$$
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG
Historic-district hotel facing Independence Hall with comfortable rooms and a rooftop cocktail lounge.
Exceptional · Deep coverage · read from 26 sources · 149 traveler insights
92
RoomExpert Score
Exceptional
The verdict
Who's travelling?
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Read it your way
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia provides a stylish base in the historic district, located steps from the Liberty Bell and Independence National Historical Park. Rooms feature exceptionally comfortable beds, spacious bathrooms, and views of city landmarks. However, guests frequently complain that the old building's elevators are packed and take forever to arrive. Other recurring frustrations include sluggish Wi-Fi and noise from the nearby clock tower bell ringing on the hour. 512117
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- The location is universally praised for sitting directly across from Independence Hall and a two-minute walk from the Liberty Bell. 852
- Beds deliver a consistently restful night's sleep with comfortable mattresses and quality linens. 122
- Bathrooms draw strong praise, particularly for deep Fuji soaking tubs and Atelier Bloem bath products. 2
- Guests consistently highlight the 11th-floor Stratus rooftop bar and the attentive customer service from the staff. 11
The catch
- Park-facing rooms offer views of Independence Hall, but interior-facing rooms can be noticeably dark. 11713
- While some guests praise the Diamond breakfast and lobster mac and cheese at Red Owl Tavern, others found breakfast disappointing and overpriced. 2023
- Some guests enjoyed quiet hallways, but light sleepers facing the square were woken hourly by the nearby clock tower bells. 1211
Who it's for
- — History buffs touring Independence National Historical Park
- — Cocktail enthusiasts visiting the Stratus rooftop bar
- — Travelers seeking deep soaking tubs
Skip it if
- — Light sleepers sensitive to hourly clock tower chimes
- — Remote workers needing fast, dependable Wi-Fi
- — Families expecting rooftop bar access with children
Ways to book
Direct with the hotelRoomExpert pick
$284est. per night
IHG One Rewards member rate · King Guest Room
Keep: IHG One Rewards points · elite nights · eligible benefits
Booking.com
$293est. per night
Public rate · King Guest Room
Forfeit: IHG One Rewards points · elite nights · eligible benefits
IHG One Rewards benefits may not apply.
Award stay: about 32,000 IHG One Rewards points a night. Availability not checked.
RoomExpert read
Booking direct costs no more here and keeps IHG One Rewards points, elite nights and eligible benefits.
Prices shown are an estimated range, not a live quote — the booking site confirms the real rate for your dates.
RoomExpert rate estimate
$284est. per night
Estimated range: $233–$339
Around our estimate
This sits inside our estimated range for this hotel.
Confidence: low · modelled estimate, not a live quote. Check the supplier for the real rate on your dates.
Score breakdown
How the 92/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
95read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Food
88read from 12 sources · Solid coverage
- “Red Owl Tavern is one of my favorite pub-style restaurants in the city and has an amazing lobster mac and cheese.” 23
- “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.” 8
Location
98read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “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.” 8
- “If you're planning to check out Philadelphia's historic attractions (and you absolutely should), you can't beat the location of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia.” 12
Noise
88read from 1 source · Light coverage
Room
94read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “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.” 8
- “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.” 8
Service
93read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “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.” 8
- “Thanks to Rachel, check in was a breeze and we head straight up to our room.” 8
Bed & Sleep
93read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Value
88read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “At checkout they asked how the stat was and I just said "OK" and they removed the $60 worth of "resort amenity fees" upfront, which was a nice gesture.” 6
- “While I enjoy the restaurant (Espresso Martini was a good use of the $20 daily fee, I found) and the free breakfast for being Diamond is great value, I found service while sitting at the bar can be slow.” 20
Where it is, how to reach it
433 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19106 USA
Details checked 2026-08-26
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Right in line
On par with what $$ usually buys
Scores 3 points above the mid-range median of 89, across 494 hotels in the same bracket. In Philadelphia it sits 5 points above the local median of 87.
