AKA University City

Extended stay hotel · University City

AKA University City

Extended stay hotel · University City

2

Cira Centre South, 2929 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Photos

AKA University City by null
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by Courtesy AKA University City
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null
AKA University City by null

Highlights

Chic studios & apartments in a polished hotel featuring dining, an indoor pool & city views. Occupying the top 18 floors of a modern high-rise building overlooking the Schuylkill River, this upscale apartment hotel is among campuses and bars in the University City district. It's also 2 blocks from a subway station and 3 miles from the Liberty Bell. Chic studios with panoramic city views feature free Wi-Fi, kitchenettes and flat-screen TVs.The 1- and 2-bedroom apartments add separate living areas. Amenities include a hip cafe, and an indoor pool with skyline views through floor-to-ceiling windows. There's also a fitness center, an indoor golf simulator, a lounge and a private screening room, as well as a terrace with fire pits.  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
Placeholder

Cira Centre South, 2929 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Get directions

stayaka.com
@level28_aka

Information

Static Map

Cira Centre South, 2929 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Get directions

+1 215 372 9000
stayaka.com
@level28_aka

Features

payment credit card

Last updated

Mar 5, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@cntraveler

"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?Occupying a picturesque stretch of Schuylkill River waterfront, AKA University City stands apart from the hustle and bustle of Center City Philadelphia. The reflective, all-glass building towers above the surrounding West Philly skyline, offering the city’s highest residential views (the apartment-style hotel offers both short- and long-term stays, plus 17 floors of annual-lease residences). While strong neighborhood vibes aren’t the main draw, convenience is: Hop over the Walnut Street bridge and you’re minutes from Rittenhouse Square; head just a few blocks West and you’re weaving among UPenn and Drexel co-eds; drive a half-mile down Schuylkill Ave and you’re boarding a train at 30th Street Station. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book?Before you moved to the suburbs, had two kids, and rescued a golden doodle, you might have dreamed of living in a sleek bachelor pad that looked something like AKA’s guest rooms. Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects outfitted each of the 268 apartment-style suites with minimalist Lissoni Associati interiors, complemented by amenities like fully-furnished kitchens (resident services can grocery shop before your arrival), washers and dryers (detergent included), and more. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?The hotel doesn’t offer room service, but there’s Food Network and that full working kitchen! No desire to replicate Giada? Pop down to the lobby-level Walnut Street Café, which offers all-day dining and perhaps the city’s best locally sourced Lancaster chicken (served with roulade, Brussels sprouts, mustard seed, and dill). For after-work aperitifs, head to the 28th-floor a.lounge, where a “Tangerina Jolie”—a tart tincture made of rum, tangerine, tropical tea, lime, and apricot—will take the sting off your boss’s “constructive criticism.” And the service? From the ebullient doorman, Lou, to the always-courteous front desk staff, you can count on friendly greetings and assistance whenever needed. What type of travelers will you find here?Celebs in town for filming (hey, JLaw!), monied college parents, savvy business travelers—it’s an elevated crowd at this waterfront enclave. Any other hotel features worth noting?Amenity junkies can get their fix on the property’s 28th floor, a resident- and guest-only club dubbed Level28. There’s a glass-enclosed Olympic-sized swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, 3D golf simulator (finally, a round at Pebble Beach!), cocktail lounge, outdoor terrace with fire pits, business center, and private screening room. After a day cooped up at your consulting gig, seek fresh air at Cira Green, a Highline-esque elevated urban park that hosts seasonal morning yoga, cultural festivals, and more. Heading to dinner in Fishtown? Skip the Uber and request a chauffeured ride in AKA’s house Tesla Bottom line: Why are we choosing AKA?AKA delivers an understated-luxe, amenity-packed experience that fills a much-needed gap in Philly’s mostly “live like a local” (read: “do it yourself”) hotel landscape." - Katie James Watkinson

