Gay Philadelphia Philadelphia City Guide

Curation by Jamie McGhee, words by Ian Packham

One of the oldest cities in the United States – founded in 1682 by William Penn – Philadelphia marries a rich history with a charm usually reserved for small towns. Its attractive streets of red brick townhouses bore witness to the Declaration of Independence and First Continental Congress, and are now enveloped in more than 2,000 spectacular murals that bring art from the museums to the streets. The ‘City of Brotherly Love’ also has equality embedded into its very DNA. As one of the birthplaces of the gay rights movement, Philly was among the first US cities to actively promote pink tourism, making the Pennsylvania city a relaxed and open destination for gay visitors seeking to experience Philadelphia points to interest for themselves.

The Best Hotels in Philadelphia

For a stay of rare intimacy, The Dwight D Hotel occupies a handsome 1840s townhouse just moments from Rittenhouse Square, its adults-only sensibility lending the whole experience the air of a private estate rather than a conventional hotel. A mere handful of rooms and suites unfold with meticulous styling behind the brownstone façade, complemented by a private garden courtyard and personal concierge attention that anticipates a guest’s every whim.

Rising far above the rooftops of Center City, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia claims the upper reaches of the city’s tallest tower, a Norman Foster-designed statement that begins with a glass-walled lift ascending to the 60th-floor sky lobby. From there, guests find a 57th-floor infinity pool spilling into the skyline, sleek minimalist rooms, and the celebrated cooking of Jean-Georges. Overlooking the same prestigious square, The Rittenhouse offers an altogether more classical proposition, its guest rooms among the most generously proportioned in the city, complemented by a superb spa and the storied Lacroix restaurant, all wrapped in flawless, old-school service. Nearby, The Deacon takes a rather different tack. Housed within a converted church, its minimalist interiors make a virtue of arched windows and vaulted ceilings, while eight individual rooms sit alongside a generous shared lounge and kitchen, ideal for travellers keen to strike up new acquaintances.