When you walk through our mahogany doors on Locust Street, you step into a piece of Philadelphia history reimagined for today’s celebrations. We’re not just another event space in Center City. We’re the former Hotel Sylvania ballroom, built in 1923 and thoughtfully restored to serve your weddings, corporate gatherings, galas, and milestone celebrations with a blend of architectural distinction and modern service.
The Arts Ballroom stands out among Philadelphia event venues for its blend of 1920s architectural charm and modern versatility. The 10,000-square-foot space features a grand staircase, crystal chandeliers, and marble bars, paired with exceptional service and flexible layouts ideal for weddings, galas, corporate gatherings, and milestone celebrations in Center City.
What Sets Our Venue Apart in Philadelphia’s Event Landscape
Philadelphia offers numerous event spaces, but few combine genuine historic character with modern flexibility and service excellence. We’ve preserved the architectural grandeur of the 1920s while creating spaces that adapt seamlessly to today’s events. Here’s what makes the Arts Ballroom a distinctive choice for your celebration.
Historic Architecture Meets Flexible Design
Our 10,000-square-foot venue offers something rare in Philadelphia: complete flexibility with authentic character. The Grand Ballroom features original hardwood flooring, a French acoustic ceiling that musicians love, and a granite staircase that serves as both a dramatic entrance and a natural photo backdrop. We can seat 230 guests for formal dinners or welcome up to 550 for cocktail receptions.
The Sylvania Room, with its crystal chandeliers and backlit marble bar, transforms from an intimate space for 100 plated dinners to a lively cocktail reception area for 300. Two built-in marble bars ensure that your guests never wait long for their favorite top-shelf cocktail, and our mirrored décor creates an atmosphere that photographs beautifully from every angle.
Exceptional Service Beyond Expectations
We staff your event with one server for every 10 guests and one bartender for every 75, ensuring attentive service throughout your celebration. Our team includes an event specialist, maître d’, doormen, and catering staff who understand the difference between good service and white glove tableside service. When we say butlered hors d’oeuvres and attended cocktail stations, we mean professionals who know how to read a room and keep your event flowing smoothly.
Your booking includes tables, chairs, linens, silverware, flatware, and glassware, as well as full setup and breakdown services. Tax and gratuity are included too, so you know your total investment upfront. We provide custom lighting options, including uplighting, spotlights, and party lights to match your vision, whether that’s sophisticated corporate or celebratory social.
Location That Works for Everyone
Positioned just off the Avenue of the Arts, we’re convenient to City Hall and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Your out-of-town guests can easily find us, and locals know exactly where we are. For wedding parties seeking those quintessential Philadelphia photos, you’re minutes from Love Park, Dilworth Park, Washington Square, and Rittenhouse Square. Corporate groups appreciate our weekday availability and proximity to Center City offices.
A Venue for Every Milestone
While some venues specialize in one type of event, we’ve designed our spaces to adapt. A morning corporate conference transitions smoothly to setup for an evening gala. A Saturday mitzvah flows naturally from ceremony to cocktails to celebration. We host proms where teens can dance in the Grand Ballroom while chaperones relax in the Mezzanine. Anniversary parties, from first to fiftieth, find the right atmosphere here. Even celebrations of life benefit from our flexible spaces and experienced team who understand when to step back and when to step in.
Your Event, Your Way
We know every planner, every family, every company has a unique vision. That’s why we offer exclusive use of our customizable space. Work with our executive chef to create a menu that fits your taste and budget. Choose from plated dinners, cocktail receptions, or a combination. Include a custom cake or bring your own. The marble fireplace in the Grand Ballroom becomes a natural focal point for ceremonies or speeches, while the granite staircase offers a memorable entrance for quinceañeras or anniversary couples renewing their vows.
Conclusion
When you choose the Arts Ballroom, you’re selecting more than just 10,000 square feet of flexible space. You’re choosing the architectural grandeur of 1923 with French acoustic ceilings and granite staircases, paired with contemporary service that includes one server for every ten guests. You’re choosing exclusive use of spaces that transform from corporate conferences to wedding receptions, from mitzvahs to milestone celebrations. You’re choosing a Center City location just off the Avenue of the Arts, with built-in marble bars, Juliet balconies, and every detail, from custom lighting to white-glove service, included in your booking.
We’re open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM for tours. Fill out our information form to access our pricing guide, or call us at 215-621-8561 to schedule your visit. Let’s discuss how the Arts Ballroom can bring timeless elegance to your next Philadelphia event.
FAQs
Q: What’s included with our booking at The Arts Ballroom?
A: Your booking includes exclusive use of our 10,000-square-foot venue, tables, chairs, linens, silverware, flatware, glassware, full setup and breakdown, an event coordinator, an executive chef, servers (one per 10 guests), bartenders (one per 75), custom lighting options, and tax and gratuity. We also provide custom cake service and full catering with options from butlered hors d’oeuvres to plated dinners with white glove tableside service.
Q: How many guests can The Arts Ballroom accommodate?
A: We accommodate events from intimate gatherings to large celebrations. The Grand Ballroom seats up to 230 for formal weddings or 250 for cocktails. The Sylvania Room holds 100 for plated dinners or 300 for cocktail receptions. For larger cocktail-style events, we can accommodate up to 550 guests across our combined spaces.
Q: Where exactly is The Arts Ballroom located?
A: We’re located at 1324 Locust Street in Center City Philadelphia, just off the Avenue of the Arts. We’re near City Hall and the Pennsylvania Convention Center, with photo opportunities at nearby Love Park, Dilworth Park, Washington Square, and Rittenhouse Square.
Q: What types of events work well at The Arts Ballroom?
A: Our flexible spaces accommodate weddings, corporate events, galas, fundraisers, mitzvahs, proms, anniversary parties, birthday celebrations, graduations, reunions, and celebrations of life. Each room can be configured to match your specific needs, from theater-style seating for presentations to dance floor setups for social celebrations.