Apparently not what it used to be. The property has been on the market for some two years and they seem to have stopped doing maintenance while they try to sell it. Pros: good location, good staff, free happy hour each night with snacks and wine. Cons: stained and discolored carpet and bath tile. Very limited options for breakfast. No fruit at all. Waffle machine seems to burn on the outside and stay raw on the inside. read more

The Alexander Inn has been a favorite of my wife and myself since 2019. We checked in Friday afternoon, Jan. 23, 2026. To be fair, there was a pending snow storm over the weekend, so reservations were few, and it's 17 degrees outside. The first observations weren't good. The bedspread appeared not to have been washed, the sink leaked water and, worst of all, the room was cold. REALLY COLD, maybe 55 degrees. (I don't carry a thermometer.) We did advise the front desk of the issues, and they did attend to the bedding, but were unable to increase the temperature. (Note: We did ask other guests about this. Some said their room was "fine" temperature-wise, and others said their room was "hot.") The breakfast offered to all guests is basic: bagels, English muffins, hard-boiled eggs, juice, tea, and fresh fruit. Their coffee was delicious and an attendant was on top of the breakfast bar at all times. We thought the front desk and custodian did their best, considering the challenges. Nevertheless, the rooms weren't up to past standards. We're disappointed with our recent visit and hope standards improve. read more

Our family stayed at this quaint hotel for a travel volleyball tournament. I was concerned as I was not familiar with it at all. I called the day prior to confirm my reservation and spoke with Salina who was beyond kind and helpful. The staff were so friendly and attentive our entire stay. The beds slept amazingly! Best sleep in a hotel ever. Would highly recommend this hotel and will definitely be back. read more

It's a beautiful day in the Gayborhood! Let's be real, Alexander Inn isn't luxury it's lovely! A small boutique shabby around the edges getaway, perfectly located in Center City. The amenities are breakfast with good coffee and a little something for every appetite. Each night you stay gets you two free drink tickets and In the evening there is a layout of Charcuterie type fare with cheap wine. A perfect free way to prime before going out. The rooms are nothing to shout about but good views of the street life and clean. No real room amenities but shampoo and soap. Every staff member including housekeeping were helpful, kind and proactive about reaching out to you. That made the price worth it! read more

The air conditioning is controlled by the front desk. Hottest weekend ever and air conditioning barely made a difference. With that being said, impossible to sleep. Shower tiles need a good scrub of Tilex Free breakfast is bread. read more

Location, friendliness, and cleanliness rate as the best things about this hotel. The staff went out of their way to help us. The snacks and happy hour were a nice thought, but consisted of very meager offerings. The breakfast buffet also seemed skimpy. I think this mostly resulted from the dim lighting in the lounge area which left people unable to see what was there. read more

Simple, cozy, great location. Very nice staff, small convenience store directly across the street.

An A-OK hotel stay experience in philly! I booked here through Expedia and it was pretty easy and reasonable! It was one of the cheaper options but it was exactly what we needed. It was within walking distance to so much of the touristy parts of city which was awesome cause we just parked once and were able to walk around to where we wanted to go and see more of the city. Philadelphia is certainly a walkable city! There's so much to see and do. Also, the people at the front desk are super nice and helpful. I also felt really safe in this part of the city as well. At night you have to buzz the door bell and and they come to the door and check your ID with who's staying there, which is cool for safety but also I also feel that this system needs updated. The room itself was small but honestly wasn't in my room too much - I was out exploring the city - so no biggie :) it was as big as it needed to be. The website also has great photos of the rooms so you know exactly what you're getting. I wish the website detailed the parking situation better though! They have a partnership with a nearby garage where it's $32 per 24 hours instead of $42 per 24 hours. The garage is ~0.2miles away, not bad at all. I posted a picture of their parking handout. I called them before we parked to figure it out but definitely would've been annoyed if I parked somewhere else cause I couldn't find this detailed on the website anywhere. They have a little lounge and for breakfast in the AM they have croissants, coffee, and tea - which is all you need since there are tons of great breakfast and brunch places in walking distance. Also, not that I came here to watch TV, but the TV situation is not ideal. The TV was a little older and a little bigger than the size of a laptop screen. They don't have Netflix or smart TVs or anything but they have cable. Overall, an A-OK, reasonable hotel experience in downtown philly! I would come back! It could use to be updated in some aspects but overall a decent experience. :) read more