Price bracket
$$
Mid-range
- This hotel
- 92
- Bracket median
- 89
- Index median
- 90
Based on 494 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
Ask for
- 2 mentions
- 2 mentions
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
Avoid
- 5 mentions
- 2 mentions
- 1 mention
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
Noise
70
Service
63
Food
60
Room
47
Bathroom
40
Value
31
Location
29
Bed & Sleep
8
View the 111 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
Service27 mentions
- “Room was clean, bed was comfortable, and staff was friendly and helpful.” 6
- “I was told, however, that because I was staying more than 3 nights I could request that my room be made up with 24 hours' notice. I requested the service halfway through my stay and was happy to come back to a freshly made-up room.” 12
- “Upscale style and amenities enhanced with the right touch of service.” 10
- “I'd like to avoid any negative energy when I stay there mario_almada • 2y ago Just the pool/bar manager. Just the pool/bar manager. The hostess/waitress Monica was lovely.” 24
- “Rooms are nice as well as the overall facilities.” 24
- “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.” 8
- “The upstairs bar is decent but the manager for that area which oversees the bar and pool is a complete dickhead.” 24
- “The prime location, super-friendly staff and variety of accommodation options make this the ideal home base for families touring Philadelphia.” 7
- “Thanks to Rachel, check in was a breeze and we head straight up to our room.” 8
- “Nice little hotel although we had to wait over an hour after check in and they wouldn't even give us an hour later checkout which kind of blew (Diamond here also).” 20
- “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.” 8
- “Great hotel, service and location in any case.” 3
- “For those of you curious about the Kimpton Monaco Philadelphia, here's a photo tour of our stay.We received a warm welcome at the reception area. We received a warm welcome at the reception area. There was ample seating along with complimentary iced tea and some flavored waters available.” 2
- “Andrew, our concierge, was very helpful in suggesting many family-friendly options, from the best Philly cheesesteaks on nearby South Street to the best Italian in the famous South Philly neighborhood.” 7
- “Yes, the employees here were so nice.” 6
- “When we stopped by to just drop our bags off they told us they could give us a room so they let us check in then too.” 6
- “Kimpton is really topnotch in service and hospitality for me. I have stayed at their properties in Japan and Taiwan, two of my best stays ever.” 24
- “Kimpton SAT is a great property, and the staff are truly fantastic.” 24
- “The lowest point is often slow service during breakfast (but evening is usually top notch), even while seated at the bar, but I have quite enjoyed all other aspects.” 6
- “There was no priority check-in line and the front desk area was small, so it could easily get loud and crowded.” 12
- “Overall, I thought the service is where the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia fell flat. While I understand that some things like the limited housekeeping services are COVID-19 related, there's no excuse for not sharing the hotel amenities with guests upon check-in.” 12
- “The couple times I've stayed at the Monaco the rooms were dirty and the staff was rude.” 6
- “The early check in goes a long way with me. I had extra time to get situated, go for a walk, and get ready for my dinner reservation later that night.” 6
- “Generally Kimpton Hotels seem to provide the best service, in that regard, in my personal experience.” 24
- “Rooms are beautiful, comfortable bed & fantastic customer service.” 20
- “Kimpton is really topnotch in service and hospitality for me.” 24
- “The upstairs bar is decent but the manager for that area which oversees the bar and pool is a complete dickhead. Fuck that guy!” 24
Location18 mentions
- “The location of the Palomar works great for the Art Museum but the Square 1682 restaurant and rooms are not quite as nice.” 3
- “Plus, the hotel's location across the street from the Independence National Historic Park is convenient for business and leisure travelers alike.” 11
- “Both business and leisure travelers can appreciate the hotel's great features, which include a gorgeous rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor seating; wonderful in-room amenities (iPod docks, Etro toiletries, flat-screen TVs and plush beds); a solid restaurant serving contemporary American fare; tons of outstanding freebies; and a central location adjacent to the Independence Hall.” 11
- “I like the location (and the room), on both visits we've had a view of Independence Hall.” 13
