This elegant, 98-room luxury property right on Rittenhouse Square Park has the largest rooms in the city -- they start at 450 square feet -- and draws both well-heeled families and business travelers. The first-class service, impressive original artwork (including drawings by Mary Cassatt, whose father's house once stood on the site), and kid-friendly amenities are all pluses, but the room decor -- though stately -- is a little dated.

The Ritz is housed in a stunning 1904 bank building designed after the Pantheon, and its grand rotunda lobby delivers serious "wow" factor. The terrific restaurant from celebrity chef Eric Ripert is also a highlight. But the large, bright rooms aren't as stylish or impressive as the public spaces.

This luxury hotel won't surprise anyone used to the elegance of a Four Seasons -- opulent decor, outstanding service, and a central location make it popular for business guests with an expense account, as well as leisure guests looking to stay in the lap of luxury. Meanwhile, locals are attracted to the top-rated Fountain Restaurant (reservations are necessary). There are 364 rooms in total, including 96 suites -- many with balconies overlooking Logan Square. Amenities include everything from wedding and business space, a fitness center, a pool, and a spa. The only disappointment here is the fee for Wi-Fi, which should be included in the room rate for such a high-end hotel.

This upper-middle-range hotel in Center City has a convenient location down the street from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and an impressive fitness facility with a lovely (but small) indoor lap pool. Rooms are comfortable, but nothing special; it's worth comparing rates with the snazzier Le Meridien.

The most notable feature at this elegant Sofitel near Rittenhouse Square Park is the sleek restaurant and lounge, Liberte. Light wood details and plush white beds make the rooms refined and comfortable, but they lack the striking boutique style of the Palomar across the street.

The 230-room Palomar near Rittenhouse Square Park is one of the city's chicest boutiques, with bold, sleek style, excellent service, and contemporary rooms with plush, comfortable beds. The Palomar delivers the Kimpton chain's typical thoughtful extras -- an open-arms pet policy, a hopping nightly wine hour, free morning coffee and tea -- and the location on South 17th street is near some of the city's best restaurants, bars, and shopping. In Philadelphia, only Le Meridien offers a comparable boutique experience.

Le Meridien is one of the most stylish hotels in Center City, with a striking combination of historical and modern design. Only the Hotel Palomar offers the same level of luxury boutique experience. But it's not quite perfect: Some rooms face an interior atrium and lack privacy.

The Westin Philadelphia is an elegant hotel with a central location close to Rittenhouse Square, shopping, and dining. The lobby is tucked away on the second floor, giving the hotel a somewhat private feel. Marble floors and crystal chandeliers in the lobby create a lovely space to relax outside of the room. A total of 294 rooms and 19 suites feature trademark Westin Heavenly Beds and Heavenly Bath products, along with flat-screen TVs, fluffy bathrobes, and coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee. Business travelers might appreciate big desks that look into the room, and not against the wall. The hotel has a cramped fitness center, but no pool or spa, and fees for Wi-Fi and parking add up fast.

This 301-room hotel built in 1926 has plenty of old-world charm -- lovely English Renaissance architecture, and an elegant lobby with two fireplaces. Rooms are thoroughly modern, however, with flat-screen TVs and iPod docks. It's a solid mid-range option near Rittenhouse Square, with thoughtful freebies (free bottled water in the rooms, free Wi-Fi, free morning newspapers). But the room decor is nothing special, and the much-vaunted Sleep Number Beds are rock-hard when they don't work.

The colossal Philadelphia Marriott Downtown takes up an entire block near City Hall. The convenient, centrally located hotel is connected via skywalk to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and offers a total of 1332 rooms and 76 suites along with newly renovated meeting spaces. Rooms are contemporary with flat-screen TVs, large desks with ergonomic chairs, and fluffy duvets -- but there is a pesky daily fee for Wi-Fi. Additional hotel perks include an indoor pool and modern fitness center. The spacious lobby has a Starbucks, laptop-friendly seating areas, and one main restaurant, called 13. While there are steep prices for parking and on-site restaurant options are limited for a hotel of this size, a central location is excellent for walking to nearby restaurants and historical attractions.