The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia

I stayed at the RC Philly in August 2025 for one night. The rate was $500 but that included $180 of hotel credits via the booking service that I use. Given the price, this hotel offers good value (the 4S for the same night was more than double) but it is also not in the same league as other hotels under the RC fascia (e.g. HK or Toronto). The location is superb - just a few minutes' walk from public transport, the City Hall and the historical attractions. The building is equally appealing with a soaring three-storey atrium complete with Corinthian columns and polished marble. It is, however, showing its age. The gym is small with limited equipment and the spa is chargeable (even a trip to the steam room will set you back $25). The restaurant is in the atrium itself and this creates a conflicted space with screens on the wall for sporting events (these belong in a bar) and diners sit alongside those waiting to meet friends. Service is also lukewarm - no one offered to take my bags (I arrived on foot) or to show me to my room. I couldn't see a dedicated concierge, either. The room itself was fine - Philosykus amenities, a separate toilet, bluetooth-enabled clock radio, a very comfy bed and plenty of space. Having said, the iron didn't work (and was not replaced despite my request), there is just a single basin and the decor is just tired. Breakfast is a la carte rather than buffet and has the usual array of western options.

Words cannot describe how disappointing this hotel was. This is by far the worst Ritz-Carlton I have ever stayed in. Our room (27th floor Executive Level one-bedroom) showed none of the beauty or elegance you expect from the Ritz brand. The traffic and music outside were so loud that nobody in our group could sleep—I didn’t fall asleep until around 2:30 a.m. due to the nonstop noise from cars and motorbikes. Although we had booked several nights, we checked out after just one. The photos speak for themselves—the room was extremely old, outdated, and poorly maintained. The carpet was dirty, the couch looked like it belonged in a budget motel, and the chairs were stained. The dry wall ceiling cut outs were all over the room. I am truly shocked that this property charges $1,200+ per night for such a disappointing room. This hotel falls far below Ritz-Carlton standards, and I would not recommend staying here. The worst part is we were looking forward to relax and enjoy some luxury and the opposite happened.

I feel crazy writing a 3-star review for the Ritz but it's honest. The rooms were small and kind of sub-par, certainly not living up to the Ritz name. Clean but just... dated and kind of lame. On the bright side, the lobby bar is among the best I've ever seen in all of my travels. Definitely worth spending time there.

Check in was swift, parking is crazy expensive here, so be aware of this. Service was top notch and our room was spacious. The rooms are a little dated, however typical for this brand and very classic. This is close to shopping and you can walk to the Italian district for many dinning options. We would stay here again without hesitation.

We stayed here for a wedding and there were several things we loved. Love the location and also loved the lobby. All in all the hotel needs to be updated. Service was mostly friendly. Ask for view of the capital building f you stay as our view was awesome