Entry No. 49 · Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
At 1,408 rooms this is the largest hotel in Pennsylvania and the fifth largest Marriott in the United States — a Center City convention machine with skyline views, reliable rooms, no pool, and walkable access to Independence Hall and the restaurant scene.
- Brand
- Marriott
- Tier
- Upper-Upscale
- Room
- Deluxe King
- Cash
- $180–350 / night
- Points
- 35,000–55,000
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Location
The Marriott Philadelphia Downtown sits on Market Street in Center City, connected to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are a 10-minute walk east, and Rittenhouse Square’s restaurants and shops are 10 minutes west. 30th Street Station (Amtrak) is a 15-minute walk, and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is approximately 20 minutes by car or train.
The Property
The Marriott Philadelphia Downtown is one of the largest hotels in the city, serving as the primary convention center hotel. The lobby is grand with a soaring atrium. There is no pool, which surprises people at a hotel this size — the recreation offer is a complimentary fitness centre with free weights, yoga mats, Peloton bikes and a full cardio range. It is a convention hotel first and foremost, but the Center City location and reliable Marriott quality make it a practical choice for leisure travelers as well.
Check-In
Check-in can be busy during conventions. Bonvoy Platinum and Titanium members receive upgrades to higher floors or suites when available.
Deluxe King
The Deluxe King room is clean and modern with a comfortable king bed, work desk, flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, and a Keurig coffee maker. Higher floors offer impressive views of the Philadelphia skyline including City Hall’s iconic William Penn statue. The rooms are recently refreshed and well-maintained.
Bathroom
Standard Marriott bathroom with walk-in shower, single vanity, and quality amenities. Functional and clean.
Restaurants & Bars
THIRTEEN and Circ Bar (Breakfast)
The hotel’s restaurant serves breakfast with both buffet and à la carte options. Acceptable quality. Philadelphia’s incredible food scene (Reading Terminal Market is literally across the street) means you should venture out for most meals.
Amenities
Dining runs deeper than the convention-hotel average. THIRTEEN handles American food and the breakfast service, weekdays 6:30 to 10 a.m. and to 11 a.m. at weekends. Circ Bar works the lobby until midnight, 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Liberty Lanes Pub is the oddity and the one worth finding — a speakeasy-style pub with bowling lanes, open Tuesday and Friday through Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m. only. The Center City Pantry runs 24/7 with La Colombe coffee and house-made ice cream. The Club Lounge, with its own concierge desk, is complimentary for Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Elite members plus one guest, and includes a hot breakfast buffet, evening hors d’oeuvres and dessert, and non-alcoholic drinks; alcohol is charged. There is no pool and no spa. Valet parking is steep at $72.58 a day including tax, $87.25 for oversized vehicles, with a 6’8″ garage clearance — off-site valet at Parkway Parking is 0.1 miles away.
Getting There
The hotel is skywalk-connected to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, which is the entire point for most guests here and worth real money in February. The 13th Street subway station is at the door, buses run on Market at 12th, the Greyhound terminal is close, and 30th Street Station is a 15-minute walk or a short ride for Amtrak. Philadelphia International is 10 miles out. City Hall is one block; Reading Terminal Market and Independence Hall are both an easy walk east. Meeting planners: 93,868 square feet across 72 event rooms, with a 33,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom seating 2,520 for a banquet, Franklin Hall at 31,962, Liberty Ballroom at 6,140 and Independence Ballroom at 2,640.
Bottom Line
The Marriott Philadelphia Downtown is a reliable convention hotel in an excellent Center City location. Reading Terminal Market across the street alone justifies the location. The rooms are clean, the staff is professional, and the skyline views from upper floors are impressive. Not a destination hotel, but a solid base for exploring one of America’s most underrated food cities.
Value
| Cash rate | $180–350 / night |
|---|---|
| Award cost | 35,000–55,000 |
| Implied cpp | 0.56¢ |
Cash rates average $180-$350/night. Bonvoy redemptions run 35,000-55,000 points/night. At $250 average, a 45,000-point redemption yields ~0.56cpp — above Marriott’s 0.5cpp threshold. Book Philadelphia Marriott Downtown through Scott & Thomas