AKA University City
View Postcard for AKA University City
@cntraveler

"Before you moved to the suburbs, had two kids, and rescued a golden doodle, you might have dreamed of living in a sleek bachelor pad that looked something like AKA’s guest rooms. The reflective, all-glass builiding towers above the surrounding West Philly skyline, offering the city’s highest residential views (the apartment-style hotel offers both short- and long-term stays, plus 17 floors of annual-lease residences). While strong neighborhood vibes aren’t the main draw, convenience is: Hop over the Walnut Street bridge and you’re minutes from Rittenhouse Square; head just a few blocks West and you’re weaving among UPenn and Drexel co-eds; drive a half-mile down Schuylkill Ave. and you’re boarding a train at 30th Street Station." - Regan Stephens, Katie James Watkinson

14 Best Hotels in Philadelphia
View Postcard for AKA University City

Tamara Hamed

Google
We had a 3-night stay and it was a delightful experience. Everything was well-organized, and our stay was very comfortable. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the location was convenient. The rooms were clean and well-maintained, and the hotel facilities met all our needs. Overall, it was a great stay, and we will definitely consider coming back. Highly recommended!

J.p. A

Google
We were blown away by the extraordinary front desk Wister was especially cluent focus and made excellent recommendations for dinner. We ate at the hotel restaurant and also had a drink at the bar, which was outstanding. But really the most appealing aspect of this property was the friendliness and patience of the staff starting with Wister I wish we could’ve remembered everyone’s names but the whole team should be commended. We will certainly come here again for our next trip to Philadelphia.

Roam11439502631

Google
Loved my stay at AKA University City! Location was great, my room/unit was spacious and well appointed and the front desk and lounge level staff - Diamond, Kamilah and Juan - were always pleasant, resourceful and willing to assist. Everyday, they greeted me with a warm welcome and my requests for a yoga mat and cheesesteak recommendations were quickly fulfilled with a smile. I will definitely return next time I’m in the city!

Dove Seven

Google
About .06 miles to the Hospital of Pennsylvania, and I only have to cross two streets. THE staff, especially Mzpah I think that is how you spell her name is so very helpful and understanding. The manager Camilla is so wonderful, smart, and caring. She was able to extend my stay when the online reservations could not. She somehow on the computer was able to move rooms around and keep me on the same room for additional days. When I told her I had trouble going up in the elevator, she walked around there and used her card so i could get to the correct floor. Also the maintenance workers are so kind and helpful. The one employee fixed my thermostat and waited to make sure it was working before he left.

Anwaar S

Google
AKA University City was the perfect home base during my graduating semester at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The apartments are stylish and comfortable, the amenities luxurious, and the location is incredibly convenient. But honestly, the highlight of my stay was the exceptional staff, especially Diamond at the front desk.||From the moment you walk in, Diamond's smile lights up the room. She's so genuinely friendly and helpful – it's like she's known you for years. Even when things were busy, she always made me feel like I was her only guest.||During my five-month stay, I also got to know Jim, the managing director, and Khamilah, who consistently went out of their way to ensure I was comfortable and that any issues were handled promptly. It's clear they put a lot of effort into making sure everything runs smoothly.||If you're a law student (or anyone else!) looking for a place in Philadelphia where you'll feel right at home, check out AKA University City. And when you do, make sure you say hi to Diamond for me. She's a true asset to the hotel and deserves a huge thank you!

Thomas W

Google
Issues with my latest stay here:||1) Room was 80 degrees upon entering with A/C blowing hot air|2) Smoke alarm beeping presumably from low battery|3) Bathroom light fixtures burnt out. Maintenance fixed and now light will not turn off. Have to sleep with bathroom door closed to block the light. Should constant calls to maintenance really be necessary to ensure a pleasant stay?|4) Basic items typically provided like paper towel missing from kitchen.|5) Consistent and well known issue with room keys not always working on elevator fobs. Never seems to get fixed even after multiple times staying here over the years.|6) Gym under renovation. Received pass for gym at building 3 blocks away. Walked to building only for pass not to work for gym access and building security unwilling to let me up to gym.|7) Staff bothers you by 11:10am to remind you check out is 11am. As if after such a terrible experience we would care about their rules. Tall male manager in the lobby was loudly complaining about late check outs by guests as well. Unprofessional and embarrassing conduct by all levels of employee. ||Have stayed at Motel 6 for much less with far fewer issues each stay. This hotel is not at all worth the price and I am done giving them second chances.

