ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: As a local of the Greater Philadelphia region, I’d seen many news segments filmed at W Philadelphia. It opened in 2021 in a new-build, 51-story building downtown and is one of the city’s newest high-end hotel openings. This May presented the opportunity to finally check it out for myself. My husband and I enjoyed an overnight at the hotel following Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards.

My husband met me at the event, so I checked in earlier in the day. I dropped my bags for storage when I arrived before check-in time, then returned after a lunch meeting. Check-in was a breeze, but there was some delay in getting the luggage, so the welcoming reception team had a bottle of Prosecco sent to my room as a result.

The elevators swept me up to my high-floor guestroom where more than just a comfy bed awaited.

GUEST QUARTERS: “Wow!” is the most apt word to describe my reaction upon first entering my accommodations. The open-concept room opened into a large entryway with an exposed clothing rack/drawers to the immediate right. Straight ahead was a living room-style sitting area with a couch, chairs and coffee table. A long structure, like a dresser or a counter, separated this space from the bedroom, and the flat-screen housed on it swiveled to be visible both from the living and bedroom spaces. The minibar was also found here. In the bedroom, a comfortable king-sized bed was flanked by nightstands, and a chair sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows. As was fitting with the open layout of the room, the bathroom was not a separate space. Tucked in the corner to the left of the entrance was a separate water closet, shower and Jack-and-Jill sinks.

But the aforementioned “wow” came from the views through those floor- to-ceiling windows, which spanned the bedroom space and the living room space and opened on to a private, decently sized patio with furniture. The entire city lay below us, and it was spectacular; we could see from the river to the sporting complexes in South Philadelphia. These were easily some of the best hotel views I’ve ever had.

PHOTO: © W PHILADELPHIA

SERVICES/AMENITIES: In addition to light bites and cocktails at Living Room, lobby-level Dolce takes guests to 1960s Rome, serving an Italian menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. WET Bar also serves small bites, fresh juices, cocktails and more for those relaxing by the outdoor pool. The year- round, outdoor heated pool and cabanas on WET Deck bring a taste of summer to downtown Philadelphia 365 days a year. AWAY Spa by W Hotels offers an array of treatments and beauty services, using products from The Davines Group and local skincare brand Franklin & Whitman. Find 45,613 square feet of event venues and meeting space.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• As natives to the region, W Philadelphia afforded us the opportunity to see our home city from a new perspective.
• We enjoyed a delicious room service breakfast the morning before our departure, and the food arrived promptly and tasted delicious.
• After the event, our team descended upon W Philadelphia’s lobby- level Living Room bar to celebrate a successful event. We were seated in a secret room located behind the bar, known as Stevens’ Prophecy! !

W PHILADELPHIA
1439 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
tel 215 709 8000
marriott.com