A Family Weekend at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

I recently spent a long weekend at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. When it comes to family travel, you really can’t beat staying at a Four Seasons property, and this Four Seasons hotel is no exception.

Kids are indulged as soon as they enter the establishment. They get an afternoon and bedtime snack. They even offer pint-sized robes for little tykes. The rooms were made with comfort in mind and extremely spacious for families traveling with children (or pets, which they allow and offer fresh-baked dog biscuits and bottled water served in a silver bowl). They have a spacious pool, typically swarming with children and their parents. Lastly, the onsite dining is plentiful, and you can do all your dining either in one of their restaurants or in your room and never leave the hotel if that makes it easier on your family.

Four Seasons Philadelphia Family-Friendly Hotel Review

First-Class Customer Service Awaits Traveling Families

The kind of warm, professional and quality service that you get from a Four Seasons Hotel was obvious as soon as we pulled up and valet’ed our car. The men standing outside the hotel in traditional valet uniforms gave us big welcomes, warm smiles and showed us to reception.

After we were given the full low-down on the hotel, my kids were offered a choice of candy or raisins (I applaud the healthy option). We chose to locate our room on our own, but we were certainly given the option of being escorted.

Our Family-Friendly Room with a View

Our room had a gorgeous view of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in all its spring glory, reminding me that warmer weather was on its way after a tough winter. Rooms on the hotel’s north side offer the best views of the Greek Revival public library and family court, Logan Circle, and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The hotel also offers many options for families with double beds (non-suite) that face the Parkway or other suites that have couch pullouts or accommodate rollaway beds for children. They also offer on-site laundry service and free limo service around Center City.

The first thing that we all noticed was that we had a doorbell! We were all stunned but later when we would be lying in our room, far away from the front door, but we would understand why we had one when cupcakes were delivered to our door as an afternoon treat for the kids. The room was perfect – we had a suite with a sofa bed, comfy chairs, an end table and a flat-screen television. It was the perfect space to hang out in after a long day out hopping around the city.

The decor is simple but classy, with soft linens & two beds with a headboard. There is even a vanity to either get ready for a big evening out or to use as a work space (which is what I did). The bathroom is also spacious, complete with two toilets and a very large bathtub, perfect for bathing your kids at the end of a long day.

Activities for Kids at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and Beyond

Four Seasons Philadelphia has a beautiful, spacious pool and spa on the lower level of the hotel. We swam twice and made use of the Jacuzzi.  Both were full of young families and there was still plenty of room to swim and get exercise. We all felt so refreshed after the experience and it really made our visit incredibly special.

The hotel is a very centrally located hotel, located off the Benjamin Franklin Parkway where you have access to so much culture and education. From the hotel, we walked to the Barnes Collection and Rodin Museum, two museums right next door to one another.

The Barnes Foundation maintains and displays of the world’s leading collections of French impressionist and post-impressionist paintings and our visit was really a unique experience. Both my kids had an audio tour created for children that led them around the museum, in addition to a very cool scavenger hunt that subtly taught them about the art they were experiencing. The Rodin Museum was equally impressive. It houses the largest collection of sculptor Auguste Rodin’s works outside Paris.

Eating at Four Seasons Philadelphia

Downstairs in the hotel lobby, there are two dining options for guests: the Swann Lounge and the Fountain Restaurant. Known for its lavish desserts and an extensive afternoon tea menu, The Lounge also has a great dinner menu, complete with a kid’s menu with a variety of options. For starters, we shared a baby kale salad and side of hummus with raw vegetables. The entrees were out of this world, with choices ranging from salmon to lamb chops, and the food is fresh, tasty and filling. Our server was truly amazing, as nice as they come, just like the rest of the staff at the hotel.

The Fountain Restaurant is more upscale and we could have had breakfast there the next morning but my kids opted for room service. The menu has a nice variety offering everything from eggs to potatoes to turkey sausage to cereals to fruit and yogurt. I always love seeing my children experience breakfast in bed!

I highly recommend a weekend visit to the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia with kids! From outstanding customer service, to being right next to an abundance of culture and history, you can’t do better than this for family getaway.

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Relevant Links:

Best family hotels and things to do in Philadelphia with kids

Editor’s Note: Holly was given complimentary accommodations at the Four Seasons. As always, our opinions are our own on Ciao Bambino. Photos by Holly Rosen Fink except where noted.