"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe? Pulling up to the hotel, I’ll admit: I was a little nonplussed. Outside, it looks a lot like any other skyscraper that just happens to have ‘Four Seasons’ stamped across the entry. But as we began to shoot up to the 60th-floor sky lobby at more than a floor per second, with Ben Franklin Parkway flying into view through the elevator’s glass wall, I started to shed my skepticism. When we finally reached the top, and I found myself looking out over an enormous swath of Philadelphia, with Jeff Leatham-designed floral arrangements framing my path to the check-in desk, I conceded total defeat. Basically, it blew me away.
What's the backstory? This is a Four Seasons: Expect seamless service and a lot of greige carpeting. However, this particular Four Seasons is somewhat unique in that so many big names were tapped for its creation: floral designer Jeff Leatham, composer Brian Eno, architect Norman Foster, and chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Greg Vernick. Each of the elements these folks have contributed, whether a dedicated musical score, meticulous floral arrangements, or a global food profile, has merged to make this project feel singular and special. It’s not often that Philly feels like the center of the world, but it does here.
Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book? Our Landmark Corner Suite was gorgeous: light and bright, elegant but unstuffy. The king-size bed had a pristine, cloud-white duvet and sheets; by the foot of it sat a lounge chair and ottoman ideal for reading. We also had a small living room that could be separated from the bedroom area with a sliding white leather door; had we stayed longer, the two rooms and their two TVs probably would’ve been useful for our great E! versus ESPN divide. Honey-colored wooden accent walls felt sculptural and modern; they curved around the room in a way that enhanced the abundant views, which were easily the best part. From almost every vantage point, we could see some sliver of the city: the tip of Billy Penn’s hat, One Liberty Place, Ben Franklin Parkway (from the bathtub!), even Eastern State Penitentiary. And, unlike New York, there’s very little in the way of height competition, so the vistas are more or less unobstructed. You really feel like you’re just sitting in the sky. The hotel also gets serious bonus points for techy touches like a volume knob in the bathroom (so you can listen to the news while you're in the shower without cranking the TV) and the switches next to the bed that control the blackout shades as well as the lights.
Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? There are a few different ways to game the F&B here. We only spent one night in the hotel, so we opted to eat at Jean-Georges on the 59th floor, and the de facto star of the sunken lobby. For JG fans, the food is reminiscent of the manicured fine dining at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's other eponymous restaurants around the world. We went all out and ordered the seven-course summer tasting menu, and enjoyed a steady, three-hour deployment of small dishes like tuna tartare with chili oil and sautéed Maine lobster in an unctuous Aleppo pepper-garlic broth. Given more time I would’ve loved to have tried Vernick Fish, the downstairs restaurant run by local favorite Greg Vernick, but alas, we could only consume so many meals in a day.
And the service?The service sits apart from other hotels of its caliber—in the best way. It’s on-point and enthusiastic, sure, but genuine, too. The hotel just opened, so maybe that’s what accounts for it, but there’s a real atmosphere of excitement, and the staff seems to want to represent the greatest manifestation of the Four Seasons brand. Many of them are Philadelphia natives, too, and expressed the spirit of generosity that exists in the city. There are a few staff members I’d like to single out: Josie, who showed us to our room, was a delight; Charles, one of the valets, who tended to us while we were waiting for our car, bringing us water and loading our bags; and Anthony at the front desk. I’m sure there are more, but that’s who I remember specifically. All three were incredibly attentive and kind, and exemplified exactly what you expect from Four Seasons service.
What type of travelers will you find here? Look around, and you’ll likely spot thirtysomethings who grew up along Philadelphia’s tony Main Line and are in town for the weekend to attend an old friend’s wedding: think, petite blondes in Ralph Lauren shifts, and their handsome, stocky husbands all gussied up in Brooks Brothers. There were Penn parents, too, likely moving their kids into college that weekend.
What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene? The Four Seasons is less than a 10-minute walk from the Ben Franklin Parkway, where you’ll find museums like the Barnes, the Rodin, and, of course, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is great. But the central location is at once expected and surprising; the former because the families, couples, and businesspeople who are putting their feet up here for the night will no doubt want to do some sightseeing during the day; the latter because of how quiet the hotel’s cross street actually is. It is a bit of a hike—about a 30-minute walk—from the Liberty Bell and Independence Park, but of course, you could just have the hotel’s Tesla service drop you off there…
Any other hotel features worth noting? I didn’t bring my bathing suit, but I should have; the infinity-edge pool on the 57th floor is not to be missed. I also didn’t make it to the gym, but it’s a beautiful one, with a wall of eight televisions and again, those inescapable views of the city. Next time, I’d also pencil in a drink at the sky lobby bar, which predictably becomes a swanky late-night scene where the locals flock for a proper cocktail and a background for the night’s requisite IG post. I also got to know the hotel's pet policy when two Philly-based friends booked a suite at the hotel to celebrate their engagement while we were there, and the hotel was kind enough to accommodate their pup with treats and a dog bed.
One thing I loved about this hotel—and maybe it’s due to its newness—is how Philadelphians, themselves, are taken with it. During our dinner at Jean-Georges, no fewer than five couples made their way through the dining room; not to eat, but just to take pictures of the views. One couple even lugged their baby, who was in a carrier, next to our table by the window for a family selfie. I couldn’t help but volunteer to snap a family portrait; I was moved by the fact that they were excited enough about the hotel to schlep their baby up 60 floors, down a set of steep-ish stairs, and through a restaurant, just to take it all in.
Bottom line: Worth it? I’d like to put up fliers to tell people about this place. It really is special, and full of the kinds of people who care about making your experience—both at the hotel, and in Philadelphia itself—as perfect as possible (with just the right amount of fuss). As one bartender smartly told us, “It’s still Philly.”" - Betsy Blumenthal
