The Penn's View Hotel in Philadelphia is an Alternative to Chain Hotels

The Penn's View Hotel is an independent boutique hotel located near the waterfront in Philadelphia. Situated in a charming older building, the hotel overlooks Penn's Landing and other Delaware River attractions and is located about 3-5 blocks from many of the city's most historic sites including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Franklin Court, and the U.S. Constitution Center. In addition, it is close to the eclectic Olde City neighborhood, funky South Street with its unusual shops and art galleries, and many other shopping and dining opportunities.

The building that houses the Penn's View Hotel was built in 1828 and originally served as a warehouse and later a hardware store and then a coffee house. The building was purchased by a local family in 1989 and the hotel opened in 1990. Adjacent buildings were purchased in 1994 and 2002, allowing for an expansion from the original 27 rooms and 1 dining room. The hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1990s and has won architectural awards from the city for its renovations.

Guests at the Penn's View can choose from four different kinds of accommodations: standard king or queen or premium king or queen rooms. All rooms are lovingly appointed with period-style furnishings that reflect the feeling of a stay in Old City Philadelphia. Some of the standard queen rooms include a balcony with views of the river while the standard king rooms include a jetted bath tub. Premium queen accommodations feature a gas fireplace and a marble bathroom with Jacuzzi tub. Many of those rooms also have excellent views of the riverfront area. Amenities in the premium king rooms are similar. Also available is a Jacuzzi King Suite with a view.

The other centerpiece of the hotel is Ristorante Panorama, Penn's View's authentic Italian, trattoria-style restaurant that bills itself as "upscale casual.'' A hit not only with hotel guests but also with the local community, this restaurant serves mostly cuisine of the Northern Italian region including authentic veal dishes, a variety of pastas, and fresh seafood. The focus of the restaurant for many guests is the wine bar with its custom built 120-bottle wine keeper. The restaurant offers unique "wine tasting flights'', which provides diners with a select group of five 1.5-ounce glasses of wine to enjoy with their dinner. There are nearly 30 different wine flights offered and each is selected so that the vintages complement each other. Flights may vary according to season.

Four dining areas at Penn's View Hotel can accommodate a variety of meetings and private parties. Aside from the main dining room and the wine bar area, groups can be accommodated in the Stagione Banquet Room or in the intimate, downstairs Wine Cellar Dining Room, which provides a view of the hotel's huge selection of wines. Catering menus include continental breakfast, lunches, meeting breaks, a huge selection of dinner options, and a "stations'' menu for receptions. The main dining room and the banquet room can accommodate up to 100 people.