- “I like the Monaco. Similar rooms, similar recognition, better location at the Monica.” 3
- “The Monaco is super easy walking distance to the historic stuff and honestly a better choice with kids (if the plan is to do the city/historic stuff).” 13
- “Set in the heart of Philadelphia's vibrant historic district, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia grants guests easy access to top attractions like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.” 5
- “Located on the 11th floor of the hotel, Stratus is a stylish bar serving drinks daily until after midnight. It features indoor and outdoor seating as well as two separate areas for private events. It doesn't have striking views, as the top of the façade could not be lowered because of its historic features, but it is still a great spot for a drink.” 11
- “In my opinion the kimpton Palomar (the one downtown and not in the historic district) is a better hotel and better location for dinners.” 13
- “I really appreciated the whimsical and colorful design aesthetic throughout the hotel and the location was second to none.” 12
- “The prime location will easily bring you to Museum of the American Revolution, located 0.2 miles away, and to the famous sculptures "Rodin Museum", which is also 1.6 miles away.” 1
- “Mist and Vapor are two stylish pavilions for private events located at each end of the rooftop bar.” 11
- “Great hotel, service and location in any case.” 3
- “Very nice property and the location is great as well.” 20
- “The bar and restaurant are great and can't beat the location!” 20
- “If you're planning to check out Philadelphia's historic attractions (and you absolutely should), you can't beat the location of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia.” 12
- “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.” 8
- “I've burned a few free nights at the Monaco with a 4 and a 1 year old. I like the location (and the room), on both visits we've had a view of Independence Hall.” 13
Room23 mentions
- “Room was dated, furniture needed replaced, and staff interactions were, eh, ok.” 6
- “Hotel Monaco's unique design featuring bright decor and stylishly mismatched furniture sets the hotel apart.” 5
- “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.” 8
- “I like the location (and the room), on both visits we've had a view of Independence Hall.” 13
- “I've burned a few free nights at the Monaco with a 4 and a 1 year old. I like the location (and the room), on both visits we've had a view of Independence Hall.” 13
- “Responder Compartir Old-Explanation9430 • hace 8 m This one is a little dated but it did not affect my stay. This one is a little dated but it did not affect my stay. I am more concerned with cleanliness than slightly dinged furniture.” 6
- “When we stopped by to just drop our bags off they told us they could give us a room so they let us check in then too. Our room was beautiful, clean and really comfortable.” 6
- “I've had great stays at the Palomar, though. Loved my upgraded room's tub and view.” 6
- “Looking for views of the city? The Hotel Monaco has incredible views throughout the hotel. My suite even had a gorgeous view of the city from the full-size, separate tub.” 23
- “When we stopped by to just drop our bags off they told us they could give us a room so they let us check in then too. Our room was beautiful, clean and really comfortable. 10/10 another great experience.” 6
- “The last few times getting upgraded to a suite with a deep jetted tub has been a wonderful surprise.” 6
- “The desk was a great place to write a couple of blog posts and the chair was really comfortable too!” 2
- “We really loved the style of the room. Funky wallpaper and cool & interesting furniture. We didn't sit on this dog- decorated chair but it was a good place to rest some of our small bags.” 2
- “Try and get a room on the west side of the hotel and you'll have an amazing and unique view of Independence Hall. They also have a rooftop bar with excellent views of Old City.” 2
- “Room is comfortable size with bed, dresser, full size closet, ample desk and small sofa.” 3
- “Rooms are beautiful, comfortable bed & fantastic customer service.” 20
- “The decor at the Monaco is a little fresher.” 3
- “One-Bedroom Suites offer lots of space and a second TV in the living room.” 11
- “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.” 8
- “Old-Explanation9430 • hace 8 m This one is a little dated but it did not affect my stay. This one is a little dated but it did not affect my stay. I am more concerned with cleanliness than slightly dinged furniture.” 6
- “The colorful and eclectic decor is cleverly executed in a way that maximizes space.” 7
