Center City / City Hall

The Notary Hotel, Philadelphia, Autograph Collection

★★★★★

The Notary Hotel turns a piece of civic Philadelphia into a stylish, central base. The building went up in 1926 in the Classical Revival style, designed by architect Philip H. Johnson, and served for decades as the City Hall Annex — the place where Philadelphians came to get marriage licenses, register businesses and have their documents notarized, hence the name. Its conversion to a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel kept the good bones: original marble floors, bronze moldings and grand public spaces, layered with 1920s-inspired decor that nods to the building's era. Dining runs through Sabroso+Sorbo, a Spanish-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar, and Pressed Coffee Bar for illy coffee and pastries, with in-room delivery from the restaurant. The hotel is pet-friendly and cashless, with a fitness center equipped with Pelotons. Its address, on Juniper Street in the shadow of City Hall, is about as central as Philadelphia gets: Reading Terminal Market is a few minutes' walk, the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Chinatown are steps away, Rittenhouse Square and the Avenue of the Arts are short walks, and City Hall station connects to both subway lines. The Notary is a strong upper-mid-range choice for travelers who want historic character without luxury pricing, and a good alternative to big convention hotels when the city is busy.

The story of the building is a pleasant bonus. City Hall itself is a giant, and the Annex handled the overflow of everyday civic business for much of the twentieth century; hotel staff and decor lean into that history, and the lobby's marble and bronze make it feel more substantial than many boutique conversions. Rooms combine the old building's proportions with modern comforts, and the location means upper-floor views can include City Hall's tower and William Penn atop it.

Practical notes: check-in is in the afternoon and check-out at noon, and the minimum check-in age is 21. Parking is by valet and expensive, as it is throughout Center City, so arrive by train if you can — 30th Street Station is a short ride away, and the airport line stops at nearby Jefferson Station. The hotel partners with the spa at The Ritz-Carlton nearby for treatments. Pets are welcome for a fee, and the cashless policy means a card is required for incidentals, though there is a cash-to-card machine in the lobby.

Who it suits: first-timers who want to be centrally placed between the historic district and the museums; food-focused travelers who will be in and out of Reading Terminal Market; convention-goers who would rather sleep in a historic building; and couples on a mid-range budget looking for character. Families wanting a pool should look elsewhere, but for location and atmosphere at a fair price, the Notary is one of Center City's best-value stays.