"I recently stayed at the Four Seasons Philadelphia with my wife, daughter, and dog for a quick night away over a particularly cold and bleak weekend in January. It was also our dog’s 10th birthday, so we wanted to spend it at a dog-friendly property with her. The Four Seasons Philadelphia was a perfect oasis in the clouds for our quick getaway. We had everything we needed without having to leave the premises. This was our second stay at the property, with the first being about two years ago, when my wife and I visited just before our daughter was born. While our prior stay had been generally positive with some exceptions, this one was significantly better and made us really love the hotel. I was particularly impressed that in almost every area in which I noted that the property needed to tighten service or amenities last time, things had improved. Combined with the fact that the Four Seasons Philadelphia currently has a great staff who executes coordinated luxury service seamlessly, we couldn’t have been happier with our visit. Trip Planning: I usually book Four Seasons stays through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel agent (which I highly recommend), but for this stay I booked through the Chase Luxury Hotel Collection using my Chase card. The benefits were very similar, though slightly better with Preferred Partner. Booking through Chase, our reservation included a room upgrade at check-in based on availability, priority early check-in and late check-out, a $100 hotel credit, and a $60 daily breakfast credit to use at Skyhigh or via in-room dining. A couple weeks before our stay, I used the Four Seasons app to submit room requests and book a dinner reservation. As always, service through the app was very prompt. The only odd interaction came when I inquired about a Saturday night dinner reservation at Skyhigh, and was simply told there was no availability other than very late times. While the restaurants are popular and reservations can be difficult for non-hotel guests, I was reaching out weeks in advance and knew from our prior stay that hotel guests are supposed to have priority for dinner reservations and tables are held back for the hotel from general availability. The hotel then suggested Vernick Fish instead of Skyhigh, which we also love, but I pushed back and asked them to confirm that there was truly no space for hotel guests anytime earlier at Skyhigh that night. A table at Skyhigh at our desired time suddenly became available after that. I appreciated the effort to ultimately secure the reservation, but didn’t understand why I had to push and express displeasure to get it. It felt like the hotel was steering us toward Vernick Fish solely because it had better availability and was easy for them, rather than doing the best they could for us from the start. Before the trip, I also emailed the hotel manager, Jimmy, since I had correspondence with the former manager after our last stay, and that had included an offer to ensure a better experience on a return visit. Jimmy was wonderful, and completely understood our desire for a smooth stay with both a dog and a toddler. We requested an early check-in, knowing it wasn’t guaranteed, and explained our main concern was to avoid being at the hotel waiting for a room during our daughter’s nap time. We just needed a realistic idea of when our room should be ready, and we would plan to arrive accordingly. Jimmy was honest about high occupancy the night before our arrival and how that might make an early check-in difficult, but offered to do his best and planned to have management confirm realistic timing on our check-in day. Everything worked out beautifully. Early on the morning of our arrival, I connected with Nina, the Director of Guest Experience, who was incredibly kind and helpful. She let me know our room would be ready as early as 10:00 am, which is an excellent early check-in. Even if that hadn’t been possible, the open communication and clear understanding of our needs was characteristic of Four Seasons service at its best. Arrival: On top of the confirmed early check-in, our arrival was excellent. We pulled up around 11:00 am on a Saturday to valet park (which is $85 per night), and Abe immediately greeted us. He was incredibly kind and helpful, and as soon as I gave my name, he already knew who we were, greeting both our daughter and dog by name, which was very impressive. Similarly, once inside and heading past the ground-level entry desk toward the elevators to the 60th floor lobby, another staff member greeted us by name as well. The coordination and thoughtful welcome were especially appreciated, as we had found the ground-level door area to be a weakness on our prior stay. Throughout the visit, whenever I took our dog downstairs, the door staff was consistently friendly, engaged, and proactive. When we arrived at the always-impressive 60th floor lobby, with its gleaming floors, mirrors, Jeff Leatham floral displays, and onyx-backed front desk, Nina was waiting to greet us, which was lovely. She escorted us directly to the front desk for check-in, where we again received a warm welcome, including acknowledging our dog’s birthday stay. While it may seem silly, that meant a lot to us. Check-in was quick and easy, and they brought out a wagon of toys for our daughter to choose from, which she loved. That was a sweet touch, and we really appreciate Four Seasons hotels being so family-friendly. Nina then personally escorted us to our room, gave a thorough overview of the space and amenities, and provided a cell phone number to text the guest experience team directly in case we needed anything. We were extremely impressed with our arrival experience. Hotel Layout: As I noted in my prior review, it’s helpful to understand this hotel’s unique layout and design. The hotel occupies the top floors of the tallest building in Philadelphia, with mostly office space below. The ground level houses the hotel entrance and Vernick Fish restaurant, along