Colleen Leeman

Google
Do not come here if you have a handicapped person traveling with you. The lowest floor is on the 29th floor. The handicapped person I traveled with was uncomfortable being so high up (what if there was a problem with the elevator or an emergency?) Also, all of the furniture is extremely low to the ground. A handicapped person can really only sit in the kitchen chair or their wheelchair. The pullout couch was extremely uncomfortable, we ended up just sleeping on the couch. Other than that, the place was very clean, the pool was nice, and the views were a sight to see.

Adeola and Eric L

Google
My wife and I stayed at AKA University the night after our local wedding ceremony. Having stayed in AKA Miami in 2023, we wanted to stay in a local AKA for our honeymoon and first romantic getaway as a married couple. Diamond was the attendant at the front desk that checked us in. When she found out it was our Honeymoon, she went above and beyond to make sure our stay was perfect. We really appreciated Diamond for going above and beyond to make sure our accommodations were a night to remember. The other attendants were also friendly and professional. We would stay at AKA University City again in a heartbeat.

Chre G.

Yelp
A group of us stayed here for the Philadelphia Marathon weekend, I highly recommend staying here. The comfort, quality and amenities are outstanding. It's short walking distance to everything, food, shopping and so much more. The room was immaculate and the service was outstanding. I'd like to give a special shoutout to Martin, who was so kind and so accommodating to all our needs. If you're looking for a great spot in Philly to stay, this is the place to stay.

Debbie B.

Yelp
Have stayed here twice. Staff is always super friendly and helpful. The first time my 2 young sons wanted to see a movie while we were waiting for our room in the recreation area on the 28 floor, they didn't have anything they liked downloaded. The staff took the time to help them pick out a movie, purchased it and I had 2 hours of peace on a very long travel day. The second time I was having problems with their new elevator to floor access system. I ended up riding the elevator to the basement and was not able to select my floor. A young staff member, Richard, got on and not only assisted with the access, he escorted me to my floor. He never once made me feel stupid or incompetent for not being able to push the button while holding my room key to the security pad. Thanks Overall the building is clean, the rooms are spacious and modern. If you need anything all you have to do is ask. I will definitely recommend.

Tom W.

Yelp
Issues with my latest stay here: 1) Room was 80 degrees upon entering with A/C blowing hot air 2) Smoke alarm beeping presumably from low battery 3) Bathroom light fixtures burnt out. Maintenance fixed and now light will not turn off. Have to sleep with bathroom door closed to block the light. Should constant calls to maintenance really be necessary to ensure a pleasant stay? 4) Basic items typically provided like paper towel missing from kitchen. 5) Consistent and well known issue with room keys not always working on elevator fobs. Never seems to get fixed even after multiple times staying here over the years. 6) Gym under renovation. Received pass for gym at building 3 blocks away. Walked to building only for pass not to work for gym access and building security unwilling to let me up to gym. 7) Staff bothers you by 11:10am to remind you check out is 11am. As if after such a terrible experience we would care about their rules. Tall male manager in the lobby was loudly complaining about late check outs by guests as well. Unprofessional and embarrassing conduct by all levels of employee. Have stayed at Motel 6 for much less with far fewer issues each stay. This hotel is not at all worth the price and I am done giving them second chances.

Teisha W.

Yelp
We have stayed at the AKA numerous times and have watched the quality decline. The showers were dirty with hair (not mines) in them. The pillows were dirty. We watched housekeeping clean and not once did we see them use cleaning products. The dishwasher was broke and dishes were dirty. had to go out and purchase cleaning supplies to clean the 2 bedroom apartment and wash their linen. We paid over $5000 for our stay and I would have expected better service. Giving them 2 stars for the front desk staff who were extremely friendly.

Brian L.