- “From the moment I opened the yellow door to my room, I knew I was in for a treat. This 350-square-foot Parkview Room with 2 queen beds was decorated from top to bottom in a whimsical, eclectic style and I loved every bit of it.” 12
- “While the common areas were updated and clean, eh, room, not so much.” 6
Food27 mentions
- “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.” 8
- “The bar and restaurant are great and can't beat the location!” 20
- “The Bellevue treats elites very well - but the awesome floor 19 restaurant is closed.” 13
- “Stayed there last July as a DE and was generally happy. Our only complaint was that we were on a high floor and for whatever reason the elevators took forever and were always absolutely packed. Breakfast was good tho.” 6
- “Attractive rooms with high-end amenities, wonderful freebies, a beautiful rooftop bar, and a great restaurant all help round out the experience.” 5
- “We celebrate the then and the now in our globally-inspired 4-star hotel in Philadelphia that features 268 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, 13,000-square-feet of meeting space, a stunning ballroom, a rocking rooftop lounge and a lauded neighborhood restaurant.” 26
- “The lowest point is often slow service during breakfast (but evening is usually top notch), even while seated at the bar, but I have quite enjoyed all other aspects.” 6
- “The location of the Palomar works great for the Art Museum but the Square 1682 restaurant and rooms are not quite as nice.” 3
- “Both business and leisure travelers can appreciate the hotel's great features, which include a gorgeous rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor seating; wonderful in-room amenities (iPod docks, Etro toiletries, flat-screen TVs and plush beds); a solid restaurant serving contemporary American fare; tons of outstanding freebies; and a central location adjacent to the Independence Hall.” 11
- “Red Owl Tavern is one of my favorite pub-style restaurants in the city and has an amazing lobster mac and cheese.” 23
- “The downstairs bar is EXCELLENT as we as the restaurant.” 24
- “Bar is park of the restaurant next door and breakfast was pants. But I find breakfast always pants in USA hotels.” 20
- “Enjoy the stay, and the on-site restaurant is really good too.” 24
- “During my most recent stay, I opted to do the in-room dining experience which was quite the treat!” 23
- “The Diamond breakfast at the restaurant was great.” 20
- “The lobby-level Red Owl Tavern is a convenient place for a meal at any time of the day (room service is also available 24/7).” 18
- “The coffee service was mediocre, as well.” 12
- “Similar rooms, similar recognition, better location at the Monica. Also Red Owl is a great bar and really good restaurant.” 3
- “Morning coffee and tea service was provided in the lobby each morning - 2 carafes of coffee plus hot water and tea were available, however, there was no decaf and the only milk options were individual packs of half and half. I felt this really fell short of what a coffee and tea service should offer at a boutique hotel that costs over $200 per night.” 12
- “Bar is park of the restaurant next door and breakfast was pants.” 20
- “Printed wallpaper, patterned drapes, glossy red dressers, mirrored side and coffee tables-the combination can feel a bit overwhelming (or disjointed), but you can't fault the Kimpton for daring to be different.” 18
- “A wonderful restaurant and bar with a popular happy hour” 11
- “Rittenhouse area is full of shops and restaurants. Museums not far-including Barnes and Franklin Institute.” 3
- “Like its namesake Kimpton hotels, Kimpton Hotel Monaco has an amazing restaurant, the Red Owl Tavern.” 23
- “The restaurant was pretty good as well.” 20
- “jmconcierge • hace 8 m Stayed there last July as a DE and was generally happy. Our only complaint was that we were on a high floor and for whatever reason the elevators took forever and were always absolutely packed. Breakfast was good tho.” 6
- “Like many hotel restaurants, I thought it was a little overpriced, but it was convenient and the food was quite good.” 12
Bathroom6 mentions
- “The bathroom is pretty spacious.The sink has a lot of counter space to lay out your things.” 2
- “While not the most spacious bathroom I've ever seen, it was clean and functional.” 12
- “Yellow pocket doors opened up to the bathroom which was decorated with a great graphic navy and white print wallpaper.” 12
- “The bath products are from Atelier Bloem. Can't say that I heard of the brand before but we did like them.” 2
- “The water pressure in the shower worked just fine but I would've liked to have seen a hand-held shower head also inside. It definitely makes bath time much easier when you're traveling with kids.” 2
