S.
Dear Sofitel Bathroom,
You are pretty cool and super spacious and I LOVED the fact that you actually had counter space for me to sprawl all of my crap on. Far too often other hotel banos simply don't have enough space for girlie needs like makeup, perfume and other things that make us rock, so I truly appreciate your attention to details.
Much love,
Stephy "I feel purdy!" S.
Eh, letters are far too exhausting. I'll just stick to reviews, hehe, see ya!Listed in: Philadelphia Hot Spots
