Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
Philadelphia Museum of Art - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
Getting around
Philadelphia Intl. Airport (PHL) - 14 min drive
Philadelphia, PA (PNE-Northeast Philadelphia) - 21 min drive
Blue Bell, PA (BBX-Wings Field) - 34 min drive
Trenton–Mercer Airport (TTN) - 44 min drive
30th St Station - 7 min walk
Philadelphia, PA (ZFV-30th Street Rail Station) - 7 min walk
Philadelphia University City Station - 12 min walk
30th St. Station - 6 min walk
33rd St Station - 10 min walk
Penn Medicine Station - 12 min walk
Restaurants
Rosy's Taco Bar - 6 min walk
World Cafe Live - 2 min walk
The Post - 2 min walk
Shake Shack - 8 min walk
Top Hat Coffee Lounge - 4 min walk
About this property
AKA University City
AKA University City offers a fantastic location, putting you just a 5-minute walk from University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. You can splash around at the indoor pool, grab a bite to eat at the coffee shop/cafe, or unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge. A health club and a fitness center are offered, and in-room conveniences include washers/dryers and refrigerators. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff. Public transportation is just a short walk: 30th St. Station is 6 minutes and 33rd St Station is 10 minutes.
Languages
English, Spanish
At a glance
Hotel size
133 rooms
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out time is 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Restrictions related to your trip
Check COVID-19 restrictions.
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
Required at check-in
Credit card required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 21
Pets
Pets allowed (dogs and cats only)*
Service animals welcome
Internet
Free WiFi and wired internet access in public areas
Free WiFi and wired internet access in rooms
Parking
Onsite self parking (USD 35.00 per day)
Electric vehicle charging point on site
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Restaurant
Bar/lounge
Coffee shop
Water dispenser
What to do
Fitness classes
Yoga classes
Bicycle rentals nearby
Working away
Business center
Services
24-hour front desk
Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry services
Facilities
1 building/tower
Built in 2017
Rooftop garden
Garden
Terrace
Health club
An indoor pool
Bicycle parking
Double-glazed windows
At least 80% lighting from LEDs
Firepit
Outdoor furniture
Accessibility
Elevator
Elevator door width (inches): 42
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
Wheelchair-accessible business center
Wheelchair-accessible lounge
Well-lit path to entrance
Stair-free path to entrance
Room amenities
Be entertained
Flat-screen television
Premium cable channels
Home comfort
Air conditioning and heating
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
Iron/ironing board
Washer and dryer
Laundry detergent
Sleep well
Premium bedding
Freshen up
Private bathroom
Shower only
Eco-friendly toiletries
Hair dryer
Towels
Toilet paper
Stay connected
Free WiFi and wired internet
Phone
Food and drink
Refrigerator
Freezer
Microwave
Kitchen
Stovetop
Oven
Toaster
Cookware, dishes, and utensils
Dishwasher
More
Weekly housekeeping
In-room safe
Eco-friendly toiletries
Eco-friendly cleaning products provided
Energy-saving switches
LED light bulbs
Water-efficient showers only
Water-efficient toilets only
Fees & policies
Mandatory fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges by the property at check-in or check-out. Fees may include applicable taxes:
Destination fee: USD 29.09 per accommodation, per night
Children & extra beds
Rollaway beds are available for USD 25.0 per day
Pets
Service animals exempt from fees
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of USD 200 per accommodation (may vary based on length of stay)
Parking
Self parking costs USD 35.00 per day
Policies
Long-term renters welcome.
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher, a security system, a first aid kit and window guards on site.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Cashless transactions are available.
Property Registration Number 864141
Also known as
AKA University City Hotel
AKA Hotel
AKA University City Hotel
AKA University City Philadelphia
AKA University City Hotel Philadelphia
Frequently asked questions
Does AKA University City offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, AKA University City does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Is there a pool at AKA University City?
Yes, there's an indoor pool.
Are pets allowed at AKA University City?
Yes, cats and dogs are welcome. There's a charge of USD 200 per accommodation, per stay. Service animals are exempt from fees.
Is parking offered on site at AKA University City?
Yes. Self parking costs USD 35.00 per day. Electric vehicle charging is available.
What are the check-in and check-out times at AKA University City?
You can check in starting at 3 PM. Check-out time is 11 AM. Contactless check-out is available.
Is there an onsite casino at AKA University City?
No, this hotel doesn't have a casino, but Rivers Casino (6-min drive) and Philadelphia Live! Casino and Hotel (8-min drive) are both nearby.
What is there to do at AKA University City and nearby?
