Mary Cassatt once commented on how she touched some people with a sense of art, saying, “They felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to that joy for an artist?” Well Mary, I think we found it.
Between the old world atmosphere and the sweeping views of Rittenhouse Square, the impressionist painter would have feigned to believe that an AAA five-diamond hotel usurped the address of her brother’s townhouse. Mary’s former home was torn down to make way for the Rittenhouse Hotel, a premium accommodation whose guests often share the same high level of prestige. Ranked as one of the world’s leading deluxe lodgings, the Rittenhouse Hotel is akin to New York City’s former grande dame, the Plaza Hotel. While it is a home away from home for modern-day stars and celebrities, the building and furnishings seem to breathe a rich history of luxury and refinement.
Located amidst the Belgian stone courtyards and manicured gardens of Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, the hotel’s neighbors are the most exclusive apartments and townhouses along the city’s most prominent square. A bronze statue of Mary Cassatt gracing the front entrance resembles that of an enchantress and ushers in a whimsical neo-Victorian atmosphere in the marble foyer. The lobby is adorned with ornate Greco-Roman columns, dark wood paneling and sumptuous furnishings. Warm hues of golden honey and gilded throw pillows give the feeling that you’ve stepped foot into a mansion.
The 98 guest accommodations, including 11 suites, are some of the most spacious hotel rooms in the city, with plenty of room for plush duvets and 42” HD televisions. Spacious baths with oversized tubs and walk in showers will surprise you. Decorated in a fashionably classic sense with rich mahogany furniture and patterned carpeting, the rooms exude character and feature beautiful picture windows looking out onto the City of Brotherly Love.
Some of the loyal staff has been in service to the hotel since its opening in 1989, providing a level of discreet service that has earned the AAA Five Diamond Award every year since 1991. The staff bends over backwards to satisfy every guest, and there are some extraordinary stories underscoring this fact. We were stunned to hear how a high profile celebrity had gotten his wish for a sauna to be installed in his room, and how David Benton, the hotel’s general manager, had once personally escorted a bride to her own wedding in the hotel in his SUV when she fretted that a sudden snowstorm might interfere with the plans. The Rittenhouse team prides itself on providing a real luxury experience, and round the clock pampering backs-up the claim.
For the fortunate guests the Rittenhouse’s special touches are seemingly endless: the lyrical Cassatt pieces adorning the lobby walls, silky throw pillows breathing luxury, flutes of champagne following afternoon tea offered in the Mary Cassatt Tea Room. And to top it off, the hotel is home to the exquisite cuisine of Lacroix, a refined restaurant dubbed #1 for service and #5 on the Best Restaurant List by Philadelphia Magazine. Relax in the Adolf Biecker Spa and Salon, named one of the Top Five Salons and Spas in the U.S. by Intercoiffure Mondial, with premier health and beauty services to prove it. Or work up a sweat in the hotel’s award winning fitness center then take a few laps in the amazing indoor pool.
Whether you are a connoisseur of the finer things in life or a professional needing to be coddled while on business in the city, a stay at the Rittenhouse Hotel will have you thinking about a return. And if you don’t believe in the power of awards of which the hotel has many, just notice the smiling faces of its dedicated staff. Exceptional service, a breathtaking environment and utter refinement never go out of style.
The Rittenhouse Hotel
210 West Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
215-546-9000
800-635-1042
www.rittenhousehotel.com