Yelp
Speaking for the hotel part of the building and not the residential side 1. The stupid card readers never worked properly. Could never open the 28th floor amenities. Elevator requires a card reader, which often doesn't work so be prepared to take a trip to nowhere. 2. Since it's not a real hotel, you will not get your room made or fresh towels delivered. 3. You are basically renting a Airbnb luxury high rise and not getting the true hotel experience. Pool is beautiful. Gym is also beautiful. There are nice things about it but if you're vacationing and want to be pampered, you won't get it here.

Anastasia L.

Yelp
We had a fabulous 4 day stay here and can't praise the front desk staff enough. We were treated like rockstars and loved the friendly, accommodating energy of Kamila and Amber at the desk. All staff were professional, outgoing and friendly. The suite was roomy, minimalist furnishing and full of sunlight. Complete kitchen (Bosc appliances) and nice frig. The whole hotel is spotless. Our view was out over the Schuylkill River and South Philly - lovely sunsets. Looking forward to our next time staying there

Melissa H.

Yelp
BEWARE OF POOR MANAGEMENT BEFORE SIGNING A LEASE AT THIS AKA LOCATION!! My current experience at AKA is by far the worst leasing experience I have ever had! We have spent over $150k in the last three years as a resident and this year is just awful. While the property presents an attractive value proposition given the amenities, modern finish and price/location, the managing director Evan is notably unprofessional and highly unscrupulous. WARNING!! AKA seems like a dream but it can be a nightmare! Terrible experience with Evan the manager who will go to great lengths to get an unprofessional lawyer involved to talk to you & police officers to escort you out of your own home for a single late fee charge of $200! We are so disappointed on how this was handled. He is extremely rude and unprofessional. Feels like a vindictive move to deny access to 28th floor. Extremely difficult to have a peace of mind and enjoy life in your own "luxury" apartment when you are constantly being harassed and attacked verbally by the manager. We no longer feel comfortable here and our quality of life has dropped significantly since dealing with this person. Management here MUST change!

Kat S.

Yelp
To say that the AKA went above and beyond for us on our wedding weekend would be a complete understatement. Let me tell you -- this hotel was a dream! Where to start. First - this place is stunning! The pictures don't do it justice. Located in the heart of University City, Philadelphia - the hotel is clean, modern, and chic. Added bonus for us? It is super close to the Penn Museum, our wedding venue. The rooms, apartments really, have sweeping views of the city and are full with light and character which includes wide-plank Italian white oak flooring, huge spaces for dining and entertaining, and custom furniture. And by the way, all the rooms are all above the 20th floor so the eye candy you get looking at the stunning scenery of Philly's skyline does not disappoint. Pro-tip, we ordered groceries via delivery service and stocked our fridges with fruits and veggies and snacks for when folks popped by or for general hanging out. The enormous and beautiful accommodations made for an excellent hangout spot for our bridal parties and families. The bedrooms have huge, snug, clean beds with blackout shades and all the plugs for all the cords you need. Did I mention the bathrooms? Welcome to the lap of luxury. The showers and amenities literally make it feel like you're enjoying a day at the spa. The AKA EVEN set us up with a private space in their "Boardroom" on Level 28 with sweeping views for the bridal parties to get hair and makeup ready. The lounge where we held our rehearsal cocktail party (instead of a stuffy traditional dinner) was incredible - gorgeous floor to ceiling windows, a chic bar, and a lovely outdoor space. Did I mention the pool and cinema? Yeah ... they've truly got it all. Important to also note that the AKA has some serious next level customer service. Wow. Every member of the AKA Team was helpful, courteous, and kind. Whenever we needed anything they were there to assist and/or help us to problem solve. Example - our ride to the venue ran into a huge snag and we were running late SO THEY DROVE US THERE IN THEIR TESLA at a moment's notice. I mean that was pretty cool, one to have my panic attack prevented but two brides popping out of a Tesla on our wedding day was legit rad! They handed out our gift bags at the front desk, got our guests settled with ease, set us up with an open sky level meeting room for us for our hair and makeup, and allowed us to rent out their AMAZING rooftop lounge for our rehearsal gathering which ended up being a beautiful cocktail party. We also used it for brunch the morning after the wedding. Omg. The weather was stunning and I got to bid farewell to my west coast family with the beautiful breeze, the sun shining perfectly, and a beautiful city as the backdrop to conversations that reminisced about the evening before with bloody Marys and mimosas. Did I mention they even sent us flowers on our wedding day? The people who work there were so cool and so nice it almost felt like they were our own friends and family. Like, they cared that much about making sure our wedding weekend was a success. A few folks who I wanna mention by name that went ABOVE and BEYOND. Carla oversaw our room block and was courteous, flexible when she could be, provided frequent updates, and responded promptly. Jacklyn oversaw our events. Was fabulous. Helped us set-up playlists, coordinated with our event vendors, made sure the rooms were set-up well, even had the bar create dueling cocktails during the rehearsal dinner. She was a great leader, very responsive, and made sure things were set-up early enough that we could take a look and make any changes if needed (they didn't need to change a thing). Evan made sure that we had access to the spaces and that we had an adequate room block. Really knowledgeable. Even upgraded the bridal suite. Five stars. A+. If you are considering this and another place, your search is over. The AKA Hotel wins everything. My wife and I plan to stay here on our year anniversary though ... so don't book then okay? Thanks!