Alexander Inn - The parking garage - they will validate your parking for 24 hr at the front desk at a reduced rate - $32 - Hotels Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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4.5 Take one part nostalgia, one part boutique-chic, a modicum of authentic retro with contemporary amenities, and add lots of class, charm, affability, courtesy and character. Include some architectural highlights (like leaded and stained glass windows), beautiful wood trim everywhere, radiating classic style and immersing you as if you've stepped back in time, and you have an idea of what The Alexander Inn holds in store. From our warm and genial welcome to the always-ready-to assist personnel throughout and their attentiveness to every aspect of our stay - in and out of the building (as well as information about some special places and hidden gems around town) the Alexander's Innkeeper and his staff made our stay here seem more like home than a rental. Be advised, the rooms are micro; ours had a comfortable Queen bed, small convertible bench-table, and just enough room on each side of the bed to walk by. The tiled shower had plenty of hot water and pressure to adjust to our liking. One small hitch - the sink's single stem water handle was quite stiff to pull and turn on / off, whereas an actual retro two-handle porcelain fitting would have better suited our needs. The Continental breakfast in the small lounge was quite adequate, constantly monitored and restocked with bagels, English muffins, hard-boiled eggs, juice, coffee, tea, and fresh fruit. If you go, be sure to look for the 1930-40's original switchboard, with rotary dial and dozens of retractable cords that is displayed on different floors different days. Another "call back-throwback" in time. There's free WiFi throughout the building and a small computer station near the modern exercise equipment in the basement. If we were to return to Philly...no doubt we'd stay here again. It's very affordable, within easy (flat) walking distance to many historic sites, 2-3-4 star restaurants, parking facilities (no hotel parking provided), and easily accessible by SEPTA (bus-subway-rail) (or via Uber and taxis). read more

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No issues staying here, staff was nice, & breakfast included (limited breakfast offerings, but included croissants from an excellent bakery nearby). Room was cozy, hotel was nicely kept. Building was a historical landmark, & in a decent area of downtown Philly. My only complaint was that the tv was the size of a computer monitor. Hotel rate was very affordable. read more

Alexander Inn - View from room - Hotels Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Location, location, location. The most picturesque area of Philly, lots of quaint cobblestone streets and adorable alleys. The front desk staff were a little tude-y. The room, if not luxurious, was large, with lots of natural light and windows that opened for a delicious breeze. The bathtub was actually half a bathtub, which means I had to contort to fit into it, but the water was hot and the drain-plug worked. The bed was comfortable. There was some street noise, but it was minimal. You could hear people walking above us, too, but my trusty white noise machine fixed that problem. The TV was tiny, as others noted, and the channel selection very limited. I don't know - $300 still seems like a lot of money to pay for a hotel room with such basic amenities, hence the four stars. That being said, I would definitely stay again if I was in Philly. read more

Some random came into my room at 1:22 am. WTF Alexander Inn? The desk gave this person a key to our room in the middle of the night. Needless to say, not easy to go back to sleep after that which is the f'n reason I got a hotel in the first Hotels are meant to deliver a couple of basics to guests; the list is not very long: bed, bathroom, quiet, security. The Alexander Inn apparently cannot track which rooms are occupied at any given time. Get actual sleep, go elsewhere. read more

The place is an old rundown hotel. Looks like the rooms were never redone. The bedding is subpar. Really overpriced for the inferior quality of the place. No parking. No valet. Here is a pic of their phone charger taped to the wall. Staff was nice. I would never go back read more

