Review: The Bellevue Hotel – Downtown Philly

The Bellevue Hotel is an iconic downtown Philadelphia hotel that recently underwent a transformative renovation. The hotel is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt and a Category 4 hotel, which means you can redeem World of Hyatt points and free night certificates here.

I stayed here for a weekend in December 2024 and was really looking forward to experiencing a historic property… but did my experience live up to my expectations? Let’s dive into my review!

Booking My Stay

I booked my stay directly at Hyatt.com. Cash rates for the weekend were over $300 per night, but since this is a Category 4 hotel, I was able to use two Free Night Certificates from my World of Hyatt credit card instead. Score!!!

I booked a Courtyard View room but noticed the hotel upgraded me to a City View room a few days before my stay thanks to my World of Hyatt Explorist earned during my summer travels earlier this year.

Location & Parking

The Bellevue Hotel is located in Philadelphia’s bustling Center City neighborhood, known for its history, culture, business, and entertainment mix. Center City is home to iconic landmarks like Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, The Walnut Street Theater, and the Reading Terminal Market.

I took Amtrak from Washington, DC, to the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia for this trip. A Lyft ride from the train station to The Bellevue Hotel took about 15 minutes and cost around $15. The hotel is about 8.5 miles from Philadelphia International Airport.

The Bellevue Hotel only offers valet parking for a hefty $72 fee per night.

Lobby & Check In

Even though I checked in on the Hyatt app, I stopped by the front desk to get physical keys and to learn more about the hotel. There wasn’t a wait, and the lady working was super friendly and excited to tell us about the recent renovations.

The hotel still uses the original elevator system. Each one is small, but there are four, and we never had to wait long for a lift.

The Bellevue Hotel uses Hyatt Digital Key, which uses Apple Wallet, to unlock your room. This was my first time using Hyatt Digital Key, and I was impressed with how fast it worked (I’m used to Hilton’s version, which uses Bluetooth)!

The front desk also gave us two coupons for free drinks at Pergola, their restaurant on the 19th floor. These could be redeemed for coffee, wine, or a zero-proof cocktail.

King City View Room

We were given room 1415 on the 14th floor. I was impressed with the size of the room — it is nearly 400 square feet! I also noticed the attention to detail as soon as I entered.

The bathroom and walk-in closet were near the entrance of my room:

The Bellevue Hotel stocks slippers and robes in each room…

Each room has a Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth speaker, which you can take for $200.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served at Pergola, the hotel’s only restaurant. It is located on the 19th floor. Breakfast is served daily from 6:30am to 11:00am. There are two options for breakfast: continental for $25 or the full spread for $42. Both are buffet-style and come with your choice of tea, coffee, and juice.

We didn’t eat here because it seemed expensive for what you get. Instead, we walked over to Green Eggs Café on Locust St.

The restaurant is beautiful and cozy!

The Sporting Club

One thing that makes The Bellevue Hotel so unique is The Sporting Club, located right next door. The Sporting Club is a 100,000-square-foot fitness, wellness, and social space. Hotel guests can access this space for free. While it is connected to the hotel, the skyway is still being renovated, so I had to exit the building to enter.

The Sporting Club has three pools: a 25-meter lap pool and a hot and cold plunge pool. The locker rooms have a sauna and steam room.

Here is a photo of the fitness area on the third floor, where they have treadmills, bikes, weight machines, and an indoor track:

There is even a cafe with made-to-order snacks and smoothies.

Closing Thoughts

The Bellevue Hotel in downtown Philadelphia is a historic property that recently underwent a major renovation. During my December 2024 stay, I found the hotel to be a delightful combination of old-world charm and modern amenities. I booked the hotel using Free Night Certificates from my Chase World of Hyatt card, which made it a great value. The location is perfect for exploring the city’s iconic landmarks. My upgraded King City View room was spacious, and the hotel’s restaurant, Pergola, offered decent breakfast options, though I opted to eat elsewhere. My favorite feature of the hotel is The Sporting Club, a massive fitness and wellness space next door.

Have you stayed at The Bellevue? How was your experience?