Ed R.

Yelp
Wow! The amenity floor, which is on the 28th floor, is dynamite! It's such a comfortable place. And there are multiple different environments on this floor. One room is a golf course simulator. There's like 30 different courses you can take a whack at. Another room is the movie room. It's comfortable. Another area is a let's-do-business sort of place with conference rooms and a library-like setting. They've got a 70 foot long pool with a view of the city up there. There's a gym with terrific Center City views. They've got a lounge/bar area. And the outdoor terrace on the 28th floor is a unique aerial marvel. Access to the amenity floor is for hotel guests, gym members, and residents of the building. But it is possible to see it. Just ask the doorman. If he's not too busy, you've got a good shot at getting a tour. (It would be cool of you to tip the fellow at the conclusion of the tour.) It's an interesting and worthwhile excursion if you are interested in seeing views from way up while in a luxury environment. And you can park in the garage right next door. Just 4 bucks for the first 30 minutes. (For Philly, that's a bargain!) And while you're there, if the weather is good, check out the park in the sky known as "Cira Green." It's on the top floor of that parking garage. Guaranteed to be interesting on any nice day.

Jermaine B.

Yelp
I just finished a nine night stay at this location, it was amazing! When I first opened the door to my one bedroom suite, I could not believe what I was seeing, It was even better than the pictures on the website.I can't wait to stay again, and I'll definitely recommend this "Hotel" ( more like a home away from home) to any and everyone I know!

Keli M.

Yelp
New beautiful modern hotel on the border of University City. The front desk staff have all. Been extremely friendly, and cheerful. The hotel is located in the Cira Center South Building (FMC), and the entrance is located off of 30th street. The interior is clean and modern, the finishes are beautiful, and we stayed on the 33rd floor, which gave great views of the city. Well, most of the marketing showed views facing the Liberty Place buildings, ours was facing more Northwest, so it was more of a view of the 30th St Station... and the train tracks. Still nice, but not what I was hoping for. We booked the studio, which had plenty of room for the two of us, there is even a small washer and dryer! I loved the look of everything. Why 4 stars? We were excited to used the beautiful pool, and had some free time on our first day there. It was closed for maintenance. We really did not have any other time during our trip, so it was disappointing. I feel they should have let people know that ahead of time. The other issue is that they tested the fire alarms at 8:30am on a Saturday. No Bueno, in fact it pissed me off. Why did it have to be that early. So what I hoped to be a relaxing, luxurious stay was kind of meh. It is New construction and some of these issues are due to that, but I feel that we should have been forewarned about the loud alarm testing and the pool being out of commission.

Borneo G.