I think for the price, location, and friendly service, I was very happy with the Alexander Inn and would whole-heartedly recommend it. I don't usually review hotels as much, since, when I pick one, it's usually with an eye towards finding somewhere sufficient to sleep. But there are little touches here and there that show a real heart and soul that might otherwise be lacking in, say, a Marriott or Hilton. Also, if you're an architecture buff, you'll get a kick out of the stained glass windows and the marble floor patterns. Location: Super convenient. You're right in the middle of Center City with a ton of coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance; Reading Market is only 10 minutes away. We stayed during the week so can't say what the noise level is like on the weekends but, even though we were on the third floor, we slept pretty soundly. Room: My only two nits are that the mattress was extremely firm (I don't mind hard beds but I woke up the second morning with a pretty tender back) and the layout of the bathroom had the toilet two inches at nose-level away from the sink. Amenities: I definitely partook in the free snacks throughout the day (mostly fruit and breakfast pastries). The complimentary breakfast was also way more plentiful and varied - I had assumed there would be lukewarm eggs and small boxed cereals but they had sliced grapefruit, a few kinds of granola, yogurt, Danishes, and bagels. The WiFi is free and I appreciated how you didn't have to log-in every few hours, though it was a bit spotty during some parts of the day. Service: Couldn't be friendlier. Had umbrellas on hand for a very drizzly day. Lugged up a space heater when our room was a little on the chilly side. The manager came around during breakfast just introducing himself and seeing if anyone needed more coffee. They'll also store your bags for when you check out but your train/plane doesn't leave for another few hours. read more

An older hotel in the heart of Philadelphia. I knew before checking in that my room would be small from photos. I had a room with one twin bed, that was pushed against the wall. The room was long and thin, yet I still had plenty of room. Despite the small size, there was still a chair and a small table in the back near the window, a spacious closet, and a dresser. The bathroom was tiny as well. A small sink, a toilet, and a shower. The shower had great water pressure, which was a breath of fresh air considering other hotels I've stayed in in the past. One thing I didn't like was the TV is on top of the closet. Too high. Made watching TV awkward. The other way that they lock the front entrance door at night and you have to ring the doorbell to be let in. Minority things, but a little annoying anyway. Overall, I enjoyed my stay and would have no problem staying there again. read more

Cozy hotel in a very good location close to some of the most popular touristic attractions as well as excellent restaurants. The service was excellent; professional, nice, friendly... Rooms were cozy and had a more than decent size. Certainly I will consider it for my next visit to Philadelphia. read more

This is a charming boutique hotel conveniently located to the sights as well as the restaurants. It is only 48 rooms, in a hotel built in 1890. Many of the beautiful original details have survived the ages, including mosaic floors and leaded windows. It the rooms, though not large, are on par with a city hotel. The rooms are very beautifully decorated. The rooms are quieter than most hotel rooms probably due to the sturdy nature of the construction. Everything is spotlessly clean. A free continantal breakfast is provided, and free coffee is available all day. There is a nice gym and 2 computers in the basement level for guests' use. The staff is sincerely nice and friendly. We stayed 3 nights and were thrilled with the Alexander. It is much nicer than staying in one of the large chain hotels. It is a charm of a place to stay in Philly. read more

