The Study At University City

Upscale at affordable pricing. Bathroom door does not offer much privacy. Comfortable beds. Good food. Expensive parking. Would be nice if they had a rewards program for frequent guests. The selection of TV channels need an upgrade.

This was my first stay at The Study at University City, although I have stayed at this hotel elsewhere. I love this hotel. My King Study was very large, clean, and incredibly quiet. The bed was perfect, the leather chairs comfortable for leisure and work. I ate at the Co-Op restaurant and was pleased with the food. I have had a lot of hotel stays and 5-stars from me don't come easily. The Study Hotel earned that from me. Thank You.

I visited The Study at University City last night for drinks at a second-floor happy hour, and I want to be precise about the scope of this review. I did not stay overnight or see a guest room, and I did not dine at CO-OP. I also cannot assess room pricing, bedding, or the full overnight experience. Based solely on the drinks, hospitality, and spaces I experienced, I came away genuinely impressed. Visually, The Study is one of the most compelling hotels I have entered anywhere. The interior feels fresh, progressive, and stylish, with a clear point of view running through the entire space. It has considerably more personality and visual confidence than I normally associate with a college-adjacent hotel. The overall aesthetic is cosmopolitan while remaining perfectly calibrated to its academic surroundings. Upstairs, the happy hour offered a practical demonstration of how well the hotel functions as a social venue. The drinks were great, and the staff was welcoming, relaxed, and genuinely cool. An outdoor terrace and elevated views over the surrounding streets brought more dimension to the evening, especially as people moved between the indoor space and the open air. Being slightly above street level created enough separation from the surrounding university traffic to make the gathering feel like an occasion. What impressed me most was how naturally the hotel fit Penn, while also making sense for Drexel and the broader University City community. The Study understands that a university hotel can feel intellectually grounded, internationally aware, and genuinely cool at the same time. I could easily picture a recruiting reception, an academic conference, or a visiting family gathering working beautifully here. The atmosphere is sophisticated without becoming stiff, and stylish without losing its sense of purpose. Learning that The Study also has locations at Yale, the University of Chicago, and Johns Hopkins made the concept even more compelling. Together with Penn, that is an extraordinary cluster of institutions with prestige, intellectual seriousness, and a forward-looking culture. The portfolio feels selective, coherent, and unusually well aligned. There is something genuinely cool about a hotel brand building its identity around universities of this caliber while giving each property a strong connection to its own campus. Its location also makes intuitive sense for travelers coming to this part of Philadelphia. Penn, Drexel, and 30th Street Station are all nearby, while the city’s major museums are within easy reach. That combination should appeal to visiting families, university guests, and international travelers who want convenient access without sacrificing atmosphere. CO-OP also gives guests an on-site restaurant and bar option, although my own visit was limited to drinks at the happy hour. Ultimately, I can only review the portion of The Study that I actually experienced: its public spaces, hospitality, and second-floor gathering environment. Within that scope, the hotel made a strong impression and felt like a standout in University City. It is hipper, fresher, and more design-conscious than most campus hotels, while still feeling polished and appropriate for its setting. I would gladly return for drinks and would strongly consider it for a professional or university-related event.

Be aware of robberies at this hotel! We stayed at this hotel for one night during our trip, at the time of the World Cup. The next day, after checking out and while we were already on the train heading to our next destination, I realised that I had left my wallet and passport in the room safe. I immediately called the hotel, and they told me that the room had not yet been assigned to another guest and that someone would go and check. I was quite relieved because I knew my wallet and passport were safely locked in the safe, and I was confident they would be found. However, this is when the first strange signs appeared. They didn’t called me back as promised, so when i called again i was informed me that the safe was empty and that there was nothing inside. Naturally, this was a huge shock. I called them several more times, and every time after the conversation they promised they would call me back with an update, but they never did. I went to the police and reported the incident, and I also started the procedure with the embassy. However, the next morning, while I was preparing to go to the embassy, I received a call from the hotel saying that they had found my wallet and passport. I immediately took the train back to the hotel to collect my belongings. When I received them, I realised that my wallet was empty and that the cash had been taken. Although some members of the staff were genuinely kind and helpful throughout the whole process, and I must give them credit for returning my passport, it is clear that not all employees working at this hotel share the same values. This is the first time I have ever written a review on Booking.com, but I feel it is important to warn future guests to think twice before leaving valuable belongings in the hotel, because it appears that there are members of the staff who may take advantage of such an opportunity.