Yelp
I booked a reservation here through priceline and my boyfriend and I were overwhelmingly impressed! We booked three nights in a studio and my god, it was so clean and beautiful. There was a full kitchen with amenities (dishwasher, oven, stove, AND microwave) and dishes, bathroom, king sized bed, plus a washer and dryer. Just fabulous. We did use the oven once to make dinner and the washer/dryer before our trip home. The hotel amenities are just as nice. On the 28th floor there is a swimming pool, small theater (where they show movies on the weekend), meeting rooms, and a nice patio set up. Plus at 7am they serve continental breakfast, so that's always a plus. We couldn't believe the going rate for this place as it was much cheaper than our Boston hotel. Highly recommended! Next time I am in Philly, I hope I can book another stay here!!!

Tim O.

Yelp
Level 28 is the best. Amazing amenities, Golf Simulator, Bar, Outside Deck, Fancy Coffee Maker. Gym is nice. Pool is great, love to do a morning swim before my workday. Also has a impressive movie theater with super comfy seats. May have the nicest view of skyline in Philadelphia. Yes Level28 is great with wonderful amenities but what sets them apart is their fantastic staff. Always cheerful and willing to go the extra mile. I can't recommend the place enough. Jaclyn is a superstar she runs a buttoned up operation.

Tiffany B.

Yelp
As an avid traveler I am extremely particular about accommodations. I have to say AKA University City did not disappoint. In true AKA fashion it is an ultra luxury hotel. We stayed in the deluxe 2 br penthouse which was ample space for my family for the weekend. The master bedroom with an insuite bathroom was perfect to seperate the adults from the children. The bed was extremely confortable. I was able to prepare a fabulous lunch our first day there in the fully appointed kitchen. The soundbar in the living area was easy to access and play the soundtrack for our family weekend. The amenities on level 28 were outstanding, from the elegant pool area, sleek gym and cozy movie theatre; we were able to take advantage of all the offerings during our stay. The Walnut St Grill downstairs was a great place to have brunch Sunday morning and my teenangers loved the french toast. Overall we enjoyed our visit immensely. The only negative was a mishap at check in at which time we did not recieve the floor requested over another guest who was not present but expressed as a high profile client by the front desk staff. I would say that while this left a really bad taste in my mouth, I charged that indiscretion to the particular guest services professional and not the establishment. I hope that in the future the client that is present would be treated as just as valuable as any other client. That is the sole reason I did not give them a 5 Star rating. But I will be returning to give them a chance to rectify the previous encounter with better customer service.

Tanya M.

Yelp
This place was amazing!!! It was a bit hard to find, and they don't accommodate your parking in the garage but it was the nicest hotel I've ever been in. They are full apartments. Two bedrooms, kitchen,great room. 2 full baths and a washer and dryer. So beautiful, and a amazing view of the city. Luxury at its finest. The only downfall was the the front desk couldn't help us with where we could get food after midnight. They said call Uber eats??

Heather T.