Have fun during the warmer months with activities nearby such as cycling. Additional recreation onsite includes fitness classes and yoga. Enjoy a swim in the indoor pool or use the hotel's other amenities, which include a health club and a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near AKA University City?
Yes, there's an onsite restaurant.
Does AKA University City have self-catered rooms fitted with kitchens or kitchenettes?
Yes, a kitchen is available in every room, and also includes a coffee maker, a toaster, and cookware.
What's the area around AKA University City like?
AKA University City is a short 6-minute walk from 30th St. Station and 11 minutes' walk from Rittenhouse Square.
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.6/10
Cleanliness
9.4/10
Staff & service
9.4/10
Amenities
9.6/10
Property conditions & facilities
9.2/10
Eco-friendliness
Reviews
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 18, 2024
Marko
Marko, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 17, 2024
Skykila
Skykila, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very Good
Nov 15, 2024
Great room and amenities
Stay was great. Love the property and amenities and the room. Rating would have been better had our room been ready by 5pm. Told to go up and it should be ready and housekeeping was still there, couldn't speak english to tell us when it would be ready, waited outside door 15 minutes then left to bar. Blackout blinds would be nice.
James
James, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
6/10 Good
Nov 12, 2024
The hotel was nice. My room was not ready on time so they gave me a voucher for the bar to be used on that particular date. When I went to use my voucher the bar was “closed for an event”. I was awakened to what sounded like a fire alarm at 01:22 am that told us not yo use the fire escape or the elevators. The alarm and the message rang continuously for over 45 minutes.
Kelli
Kelli, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 4, 2024
Mark
Mark, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 4, 2024
Harold
Harold, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very Good
Oct 14, 2024
Stephanie
Stephanie, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 4, 2024
Ted
Ted, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 21, 2024
Haris
Haris, 7-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 11, 2024
Maria
Maria, 1-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 30, 2024
Eva
Eva, 4-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very Good
Aug 21, 2024
Very nice big rooms very professional friendly staff great gym and nice coffee machine. Only downsides are that beds are very very uncomfortable and there is no maid service and no easy way to ask for towels or more coffee. Despite those things the rest of the place is great.
Karin
Karin, 3-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 16, 2024
Compare to five star hotels, aka deserves seven. Location, staff, environment, lounge, room, everything is at a premium level.
Thank You!
Afshin
Afshin, 4-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 13, 2024
Great indoor pool, gym and terrace in the 28th floor with a wonderful view. Close to the university and city center as well. Very good cafe for breakfast close by. Spacious rooms, bath and a kitchen; makes it very convenient for a longer stay. All the staff was very friendly.
Gabriele
Gabriele, 4-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 8, 2024
My Family and I always choose the Aka for our stays when in Philadelphia. Safe, clean and the suites have a kitchen which is perfect when traveling with children
Zayd
Zayd, 3-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 7, 2024
Loved All the amenities room was spacious and very clean… loved the outside space and the pool as well .
Adira
Adira, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very Good
Aug 6, 2024
Amazing views, likely best in city. Amenities clustered on 1 floor with nearly 360 degree view of city. Rooms are large and kitchens well equipped. However, service is mediocre and not worthy of the price paid. Spa is a misnomer. There is no one there regularly so you need to arrange service in advance. The immediate area around the hotel has very limited food access and the convenience store closes at 9p, which is inconvenient for large city. There is no hotel store. Overall nice if it suits your location needs (which it did for me as it is right next to Penn athletics) but has significant limitations.
Steven
Steven, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
2/10 Poor
Aug 5, 2024
Terrible service and all amenities closed.
Caitlin
Caitlin, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very Good
Aug 1, 2024
The room options, amenities (level 28 is awesome esp with kids), and location are what make this hotel stand out! Some improvements — carpet was a little yucky — was clear it had been cleaned which was good but it was bumpy, so annoying and a potential tripping hazard for someone. Also even more importantly we all wished there were blackout shades in the bedroom and main room. Was hard for all of us to sleep and was surprised how much noise we could hear from outside even tho we were on the 33rd floor. We overall enjoyed our stay!
Eileen
Eileen, 3-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very Good
Jul 29, 2024
Joel
Joel, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 28, 2024
I have stayed at many places in Philly before but AKA was truly a relaxing and clean hotel , I will be coming back again for sure for another visit! Front desk service was truly excellent!
Brittany
Brittany, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 21, 2024
Theresa
Theresa, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 17, 2024
Reza
Reza, 2-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 15, 2024
Anahi
Anahi, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 13, 2024
Friendly Staff, very clean room, nice gym with great view. Would stay again!