- “If I had to get nit-picky, I would say that the shower felt like it could be in any hotel bathroom in Middle America. Next to the colors and patterns found in the rest of the room, the plain beige tiled shower seemed boring in comparison.” 12
View1 mention
- “Interior-facing rooms are a little dark, but those overlooking the square get great light and have views of the Independence National Historical Park.” 11
Value4 mentions
- “At checkout they asked how the stat was and I just said "OK" and they removed the $60 worth of "resort amenity fees" upfront, which was a nice gesture.” 6
- “While I enjoy the restaurant (Espresso Martini was a good use of the $20 daily fee, I found) and the free breakfast for being Diamond is great value, I found service while sitting at the bar can be slow.” 20
- “I felt the same way, they had a sheet soliciting digital tips in my room which I found distasteful, and the value is just not there.” 6
- “While the menu didn't blow me away, I really enjoyed the breakfast. Like many hotel restaurants, I thought it was a little overpriced, but it was convenient and the food was quite good.” 12
Bed & Sleep3 mentions
- “The room's 2 queen-sized beds were very comfortable and offered a great night's sleep.” 12
- “Rooms are beautiful, comfortable bed & fantastic customer service.” 20
- “Our room had two full beds which were a bit smaller than a queen size.I have to say that this is one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on in any hotel. Yes, I got a good nights sleep.” 2
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Noise rests on 1 source — too thin to rely on.
- 25 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 58/100We read 26 sources for this property, and pulled 149 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-08-28.
0
Editorial
24
Blogs & sites
2
Video reviews
0
Podcast segments
Breadth
38
Depth
55
Freshness
99
Watch this hotel
We keep reading Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG. Tell us when you're staying and we'll follow it until then — you'll hear from us only when the verdict is rewritten, the score moves, or new reviews land. No daily mail, and the watch closes itself after your stay.
Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
7 of 7 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 26 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 6Hotel Review: Kimpton Palomar Philadelphiareddit.comForum thread2026-01-10Recent31 quotes used
“Room was clean, bed was comfortable, and staff was friendly and helpful.”
Read originalreddit.com - 1Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia By Ihg - Philadelphia Hotelskimpton-monaco.hotelsphiladelphiapa.comReview siteDate not stated1 quote used
“The prime location will easily bring you to Museum of the American Revolution, located 0.2 miles away, and to the famous sculptures "Rodin Museum", which is also 1.6 miles away.”
Read originalkimpton-monaco.hotelsphiladelphiapa.com - 2Hotel Review: The Kimpton Monaco Philadelphiamichaelwtravels.boardingarea.comReview siteDate not stated9 quotes used
“The bathroom is pretty spacious.The sink has a lot of counter space to lay out your things.”
Read originalmichaelwtravels.boardingarea.com - 3Which Kimpton Monaco or Palomar in Philadelphia?flyertalk.comForum threadDate not stated13 quotes used
“The location of the Palomar works great for the Art Museum but the Square 1682 restaurant and rooms are not quite as nice.”
Read originalflyertalk.com - 4Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG vs Loews ...tripexpert.comReview siteDate not statedRead originaltripexpert.com
- 5Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia By IHG Reviews & Pricestravel.usnews.comReview siteDate not stated4 quotes used
“Hotel Monaco's unique design featuring bright decor and stylishly mismatched furniture sets the hotel apart.”
Read originaltravel.usnews.com
Showing 6 of 26 cited · 26 read
1/5
More in Philadelphia
All Philadelphia hotels →Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City
$$
A Center City base with spacious rooms and on-site dining, though rooms show noticeable wear.
Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia
$$
Hyatt Centric Center City Philly shines in location and comfort, despite mixed value.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia
$$
A stylish and comfortable downtown retreat with minor room and service inconsistencies.
Loews Philadelphia Hotel
$$
Historic Art Deco downtown tower with sweeping 33rd-floor views and exceptional wheelchair accessibility.
Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square
$$
Spacious Center City rooms with featherbeds, Lanvin bath products, and a walkable Rittenhouse Square location.
The Notary Hotel
$$
Excellent Center City location and great views offset by thin walls and uneven service.
Browse hotels like this