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On July 3 I called to make a reservation at The Alexander for the following Saturday. I spoke to John, we discussed room location (and the lantern festival ending that weekend. John helped me select a room and verbally confirmed my booking for next Saturday, checking out Sunday. When we came to check in just after 4pm Byron could not find our reservation. I told him I had booked it on the phone with John but he could not find it. I recalled I had gotten an email confirmation so I opened the email and showed him my phone. Byron was puzzled as well and could not figure out where our reservation was. That is when opening the attached PDF it was discovered John had booked a room for the following year, 2020, in error. Byron said the Inn was booked but there were two people who had not yet checked in, plus room 503 was empty but he was not sure if he could book us there. He texted and called John as well as maintenance to check the status of room 503 and he assured us not to worry, one way or another we would have a room that night. We stopped back in 2 hours later when I had not heard back, and he told us there was still one room without a check in, and he had not heard back about 503, but he could put us up in a Rodeway Inn if those did not work out. I looked up the Rodeway Inn and it was not comparable to The Alexander Inn. I told him that and he called a few places that were all booked, until he reached the Fairfield Inn which is just down the block, they had availability. Byron said he would put us up there if room 503 or the other room without a check in did not work out. We left for dinner confident that Byron would get us a room for the night as promised. At 8:35pm Byron texted me saying room 503 could not be rented, our "best bet" was the Fairfield Inn, but "we don't have a relationship with this hotel" -- basically saying we were on our own. We called Byron and asked to speak to a manager, he said he would have a manager call us back. An hour passed and at roughly 9:30 we called Byron again and were told that it was our mistake for not opening the PDF attached to the email confirmation to notice the date was 2020 instead of 2019, and there was nothing he could do for us. At that point I checked the Rodeway... while I was not happy with a poorly rated hotel I did not want to pay $300+ for the Fairfield Inn. The Rodeway was sold out. We were left without a room at almost 10pm at night. I am EXTREMELY disappointed that this is how The Alexander Inn treats customers. It was their error booking a room in the wrong year, not mine. I did not open the PDF the attached to their confirmation to notice 2020 instead of 2019, but to blame your error on me is horrible customer service. I had sincerely hoped for an apology... that a manager would call back or even email. Ignoring our request for a call added insult to injury. We have stayed at The Alexander Inn before, and we are big believers in supporting independent businesses and the "little guys". I am very saddened and disappointed with their service, lack of concern that we were left without a room, and failure to respond or even apologize. As a last ditch effort for an apology I emailed them the above on July 19 but did not get any response. SO disappointing! read more

I've been going to the Alexander Inn in Philadelphia every October for the past three years. It has old time charm with architecture and decor you simply can't find in modern hotel chains. The Alexander is within walking distance to Reading Terminal Market and many other landmarks. The staff is so helpful and the Alexander retains its staff so you get to visit with them each time you stay there. read more

This is my favorite place to stay in Philadelphia: -Super convenient location a few blocks above South Street and within walking distance of great shopping and dining; -Professional, warm service; -Well-appointed rooms with Art Deco décor and comfy beds; -Complimentary Continental breakfast in their lovely breakfast room, which has tea, coffee, and light snacks the rest of the day; -Discounted parking at a garage on Walnut, an easy walk from the hotel; -Major steal of a deal at $119 a night. The Alexander is a popular, small, boutique hotel that books up a few months out. As soon as you know your dates of travel, get on the website or call the front desk to make your reservations. The staff who work here are excellent and make every effort to accommodate any special requests you have...like asking for a room on the top floor because nothing grates your nerves more than listening to a constant parade of elephant-stomping overhead. (Although, the insulation/soundproofing at Alexander is great.) The rooms really vary here, so it helps to think of this place as "European." The first time I stayed here they put me in a large room with a sitting area overlooking 12th Street (so I assumed this is what all the rooms looked like). But on the next visit I ended up in a room barely bigger than the queen bed, for the same rate as the larger. All the rooms are nice, but some are much bigger than others -- something else you can request at time of booking. A few negatives: -Free wifi is extremely fickle. I imagine if you're a business traveler this could cause problems; -Elevator is tiny and slowwww. Not a problem if you're on a lower floor (take the stairs), but frustrating when you're on the 7th. All things considered, the Alexander is a real Philadelphia gem. Highly recommended. read more

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This hotel made our vacation so wonderful. It was impeccably clean and the service was outstanding. They helped us with finding food and sites around Philadelphia and was friendly and personable. We will definitely be back! read more

Fabulous service and extremely reasonable rates, especially considering the Alexander Inn's lovely location. Were it not for the bbq potato chip that sprang from in between the coverlet and the blanket as I prepared to slip into bed, I'd have given this small hotel five stars. read more

