Towering above all the competition, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia is North America’s highest hotel, situated in the 60-storey Comcast Technology Center. It occupies the top 12 floors of Philadelphia’s tallest building, so you can be assured the mesmeric views are unsurpassed anywhere else in the city. Other downtown skyscrapers are dwarfed in comparison and the expansive vistas include unimpeded views across the Delaware River and into New Jersey.
Hotel
Checking in might seem out of kilter at first, as the reception area is on the 60th floor, however, with their glass elevators, it takes less than 60 seconds to reach your destination. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, it is no understatement to say you’ll feel like you’re floating in the clouds. The Norman Foster-designed building blends sleekness with 21st-century functionality.
The only thing that could have distracted us from the view on arrival was the showstopping floral display by Jeff Leatham, who curates floral designs for the entire Kardashian family to Oprah Winfrey. The numerous vases with colourful blooms are perched on top of reflective pedestals for dramatic effect, along with a well-polished black marble floor, you’ll know you’ve arrived at the finest hotel in Philadelphia.
Room
With 219 rooms spread over 10 floors, you might be befuddled as to which category is the best room to book for. With the captivating scenery, there are no rooms you should avoid booking, they range from the entry-level premier cityscape room at 352 to 407 sq. ft. to the expansive Presidential suite at 2,137 sq. ft.
You suspect they might have consulted feng shui experts before designing the rooms; the curved birchwood walls with the open-concept closet and the comfiest chaise longue by the window, all help to exude a sense of serenity and calmness. The soaking bathtub with 100% natural Sodashi bath amenities adds to the soothing nature of the experience.
Only the finest will suffice for their hotel guests; you’ll get a Nespresso coffee maker with Umbria pods and a Bodum tea kettle with Rishi tea. Being in the Comcast Center, you can expect super-speed Wi-Fi and rooms boasts a 65-inch flat-screen TV with Comcast X1 video experience along with voice activation and Netflix access. Bedsides this, control of the drapery and the do not disturb sign is always appreciated.
You can easily spot Philadelphia landmarks including tree-lined Ben Franklin Parkway and their numerous world-renowned museums from your towering abode.
Food and drink
They’ve fully embraced celebrity dining at the hotel; on the ground floor is a haven for seafood lovers from local chef Greg Vernick. Vernick Fish is his take on the local oyster bar, here you can expect to see the likes of octopus carpaccio with chorizo, crispy garlic and arugula.
Celebrated chef Jean-Georges delivers a fine-dining extravaganza at his eponymous restaurant, where diners can delve into a four or six-course tasting menu with some creations only available in the city of brotherly love. If you are looking for more relaxed Jean-Georges cuisine, there is Skyhigh, where you can savour comforting classics like a pepper-crusted beef tenderloin with roasted carrots whilst still enjoying the iconic views.
In-room dining is courtesy of the kitchen team from both chefs, so you can be ensconced in your plush bathrobes whilst dining in on world-class cuisine.
Spa and wellness
Wellness is a key part of the Four Seasons experience. Their spa on the 57th floor is encased with 700 lbs of healing crystals into the structure of their walls, to aid with the sense of calm and relaxation when you spend time at their spa. Their signature treatments include a luminous crystal facial to a crystal oil massage and the night spa experience is fit for a presidential couple where you can enjoy an undisturbed candle-lit late-night swim along with a soothing couples’ massage.
The infinity pool overlooking the city is a key attraction for guests staying at the hotel. They also provide sauna and steam rooms along with an ice fountain and multi-sensory showers along with their plush anti-gravity chairs in the relaxation lounge. This is one area you’ll happily spend the whole day at without stepping outside of the hotel.
To do
Museums are a major selling point of the city and you can enjoy one of the finest collections of European paintings outside of the continent at The Barnes. You will lose count of how many Van Gogh, Renoir, Matisse, and Picasso paintings you will have scanned on their handy app.
A very alternative experience is visiting Eastern State Penitentiary, where Al Capone famously served time. It also provides very thought-provoking discussion points on the current American incarceration system.
Even if you are not into museums, you might be persuaded to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art as the 72 stone steps leading up to the museum is where Rocky would famously jog up the staircase in the film.
In a nutshell
If you want to see a captivating overview of the city of brotherly love, the place to stay is at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center.
Factbox
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center offers rooms from $650 per night.
Address: 1 N 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States
Phone: +1 215-419-5000
Email: res.philadelphia@fourseasons.com
Website: fourseasons.com/philadelphia
