The Deacon

This spot is both stylish and welcoming, making every stay feel special. The location is perfect for exploring the city, and the vibe is modern yet comfortable.

We just finished hosting our annual photography retreat, The Family Narrative, at the Deacon. We've hosted in cities across the country (and in Australia) and have never had a space as unique or special as The Deacon. We loved being able to offer our attendees the opportunity to sleep on-site. The beds were incredibly comfy, the space was well-stocked, and the staff was always friendly when we had to contact them about various little things. And the light! THE LIGHT! We will definitely consider hosting again in the future and highly recommend the Deacon for your next gathering or event! A few areas that could have used a little attention: most of the bedrooms had nowhere to put clothes (neither a dress, a drawer, or a place to hang anything). The bathrooms could have used some hooks for hanging towels. Most of the bedrooms lacked bedside lamps or trash cans. Just little things like that would be make it much nicer for guests. Also you do have to enter someone's bedroom to access a bathroom - that's important to know if you're hosting an event and sleeping there as well. And there's no elevator or access for people who can't take the stairs. We had a guest with an injury and it was difficult for them, especially with their luggage.

Our group of military families traveled from all over the country to Philadelphia for an Okinawa reunion and to honor one of our fallen soldiers, and The Deacon was the perfect home base for such a meaningful weekend. We stayed from Friday to Sunday, and from the moment we arrived, the space felt warm, welcoming, and designed for togetherness. The kids had plenty of room to spread out, play the games available, listen to music, and watch TV without feeling crowded. Meanwhile, the adults were able to cook, laugh, reminisce, and enjoy being in community again. The layout allowed everyone—kids and adults—to stay connected while still having their own space. A special thank-you to Valerie Abitbol, who helped us finalize the event. She was incredibly helpful, responsive, and patient. Any question I had, she answered quickly and thoroughly, which made planning so much easier for our group. The property was clean, beautifully maintained, and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. It truly felt like a gathering space made for moments like ours. We are grateful to The Deacon for giving us a place where we could reconnect, celebrate our bond from Okinawa, and honor our fallen soldier with love and laughter. We would absolutely recommend this space for large groups, military families, or anyone wanting a meaningful and memorable stay in Philadelphia.

The Deacon’s space absolutely Wows in person. Our wedding guests were immediately marveling as they walked into it. It also worked for our vision perfectly. We booked the venue for the whole weekend, to act as a little hotel for our wedding party and closest friends coming in from out of town. We used the space for a 40-person family/rehearsal dinner on Friday night with drop-off catering, our 100-person ceremony and reception on Saturday, and a no-rsvp-necessary bagel brunch on Sunday before clearing out. Having all these events in one place made planning and logistics an infinitely lighter load for us, and having all those bodies already present at the space made delegating fetch-quests a breeze. For the wedding itself: We held the Ceremony and Reception in the same space in the Deacon, with the catering staff rearranging the furniture between the two events. Despite the madness, we haven’t heard a word from guests about that providing any kind of detraction from the experience. The space is so beautiful on its own; the only decor we added was florals and it made a perfect venue for our ceremony. For the reception: As mentioned, we had about 100 guests, and did the reception cocktail style (no assigned seating, various levels and sizes of table with chairs available for about half of them to be seated, all food served at stations and passed around, even during the main course). We did not have a dedicated dance floor at the wedding, although we did have a family member manning the playlist. We never felt as though space was lacking for our guest count. There was room to move around, there were pockets of high activity and pockets of peace and quiet. We set up one of the side rooms to be available as a hide-away with board games for overwhelmed guests, although that hardly even felt necessary when the moment came! (Still glad to have had the option though!) The large bedroom intended for the Couple to stay in was luxurious and a boon for the day-of. It was of ample size to host our wedding party, officiant, and photographer for getting-ready shoots, certificate signing, etc. It also acted as a perfect oasis for us during the reception – quiet and our own space, without feeling so detached from everything that we felt we were ditching our own party. Finally, the staff were all lovely, attentive, and accommodating – especially Elise, who worked with us from our first inquiry through our check-in the day before the wedding. The Deacon worked well with all of our vendors, and they communicated well so we knew we were in good hands.

We couldn’t have asked for a better venue than The Deacon to host our party! The space is absolutely stunning—its unique blend of modern design and historic charm created the perfect ambiance for our event. The layout was versatile and spacious, allowing us to customize everything exactly how we envisioned. The staff was incredible from start to finish—helpful, attentive, and genuinely invested in making sure our event was a success. They handled every detail with professionalism and care, making the entire planning process stress-free. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the experience! From the thoughtful amenities to the beautiful décor, The Deacon truly exceeded all our expectations. If you’re looking for a venue that combines elegance, character, and top-notch service, The Deacon is it. We can’t wait to host another event here!

We used The Deacon for a company get-together and to take new team photos, and it was such a great space. It’s bright and beautifully designed and gave us plenty of room to spread out and work together. It also photographed really well, which was a huge plus. It’s also in a really lovely part of the city, easy to get to and surrounded by spots to grab coffee or food. I would definitely recommend The Deacon to anyone looking for a unique event space or even as a place to do photoshoots!

Stayed here for a conference recently and it is a beautiful venue! The stained glass windows were gorgeous, the kitchen was fully stocked with all the appliances you could want. Some improvements could be made: there were no trash cans in the bedrooms, for example. Also would have been nice to have a bedside lamp. The one downside was that the shower drained VERY slowly in the upstairs bathroom so much so that there was 1-2” of standing water by the time my shower was finished. The entrance was fairly easy to figure out and then a breeze to use. I walked everywhere or took a Lyft. Shopping and restaurants are pretty close. It was nice as it is in a residential neighborhood so the road was relatively quiet. I also loved the historical side to the venue and some of the artwork incorporated into the space to honor the past.

I stayed at The Deacon in Philadelphia for three nights, and it was a wonderful experience. This place is truly unique — it’s an old church transformed into a modern hotel, which gives it a peaceful and inspiring atmosphere. The rooms are spacious, clean, and perfect for relaxing. If you’re looking for cool hotels in Philadelphia or wondering where to stay in Philadelphia, The Deacon is definitely one of the best places to stay in Philadelphia. It’s not just a hotel — it’s an incredible church hotel that blends history, character, and modern comfort. Whether you’re visiting for work or leisure, this hotel is ideal for connecting with others, hosting team events, or simply enjoying a calm, memorable stay in the heart of the city.