We arrived here on New Years Eve and were greeted by the very friendly hotel operators/owners. They allowed us to check in early and were very grateful for our business. Here is my take: Pros: Location Location Location Price Clean Friendly staff Safe area Great restaurants nearby Cons: Small bathrooms A bit chilly in the rooms but heaters are provided. No parking. You can hear footsteps from above but not really a problem. Corner of the bed frame will break your shins if you are not careful. One-ply toilet paper but it saves toilet from clogging. Slow elevator - but the steps are more healthy for you! I liked this place buy my partner did not really care for it. It is not a Marriott or a Ritz, but it is basically a very nice, 5 story motel. I can't really call it a "boutique" but just a nice, classic hotel. I would recommend it - unless you are used to a full-service, high-end hotel as my partner is. read more

Great location. Cute boutique hotel with surprisingly low rates for Center City. Our room was small but fit our needs perfectly. It had a pretty bay window and nice blinds overlooking the street. We had an iron/board and hair dryer, in-room safe. The room was an accessible room with large doors and a desktop that folds against the wall. (Though I don't think a wheelchair-bound person would be able to access the closet with the bed in the way.) The breakfast downstairs was generous, and we had comfy seats and tables, not just a table with donuts on-the-go. They even left fruit and some pastries in the lobby for round-the-clock snacks. Staff were friendly and helpful. They held our bags until 8pm on the day we checked out so that we didn't have to lug them around the city. Very nice. Overall, we loved the Alexander Inn. It will be our first choice next time we visit Philly. read more

Horrible! Staying there because my husband was having brain surgery at nearby hospital. Needed one more night and because he could not present himself at the desk. They kicked me out. read more

I have to say this hotel is a gem. Its not huge and the rooms are on the small side however if you been to Philly before you know building here aren't huge. If you drive here there is an unloading zone across from the hotel where you can park for 15 mins to check in and drop off your luggage. They will tell you to park your car two blocks away at a lot where you will get a discount. Its $15 per day which will be charge to your room (you cant come in and out) This hotel is very clean and the rooms have everything you need. One thing I loved was that they had complimentary breakfast until 12pm which is great since I'm not a morning person. The people that worked there were nice and helpful if you have a question. This hotel is walking distance to most places and is in a great area. read more

This is OUR place to stay in Philadelphia. We only live about 40 minutes away in Trenton NJ, but we stay here at least 2-3 times a year. The location is stellar, walking distance to most Philly sights and restaurants, the rooms are comfortable and clean, the continental breakfast is a good way to start the day. But best of all, the service and the people. John, the manager, ALWAYS, makes us feel like family. We never consider staying at any other hotel. read more

The Alexander Inn wants to be 5 stars really bad but it falls short for a few minor issues. I would seriously let someone punch me in the face for free daily parking in this part of Philly. :-X As always i like to start with the good, the staff was very friendly and patient with my questions prior to arrival. The location was very close to the Philly Convention Center and the room was affordable (after taxes it was about $160 per night). Cleanliness is the name of the game and despite actively searching for something to dislike the room was clean as could be. Nice job!! A quaint feeling inside, it felt European almost. Just a few things are holding back a 5* rating. NOTE: before reading these please realize this place was dam good. Very much 4/5 stars so don't get side tracked by the list of 'eh' items. 1) The rooms were extremely small. I'm not a person who needs a ton of space and still i had issues with the size. 2) They work with a parking garage about 4 blocks away. You get a special rate but MAKE SURE to talk to the person at the hotel desk. 3) Continental breakfast was cold food only. (It was 'free' though!) 4) The internet stayed connected for only 30 minute sessions at a time. 5) The exercise room had one treadmill from the 80's Not much to work with. 6) The Heat/AC unit was difficult to operate. For the price i would definitely satay here again, the friendly staff and the cleanliness really made it worth while! read more

