Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia: The Best Place to Stay in Philly

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We just had the dreamiest stay at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia. This was our first trip to the birthplace of America and we had a blast touring all of the historical sights. But… our experience at this hotel was so incredible, it turned out to be the highlight of the entire trip.

Hotel Monaco Philadelphia Review

Let’s rewind a bit. I have been learning about traveling on points and miles. Since we always prefer to stay at Kimpton properties, my husband and I applied for IHG credit cards. We got a great sign up bonus and booked our whole stay on points.

The website was not allowing me to book a room for more than four people. I had to call the Kimpton representative who confirmed that as long as the fifth was a child, it was ok to stay there. He also requested a roll-away bed for us.

The day before we left for our trip, we got a call from the hotel manager letting us know that our request for the roll-away bed was declined due to fire code. My heart dropped because I was so afraid we weren’t going to be allowed in the room with five people.

I explained the situation to her and this woman was so wonderful, she walked me through the process for upgrading our room on points. Rachel found us a room that suited our needs perfectly. I went from thinking we had no room to having an amazing suite. If we were in person, I would have kissed her on the lips.

She explained that she likes to get ahead of issues like that ahead of time so that we wouldn’t be stuck at the desk trying to check in for ages. I can’t even explain how much I appreciated that, especially after a 5 hour ride with little kids.

We pulled up to the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, handed the keys to the valet, and our vacation began. Kimpton won my kids over from the second they walked in the door when a toy chest was rolled out for them. They each got to choose something from the bin as part of their “Kimpton Kids” program.

Thanks to Rachel, check in was a breeze and we head straight up to our room.

When I say my jaw dropped when I opened the door, I am not exaggerating. This was the most beautiful suite I have ever stayed in.

We entered into a sitting room with a television and pull out couch. Down a little hallway, there was a bedroom with a king-sized bed and vaulted ceilings.

The bathroom had a soaking tub that looked over Independence Park. The staff had left us a plate of nibbles with delicious cheese, berries, chocolate and crackers. It was the prefect greeting after a day in the car.

Location of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia

As if the room wasn’t perfect enough, the location of this hotel can’t be beat. It sits diagonally across from Independence Hall and a two minute walk from the Liberty Bell.

There are bikes you can borrow to ride around town to check out the sites. We loved that we could just walk to the majority of the attractions. We didn’t touch our car the whole time we were there. We only had to get an Uber to the Rocky Steps.

When we would be gone from the hotel for a few hours, someone would say “let’s just get back to the room.” It was like our little sanctuary in the city.

Another thing the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia does right is the lobby scene. This lobby was so inviting, it would draw you in. There was a nice chess set that the kids were glued to.

Kimptons are well known for their free wine hour each night. But there is also a coffee bar in the morning with little nooks you can settle into for a little privacy.

We enjoyed dinner at the Red Owl Tavern the first night. It was a casual place to unwind and they had a great kids menu. My husband and I also got to check out Stratus, the rooftop bar which is a whole vibe in itself.

We were so well taken care of at this hotel. Every employee we crossed paths with went out of their way to make sure we had a pleasant stay. When one of the valet drivers heard that my son was upset he forgot his iPad in the car, he pulled the car right around so he could retrieve it.

Lizzie looked forward to the turn down service each night when a pleasant woman knocked on the door and handed her chocolates and a wash cloth.

Honestly, it was so good, it ruined us. The next hotel we stayed in along our route couldn’t hold a match to the Monaco in Philly. My husband said “Is this hotel terrible? Or is it just not the Monaco?” They set the bar high and it was never reached again.

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia is the perfect base for exploring Philly. You will be completely immersed in Philadelphia’s rich history. The only trouble is that you won’t want to leave the room!

The hotel is luxurious without the pretentiousness and your every need will be tended to with a smile. I can not say enough good things about this hotel. It is the best option for a stay in Philadelphia.

Be sure to read our guide to the best things to do in Philadelphia. From The Liberty Bell to Independence Hall, this city is seeping with history.