Loews Philadelphia Hotel

Rooms and decor

Picture a hotel where the building itself is a legendary American skyscraper — that's the first thing that makes Loews Philadelphia Hotel special. This is the PSFS tower, or Philadelphia Saving Fund Society, completed in 1932 and known as America's first International Style skyscraper. The top still carries the giant red neon PSFS letters that have lit the Philadelphia skyline for nearly a hundred years, a sign locals see and instantly know they're home. The hotel sits right at the corner of 12th and Market in the heart of Center City, and the moment you step into the lobby you feel the carefully preserved modernist design — marble, wood paneling, and Art Deco details that tell the building's history without a word. Rooms carry over the high ceilings of the old office floors, decorated in an easy contemporary style that pairs well with the building's classic bones. Many face the skyline and City Hall, so you open the curtains in the morning to a full city view and see the lights at night.

Food and amenities

The facilities are stacked the way a major chain does them. The highlight is the full-service Loews spa, with a complete treatment menu — a good stop to unwind after a full day of walking. Add a year-round indoor pool you can swim in even when it's below freezing outside, plus a fitness center to work out the stiffness. The tower also has an on-site restaurant and bar for a proper meal or a drink after you get back from the stadium, no need to head out. Being a Loews property means you can book and earn points with confidence, and it's pet-friendly under the Loews Loves Pets program if you want to bring a four-legged friend. Altogether it's a full set of amenities for anyone who wants to settle in downtown.

Location and getting there

Location is the ace here, no question. The hotel sits at the corner of 12th and Market in the heart of Center City, a few steps from the door to Reading Terminal Market, the city's legendary indoor market packed with local food — from the original Philly cheesesteak to baked goods and fresh produce. A little farther sits City Hall and the shopping district, so you can ditch the car and explore Philadelphia on foot all day. The best part for fans: it's a few minutes' walk to Jefferson Station and the SEPTA Broad Street Line near City Hall. Ride one line south straight to NRG Station in front of the stadium complex on the south side of the city. No driving, no gambling on parking on a big game day when traffic is heavy and lots fill fast. After the game, take the same line back into the city.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, this is a large high-rise with 581 rooms that often hosts conventions and big events. At peak times or on days with a group in house, the lobby and lifts can get busy and you may wait — the feel is not the warm privacy of a small boutique. Second, parking: this is the heart of a city where parking is pricey and usually charged as daily valet, so budget for it if you drive in. The good news is the location walks easily to SEPTA, so taking the train and walking is the better call. Third, it's a long-standing preserved building, so room sizes and layouts vary with the original structure — some are spacious, some compact, so ask at booking if size matters. Rooms facing Market St can catch some city noise; light sleepers should request a higher floor or an inward-facing room. Finally, on game days and big event nights, rates climb well above normal and fill fast, so book well ahead to lock in price and availability.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, Loews Philadelphia Hotel nails the pitch of sleeping inside the landmark PSFS tower, a Center City location walkable to Reading Terminal Market, and the full Loews spa and indoor pool. It's the best fit for fans who want to base themselves downtown and ride the train to the match without a car or parking stress, for couples and travelers into architecture and food who want to walk the city, taste the legendary market, and wake up to a skyline view from a high-ceiling room in a historic tower, and for business travelers wanting a major chain hotel in Center City near the convention center. If your picture is staying downtown in a building with a story, walking and eating your way through Philadelphia all day, then simply riding one train line straight to the stadium on game day and coming back to the spa and indoor pool, this delivers. If you want a small private boutique or a hotel within walking distance of the stadium, a big downtown tower like this may not be your path. Overall we give it 8.6/10, best for fans and explorers who value a distinctive central location you can walk, with a single-line train ride to the stadium, over boutique-level privacy.