Fodor's Expert Review Penn's View Hotel

This cosmopolitan little hotel in a refurbished 19th-century commercial building on the fringe of Old City offers its own brand of urban charm. The owner is a well-regarded Italian-born restaurateur who also runs Ristorante Panorama, the downstairs eatery, and its wine bar, a Guinness World Records holder for its 120-bottle cruvinet system (they pour more than 150 wines by the glass). Rooms are comfortable and rather European looking, some with Chippendale-style furniture and floral wallpaper, others with a more modern feel; some rooms feature fireplaces and whirlpool baths. Ask about rooms with views of the Delaware River.