with a passageway to Vernick Coffee, a coffee shop still affiliated with the hotel, but on the office building side of the tower, and it is open Monday through Friday only. From the ground floor, express glass elevators lead to the impressive 60th-floor lobby, which contains the front desk and other restaurants. While the 60th floor is expansive, most of the space is dedicated to dining and bar areas, so traditional lobby seating is limited. There are only a few benches and chairs near the room elevators, with similar common space on each guest floor. Since this can feel like a slight weakness of the property, I appreciated small improvements since our last stay, such as additional seating added at the ends of the guest room hallways, as well as refreshed hallway carpeting that had previously looked worn. On weekend evenings in particular, the hotel can feel chaotic due to the number of non-hotel guests visiting the 60th floor for dining and drinks. The ground floor even has a queue system for guests without reservations waiting to go upstairs. That said, the hotel is much calmer at other times of day. Although the lobby is on the 60th floor at the very top, the pool, spa, and gym are located on the 57th floor, with guest rooms spanning floors 48-56. Hotel rooms and amenities are accessed via a different elevator bank from the express elevators to the ground level, which is a downside of the hotel design in my view. Especially when traveling with a dog, I don’t love that trips outside require taking one elevator up from your room to the lobby, and then another from there all the way down to the ground level. I also noticed frequent confusion among non-hotel guests when leaving, with many mistakenly boarding the guest room elevators that don’t go anywhere without a room key, thinking they go to the ground level. Better signage directing visitors to the correct express elevators would be a simple and helpful improvement. Room: We had booked a Premier Landmark View Room, one category above the base level, and were pleasantly surprised at check-in to learn we’d been upgraded not just one category as we were entitled to with our reservation, but several categories higher to a one-bedroom Cityscape Suite, which was wonderful. There are essentially two view options at this hotel: “Cityscape” (south-facing) and “Landmark” (north-facing, including views of the Philadelphia Museum of Art). While Landmark is typically considered an upgrade, I like both views and have been very happy with the Cityscape view that we’ve had on both visits. We had particularly gorgeous sunset views from that side this time. Standard rooms are further divided into “Premier” and “Grand” in each view category, which appear to differ slightly in size. Suites are available in multiple categories with both views, and vary mainly by size and layout. The floorplans on the hotel website are especially helpful when comparing suite options. I really enjoy the room décor, which aligns well with the rest of the hotel. The design is modern and sleek, with neutral tones and warm wood accents, but the expansive wall of windows and views are clearly the focal point. The rooms are also thoughtfully designed, with conveniently placed outlets, intuitive lighting, and automated curtain controls. Free Wi-Fi is provided and sponsored by Comcast, as the hotel is located in the Comcast Center. While the internet claims to be exceptionally fast, it didn’t feel particularly noteworthy in reality. The Cityscape Suite was spacious and nicely designed, easily accommodating two adults, a toddler, a dog, and all the accompanying gear. The living room was comfortable, with a sectional sofa and a small dining table, though the table oddly only had one actual chair and one ottoman/stool, which felt impractical when we ordered in-room dining. There was certainly room for a second chair. The living room could be fully closed off from the bedroom, which was also generously sized and featured the same great views and a huge walk-in closet. The closet ended up being the perfect spot for our daughter’s crib, as it was dark, quiet, and could be closed off with sliding doors. The bathroom was one of the highlights of the suite. While the bathrooms in standard rooms here can feel a bit small, this one was enormous and very well designed, with a large double vanity, a freestanding tub as the centerpiece, and a spacious open shower behind it with dual entrances. The toilet was separated by a frosted door, and the bathroom connected to both the living room and the bedroom via heavy sliding doors. The Rossano Ferretti bath products were also quite nice. As we noted during our last stay, some hard goods are beginning to show wear, despite the room being in good condition overall. The surfaces with a gold-colored trim in the living room were noticeably worn and banged up, and the sectional sofa, while comfortable, looked a bit worn with cushions starting to sag. None of this detracted from our stay, but replacing some furniture seems like a logical focus point going forward. In addition to the generous upgrade, we were welcomed with an impressive spread of amenities. For our dog, there was a large bed, bowls, a soft pretzel-shaped toy, treats, poop bags, and even a custom birthday drawing on the window welcoming both her and our daughter. This was of the cutest and most thoughtful welcomes we’ve ever received at a hotel. We were also given a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling wine, which we appreciated, especially since we had mentioned we were not drinking alcohol at the time. The one we were given was also much better than a non-alcoholic option given during our prior stay as a welcome amenity. There were also bottles of Evian and Pellegrino water, a beautifully presented fruit plate, a birthday card for our dog, and a welcome note from the general manager. The thoughtful touches continued for our daughter, including diapers, wipes, snack pouches, hooded