Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia

Rooms and decor

Picture a lifestyle hotel that has just been built, sitting in one of the liveliest and leafiest parts of Philadelphia. You open the door and everything still looks fresh, that clean smell of a well-kept new building — that is Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square. The first thing a lot of reviews agree on is how clean and new the rooms feel. The look is cool and modern, true to the Centric brand idea of getting travelers out to explore the city, with easy colors, contemporary furniture, and small touches that nod to Philly. For families who want space, the best pick is the Executive Suite, which is clearly bigger than a standard room and has a separate sitting area with a sofa, so parents and kids can hang out together instead of crowding onto the bed like in a tight room. Beds are comfortable to the usual Hyatt standard, the big windows let in light, and many high-floor rooms look out over the Center City skyline. If you are traveling as a group and want newness, cleanliness and space all at once, the suite here is a strong answer.

Food and amenities

As a downtown lifestyle hotel, the amenities lean toward keeping travelers mobile rather than resort-style grandeur. There is a restaurant and bar in the building for an easy breakfast before you head out, or a relaxed drink in the evening after a day of walking, without going far. The space is designed to match the hotel, and works for both families and couples. There is also a 24-hour fitness center for parents who want to move before the day starts, with equipment that looks new in keeping with the building. The lobby and common areas make comfortable spots to work or plan the day, there is Wi-Fi, and the central location makes it easy to walk out and find restaurants, coffee and snacks all around. The one thing to say straight up front is that there is no pool here, which for some families is something to weigh. But if the trip is mostly about walking the city and visiting museums, the lack of a pool does not get in the way much.

Location and getting there

Location is the real ace here. The hotel sits in the heart of Center City, the most walkable part of Philadelphia, just a 3 to 5 minute walk from leafy Rittenhouse Square. That square is a green plaza in the middle of the city with benches, a fountain and lawns for kids to run around, ringed by nice cafes and restaurants — taking the kids there for a morning sit is an easy way to start the day. A little farther on is the Walnut Street shopping area, and the part families love most is the cluster of museums along Benjamin Franklin Parkway: the Franklin Institute, a science museum kids can play in all day, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art with the famous steps from the Rocky films. For getting farther out there is a subway and trolley station near the hotel — a few stops takes you over to the historic Old City and the Liberty Bell. If you like ditching the car and exploring on foot plus public transit, this location is a perfect fit for a family.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The most important point for families is that this hotel has no pool. If your picture of the trip is the kids cooling off in the water after a full day out, that is a limitation to weigh from the start. If a pool really matters, you may want a hotel that has one, or plan to take the kids to the fountains at city parks like Sister Cities Park and Dilworth Park. The second thing to plan for is parking: it is valet only, with a fairly high per-night charge that is standard for the city center, and there is no free hotel lot. If you do not need a car, walking plus public transit is cheaper and easier. Third, this is a big-city hotel with frequent events and conventions, so at times rates climb and it gets busy, and check-in and check-out can mean a wait on crowded days. Book ahead for a better rate and the room you want, especially if you plan to get the Executive Suite for the whole family.

Our take

From reading through a lot of real reviews, Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia nails the combination of a new, clean, modern building, a central location within walking distance of everything, and a suite roomy enough for a family. If your picture of the trip is taking the kids to run around Rittenhouse Square in the morning, then a full afternoon in the science museum on the Parkway, then back to a brand-new suite with a big sitting area where the whole family can unwind, without worrying about old rooms or musty smells, this is a very comfortable choice. But if a pool is the heart of how your family stays, the lack of one here may give you pause or send you looking elsewhere. Overall we give it 8.5/10, best for families and business travelers who value newness, cleanliness and a central Center City location over having every amenity like a pool.