Yelp
Originally, we spoke with Carla about trying to book a short term stay due to my husband and I temporarily relocating to Philadelphia for our daughter to be born at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. We were referred to their hotel/apartments from CHOP as they supposedly have CHOP rates for families in need. From the get-go something seemed a bit " car salesmany" about her; which I overlooked as we were in a bind and needed to try to come up with a solution as quickly as possible. Carla knew from the beginning that our unborn daughter has a very rare heart condition in which she would need several open heart surgeries to "fix" and an even rarer chest wall defect that again, requires surgery. Even with knowing that information it almost seemed as if she was trying to "upsell" me with their apartments. I'm in sales- and I know the tactics and she was definitely using them. Which to be honest is extremely uncomfortable given the situation we're in financially with the necessary medical costs to help save our daughters life. When we originally were quoted, we were quoted a rate that was too high. She asked us what we could afford and magically she was able to make it happen. After speaking with my husband, the number I initially stated we could afford seemed out of reach because that's when we found out about additional surgeries. That's when she basically threw it back in my face and said "oh, well I did exactly what you asked". I explained what happened and she tried the additional sales tactics stating most of the other hotels in the area don't have kitchens or washers and dryer's and we'd be forced to eat out every night and go to the laundromat. It was all too salesy for me and was a bit offensive, so we basically responded with "we're not going to spend additional money on ourselves when that money can go towards our daughters medical bills that are necessary for her survival". At that point I think she got the hint and backed off a bit. Flash forward to yesterday- only 2 weeks after the last conversation we had regarding the apartment. My job was kind enough to try to help get our family some help due to everything going on. It's not definitive but something they're really trying to process for us. With the additional funding we could afford AKA. I excitedly reached back out to Carla because I FINALLY felt like things were aligning after months of stress going back and forth with our doctors and trying to find a place to live. Suddenly, once they found out I may have additional funding the rates went up over 60%! Keep in mind, we were never told that the prices could change- especially so quickly. If we were told differently we would have acted upon something more aggressively. I have all the text messages between Carla and I to prove it. Literally 2 weeks prior we were offered a rate that was $65 less per day but then magically it increased? I've been in the hospitality business- including property management and I can tell something fishy was going on. After voicing my concerns that we were being taken advantage of, Carla said she'd speak with her director and get back to me. The next day, I called and spoke with the director (who I will admit was much more pleasant to speak with but unfortunately not very helpful) and she basically told me "oh yeah, Carla should have told you the rates could increase, I'm sorry". After months of trying to solidify something- all of it boiled down to "sorry". When a couple is going through a hardship such as trying to save their child's life- the last thing they need is additional stress. Unfortunately that's EXACTLY what AKA did. I cannot in good faith recommended a place that takes advantage of vulnerable people and leaves them high & dry because they can all of a sudden book rooms at higher rates. Don't say you'll help families in need and then leave them hanging the second you can book a room at full price. That's classless and quite frankly heartless.

Alexa K.

Yelp
The staff over--stands the art of hospitality! Other hotels in the area had better watch out, this hotel knows the secret to creating the ultimate getaway experience. The front door men are always courteous and front desk is refreshing helpful minus the "front desk attitude" you get in most hotels. So here it is: Pros- *The AMENITIES! Check out the 28th floor. Wow!! Gorgeous swimming pool, movie theater, gulf simulator, and more. *The views in the rooms make your eyes pop and transport you to another place. Really! It's that nice. Cons- *Hmmm..... I'd say the restaurant attached to the hotel could open earlier on a Sunday but then again, it gave us an excuse to see more of the beautiful city and try a new restaurant. Wait, is this a con? *Ah, here's one- the golf simulator needs an instructions sheet for non gamers. We just clicked buttons and wacked the gulf ball, which was fun but we would have enjoyed it more if we knew how to work the machine for a proper game. Side Note: Shout out to Eric and Steve at the front desk (lol). Also need to mention the maintenance man who was called to fix our remote but instead got us a room upgrade. Boom! Yea, that happened ;) That's all I got people! The hotel is awesome. Hubby and I will surely return

Priscilla B.

Yelp
AKA University City defines luxury in Philadelphia. It's the tallest building in the city with attentive staff, phenomenal amenities (including a top-of-the line gym, lap pool, lounge, cinema, and business center), and the best apartments (or hotel rooms) money can buy. If you're here whether for short-term or long-term, I recommend checking out the rentals!

Deb C.

Yelp
I have lived in this apartment building for three months and really wish I did not sign a 2 year lease. To get anything delivered at the loading dock such as purchased furniture from a high quality company requires a COI. That is not the problem, the issue is that they will not work with the furniture store at all so you have to be the middle man. I have had to do this on multiple times which is not reasonable for a busy professional paying over 5K a month to live here. Unless you have a assistant to follow up on all the details I would avoid the frustration and rent somewhere else.

Jincy K.

Yelp
This place is hands down the best hotel I've ever stayed in. So luxurious and clean! Definitely worth the $$$ if you are willing to splurge.

Joe S.