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We were looking for somewhere special for my wife's birthday! My plan was to take my wife to a live show at the Academy of Music and spend a fun night in Philadelphia. I found One of the Best places to stay in Philadelphia! The Alexander Inn is a gem that transcends time. A beautiful setting in a great area, The Alexander has a super friendly staff that you can tell takes pride in where they work. The appointments and details throughout the hotel were great and made you feel like you were back in time like in a 1940's movie. Very clean, real furniture (no Formica), and a very comfortable and clean room. There was a palpable spirit in the place that simply makes you smile. The included breakfast was really well prepared and delicious. I highly recommend The Alexander Inn for your next Philadelphia stay over! read more

if I could give negative stars I would! the only good part of this was the check in receptionist who was extremely sweet. No parking and the garage they use is blocks away I could not find even with their flyer.. The room had receptacles and cords that did not work and wa the size of a closet The worst part was there was not any heat or thermostat in the room I never have encountered this in all my hotel stays. I called down to the desk and they said it was controlled externally and not on the premises . I explained I was freezing and they said they could look for a space heater i said fine they brought that to my room and that was my only her source for the stay.. for that amount of money this place should be shamed of themselves. read more

This is an older, updated building with some quaint amenities. The people are great and the rooms are extremely clean. The location is convenient to Center City. We enjoyed our stay here. read more

The staff was kind but that was just about the only thing about this hotel that was ok. My sheets had stains on them and the room just felt icky. Additionally- i paid for my room through hotels.com. The hotel charged me $144.... And when i call no one answers. I'm furious actually! Never staying here again read more

This is my third stay at The Alexander Inn. I cannot recommend it enough, it feels like coming home when you arrive. Beautiful building, fantastic architectural details, clean, comfortable along with a warm and friendly staff. It's a straight 1 mile or so shot to the convention center (why we are), in walking distance of soooo many historical sites, great food and shopping. I was told this morning that there was extra love in the coffee and I believe it! Did I mention the kick butt complimentary breakfast they offer. I can't wait until next year! read more

Stayed at the Alexander inn in early November. Had the best time. Conveniently located and clean. The staff was helpful and friendly. A definite gem! read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. The staff was friendly and very helpful. the rooms were clean and we'll stocked and the view of the city was gorgeous. It's in a very stylish neighborhood with lots of food around. Will definitely be staying here again when I find myself in Philadelphia! read more

Alexander Inn - View from the 6th floor. - Hotels Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I don't write reviews of hotels. What's the point: I get a room, bathroom, little soaps, staff trained to be "customer oriented" some of the worse coffee in the universe, and sad continental breakfast that looks like death is just days away - and that would be a good review. However - Alexander Inn - Kris, Christina, Tony, Keisha - these people are not trained, They have an inherent goodness and appreciation that comes out in every interaction. Getting breakfast set up over an hour early, pleasant to the degree I could not believe it - here was love! Just great people seemingly unafraid to interact and give of themselves. As a bonus - the shower hot water was terrific. Most hotels don't' let it get too hot as people might hurt themselves. Here the deluge of as-hot-as-I-can-stand-it was an incredible relaxer after a day of non-stop action and pouring rain. Coffee the best hotel coffee ever that I have experienced in 45 years of travel. If home is where the heart is, then at the moment I am home. read more

Great art, great service. An old school place that makes you feel at hone.

We stay here every time we come to Philly which is quite often since I visit a local hospital regularly. It's in a great part of town. Is always clean and quiet even when at its busiest. Lots of wonderful bars and restaurants nearby with shopping and parking all in walking distance. We love the breakfast before setting out for the day. A great place to stay without breaking the bank read more

Superb small gay-friendly hotel with breakfast included and a wonderful staff. Well located and not too costly. This was our second stay: very comfortable and clean. read more

Great location, walkable neighborhood. The hotel is clean and comfortable. The one complaint we had was the bed was definitely not a queen as advertised, it was a full,. It was also uncomfortable. read more