towels, robes, slippers, and a diaper pail for her. Housekeeping was excellent throughout our stay. The room was spotless on arrival, and when we requested turndown during a specific, limited window, a housekeeper came up immediately. Turndown was well done, with plenty of water left, along with slippers and an aromatherapy mist by the bedside. Pool, Spa & Gym: The indoor pool, spa, and gym are all located on the 57th floor, with the gym and pool reserved for hotel guests only. During this stay, we only used the pool, though the gym appears large, bright, and extremely well equipped, and we’ve visited and enjoyed the spa on a prior stay. The hotel also hosts many professional sports teams, including one during this visit, and the gym seems designed to meet the needs of that level of clientele. Access to the pool is through the spa entrance, and the pool is undeniably beautiful, set high in the sky with an infinity edge and the same sweeping views of Philadelphia found throughout the hotel. There’s something uniquely fun about swimming at that height when you otherwise never really would. We weren’t big fans of the pool on our previous visit (before having a child), largely because it felt loud, crowded, and chaotic, with lots of kids. While that dynamic was largely the same this time, it worked well since we now have a child who was excited to be in the pool, and we also had no expectations of relaxing poolside. We had a great time, and swimming in such a stunning space in January felt like a treat. For adults seeking a quieter experience, the limited adult-only swim hours (6:00–8:00 am and 8:00–10:00 pm) are the best option. At least on the weekends, the pool simply isn’t a serene space. Seating is limited, with too few lounge chairs and couches relative to demand from hotel guests. When we visited late Saturday afternoon, the pool was very crowded with nowhere to sit. On Sunday morning there was seating available, but it was still surprisingly busy even before 9:00 am. My remaining critiques of the pool are minor but worth noting: -The water is simply a little too cold (at least for our taste). The hotel advertises it as a heated pool, so I’m not sure why it isn’t generously heated, especially during the hours that aren’t reserved for adults/lap swimmers. The temperature wasn’t awful, but never registered as particularly warm to us. -Second, the pool seems to have an identity crisis when it comes to service. There’s a poolside menu with food and drinks, but we never saw staff offering service. Given the limited seating, it would also be helpful if staff more actively cleared chairs and replaced towels when guests left, which didn’t appear to happen very often. It seems the spa team oversees the pool and stops in periodically, but especially on busy weekend days, a dedicated pool attendant would improve the experience. While the overall setup looks the part of a resort-style pool, the execution veers more toward a generic hotel indoor pool. Dining & Bars: The Four Seasons Philadelphia is unique in being a city hotel with restaurants that feel like destinations themselves, with the hotel restaurants always busy with locals too (ourselves included when we aren’t staying here). Skyhigh is the primary all-day casual restaurant and lounge on the 60th floor, which feels like a more relaxed extension of the full Jean-Georges restaurant one floor below. We’ve dined here many times and enjoy it, especially for the ambiance and views, along with Jean-Georges favorites like the trout sushi and tuna tartare. On this trip, we had dinner at Skyhigh and it was a very nice experience. Service was attentive, with multiple managers stopping by to check on both our meal and our hotel stay. Our server was great, though the meal itself felt slow, with food and drinks taking a while to arrive, which was challenging with a toddler. That said, they did a great job of bringing our daughter’s meal out promptly alongside our appetizers, which we appreciated. While we didn’t visit this time, Vernick Fish on the ground level remains one of our favorite restaurants in Philadelphia, with consistently excellent seafood and cocktails. We’re fans of all of Chef Greg Vernick’s local restaurants, so having one located in the hotel is a real plus. In-room dining is also available, and we used it extensively, ordering three times during our stay. Our arrival-day lunch was excellent, and we loved that the menu includes favorites from both Vernick Fish and Jean-Georges. We also ordered the Amish chicken dog meal for our dog, which she happily devoured. While pricey, it’s a fun touch that reinforces how dog-friendly the hotel is. We also ordered breakfast via in-room dining. It was perfectly fine, but nothing stood out, and the menu felt somewhat generic. One adult meal was mistakenly delivered as a kids’ portion, which seemed to be a simple ordering mix-up. Overall, though, the in-room dining staff were excellent each time, and were professional, friendly, and attentive. Especially with the incredible views, dining in your room is a lovely experience. Location: The hotel’s location is pretty central within Center City Philadelphia in relatively close proximity to most of the city’s key attractions. The specific spot where the hotel is located is a little dull, as it’s mostly surrounded by office buildings. However, it’s also only a few blocks’ walk from some of the city’s best restaurants, museums, and Rittenhouse Square. There is also a house car available to take guests around the city, but it’s not well advertised. Service: Service was our biggest complaint during our previous stay, when we noticed several gaps and unprofessionalism around the edges. This time, however, service was a major area of improvement. Having direct contact with management before arrival, particularly Jimmy and Nina, made a meaningful difference. Both were warm, professional, and extremely helpful, and Nina went out of her way on our arrival day to ensure we felt well taken care