Yelp
Can't imagine a nicer place to stay in the city. Gorgeous rooms, incredible customer service and the best view in Philadelphia. Meghan at the front desk went out of her way to make us happy. Joe, one of the managers literally sprinted at one point to make sure we didn't have to wait. These people could not have been more accommodating, cool, funny and nice. I live in the suburbs, but can't imagine wanting to stay anywhere else in the city. The showers, the indoor golf and cinema venues, the view from the terrace, just everything was amazing. Book a room now!

Al-fatir S.

Yelp
Great place I don't know what they would do without Kamilah Short. Now she's the best very helpful always there when I need her help so it's her for me A very nice lady. I have had such a nice service like that in a long while

Melissa S.

Yelp
Gorgeous hotel. A view like no other and pristine rooms. The gym was such a treat - could stay all day with that view. Excellent location. Could not have been happier. Frederick at the front desk went out of his way to ensure our stay was pleasant. Highly recommend.

Kathy F.

Yelp
We love the AKA University City. We always use the AKA for our company's needs when we have out of town guests. Recently we have had the pleasure of working with Tony Derasmo, what an extremely helpful individual. Aside from providing top notch customer service - I have heard nothing by rave reviews from our group that is currently there. Thank you so very much Tony!!

Cherie D.

Yelp
I can't say enough about this hotel. Simply the best. Simply amazing. Heaven. I am spoiled, and can never use a normal hotel again!

David T.

Yelp
So this hotel is aesthetically great. Beautiful amenities floor, nice rooms. Stayed there on a long-term corporate lease. However, management is terrible. We had non-stop issues with billing, cleaning and basically anything related to basic hotel management. Despite paying bills in full every month our credit card was repeatedly charged without authorization even weeks after we checked out. Would not return nor recommend.

Erin C.

Yelp
This property ruined us for any other hotel in Philly. They knew we would be arriving late and had a list of late night and delivery options ready for us at check in. The apartment was incredible and perfect having a family where we could spread out and feel like home. Even though it's on the edge of the city it was less than 10 mins from 30th St Station to Old City and a quick walk to Rittenhouse Square. The pool and fitness center on the 28th floor topped off an awesome weekend.

Stephanie H.

Yelp
I don't even know where to start. I am torn between 4 and 5 stars and you'll read why...This place is amazing and the customer service is wonderful! We checked in and got an upgrade from a studio to a 1BDR w/den and 2BTH which was VERY spacious. We were on the 30th floor so the view was amazing as well. The 28th floor housed the amenities which were all kind of cool. I was very disappointed that they were working on the pool. I purposely changed to this hotel BECAUSE they had a nice pool but, when I got there it was closed. Looks to be that it will be closed for a while so, if you are looking to relax in an indoor pool, call first. I think they should put at least a small announcement on the website to let people know though. The location is not far at all from shopping, food, a nice running trail, and the Philadelphia Art Museum. The only other complaint I would have would be the lady with housekeeping. I had the "Do not disturb" sign on the door while I walked downstairs to get food for my partner and I. I did this because she was still sleeping. I come back up and the door is cracked open. I thought maybe my partner wanted to walk around. But no, housekeeping was in the room walking around asking if I needed room service. I told her "no" and she took my "Do not disturb" sign as well. I thought the purpose of this was to let them know NOT to come in and DISTURB you. Anyway...the stay was still great and I would recommend it to anyone.

Joe B.

Yelp
This is the most poorly managed rental I have ever experienced. Almost nothing is done right. Stay away if possible.

Faina s.

Yelp
OMG!!! I love this place. Watched it being built for a few years and finally had an opportunity to stay here. What can I say? The service was superb. The staff was friendly and went above and beyond. The room/studio was so beautiful. I honestly did not want to check out when it was time to leave. Appliances, built ins, design were so modern and top of the line. I was very lucky to also have a gorgeous view. I will stay here from now on.

Andrea M.

Yelp
Loved staying here when our Daughter was in Childrens Hospital...but when we wanted to come for her follow up they only had a minimum stay of 2 nights. Sad as we were such loyal customers.

Alden M.

Yelp
Very nice space with a nice view - but the guests next door decided to have a loud party in their room which meant I couldn't sleep - and the hotel didn't seem to do anything about this. I won't be staying at this hotel again.