of. However, even beyond management, everyday interactions with staff were consistently excellent this time. Everyone we encountered, from bell staff and engineers to housekeeping and the door team downstairs, was genuinely kind and welcoming. The effort to remember who we were and the reason for our visit was evident throughout the stay. We felt really welcome, remembered, and valued as guests for this quick one-night getaway. Departure Experience: Our departure experience was also very positive. We called down for our car, and it was waiting for us by the time we got there, even though it was a busy checkout time. Multiple staff members came over to assist us with our luggage and getting into the car, finishing with a warm sendoff from Abe, who had also given us a warm welcome upon arrival. We had also stopped at the front desk on our way out, and the staff members there were friendly and helpful, taking an extra minute to go through our room bill carefully to ensure that the various credits included with our reservation were applied properly. This is exactly what I hope for, so that I don’t have to think about the bill again after we depart to get it corrected. Overall: We were really impressed with our recent stay at the Four Seasons Philadelphia, which was a perfect place to travel with a dog and a toddler, staying put in this beautiful oasis in the clouds on a cold winter weekend. I like that the property has so much to offer that you don’t even really need to leave, which is unusual for a city hotel. The restaurant options are strong, the indoor pool/spa/gym area has a lot to offer, and the rooms are a bright, upscale retreat. The thoughtful service from the staff is the icing on the cake. While the hotel is very expensive, almost shockingly so for the Philadelphia market, we do see the appeal, and look forward to treating ourselves to stays here again in the future."

"After a bad experience last summer, we decided to give Four Seasons Philly another chance in early January 2026. And boy did they surpass our expectations! We were greeted with a big smile and professionalism by Faith, who was incredible and attentive to our needs. We had also booked a corner suite and were upgraded to a Skyline corner suite. Absolutely beautiful, impeccable in all respects, top-notch service, attention to details, clean rooms, excellent SPA and fitness center... It was a joy from A to Z. We highly recommend the Four Seasons Philly and will definitely return."

"I had the pleasure of rejoining the Four Seasons Hotel. This hotel has the best service. You are welcomed at the front by Lou and escorted to the reception by Saleem. Jordan and Maria at reception are amazing. Fernando assisted with my luggage and Mallory arranged an Amazing welcome amenity with my favorite treats. Michael in sky-high and Marguerita are so warm. Aaron and Joseph in Security were also very helpful. I strongly encourage anyone who travels to Philadelphia must stay at The Four Seasons Hotel!"

"Went with an adult daughter for a pampering weekend getaway. She had spa services (two massages and a mani/pedi) which she thoroughly enjoyed. Comfortable beds and spectacular views everywhere as the hotel occupies the top couple of floors of the building. We also ordered room service several times and were pleased. We used the gym and went in the infinity pool. It is 60 feet long, maybe just long enough to do laps, but a little too warm for that and not really wide enough if there are other people hanging out. We had a nice meal of vegetarian dishes at the Skyview restaurant, which was perhaps the most reasonably priced of all our meals there. We also used the included valet service and found it friendly and efficient. Every staff member we encountered was exceptionally professional. The exterior glass elevator used to access the lobby was a blast. Since a complete review includes quibbles, I will add I would have expected the coffee to come in a thermal carafe to keep it warm and there was sometimes a momentary pulse of cold water when switching between the various options in the showering hardware. Petty indeed. I have already written so much and yet I feel this review is not helpful in deciding whether to stay here. I found everything offered was pretty close to perfect and obviously super expensive. But we were two grown women on a getaway weekend where we mostly wanted to lie around and be pampered. The footprint of the hotel, while offering spectacular views, is quite limited. If you are a tourist, there is not an expansive lobby to plop down in after an exhausting day of sightseeing (there is some limited seating in the back of the Skyview restaurant that serves as a lounge, plus a few benches against the wall in the reception area). If you are a family--and we did see a few kids--there is no separate breakfast room or coffee shop or game room or really any other place to hang out with your children besides the pool, which doesn't even have a deck around most of it. I saw a sort of grumpy faced mom leading her pre-school daughter from the pool area, and then back again a little while later, and I thought to myself that didn't look fun. My advice is to think of this Four Seasons as sort of a boutique hotel and choose wisely. My daughter and I had a fabulous time and left feeling happy and refeshed."

"Everything was perfect throughout my stay. I stayed at the hotel for New Year’s Eve and couldn’t have had a better experience. Everyone from the valet driver to the spa attendants were friendly and helpful. I was in room 5019 and the view of the city was so nice. I had a massage at the spa and it was great. The pool area is beautiful and I had the whole pool to myself for two hours the next morning. Breakfast at the Skyhigh was delicious. I ordered room service and it was just as good as if ate in the restaurant. The concierges and housekeepers were attentive and made sure I had everything I needed to ensure my stay was wonderful. It exceeded my expectations!"