Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods, red brick, and grit. But for a few years, it was also a city of clouds. If you lived in Philly between 2015 and 2020, you probably remember the buzz when One Liberty Observation Deck first opened its doors. It wasn't just another tourist trap. It felt like the city finally grew up and looked at itself in the mirror.
Then, the world stopped. The "Philly From Above" experience shuttered during the pandemic and, unlike the rest of the city, it never really woke back up.
Honestly, it’s a shame. You had this 57th-floor perch in the heart of Center City that offered a 360-degree look at everything from the Ben Franklin Bridge to the stadiums in South Philly. Most people think you can just go to the City Hall tower for the same vibe. You can't. City Hall is historic and cool, sure, but William Penn’s hat feels a lot smaller when you’re looking down on it from the top of a skyscraper.
Why the One Liberty Observation Deck Experience Was Different
Most observation decks feel sterile. You go to the Top of the Rock in New York and it feels like a factory line of selfies. One Liberty was different because it leaned into the weird, quirky personality of Philadelphia.
The first thing you saw when you got off the elevator was a massive, floor-to-ceiling pair of Ben Franklin’s legs. Just the legs. His giant head was on another floor. It was absurd. It was peak Philly.
The deck sat 883 feet above the street. To put that in perspective, you were higher than the Comcast Center’s public floors. You were looking down at the BNY Mellon Center. On a clear day, you could see the silhouettes of the Jersey shore forests. On a bad day, you watched the localized thunderstorms roll in over the Schuylkill River like a scene from a disaster movie.
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The wind would howl against the glass. You’d stand there with your coffee, watching the tiny SEPTA buses crawl like ants along Market Street, and realize how logical the city's grid actually is. William Penn had a plan. From 57 floors up, you could finally see it.
The Reality of Why It Closed
Business is brutal.
When Montparnasse 56 (the French company that operated the deck) pulled the plug, it wasn't just because of a lack of interest. It was a math problem. Observation decks rely on high-volume foot traffic and international tourism. When the lockdowns hit in 2020, that faucet was turned off. By the time 2021 rolled around, the overhead of maintaining a high-tech space in one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in Pennsylvania became untenable.
The space at 1650 Market Street didn't just disappear, of course. The building is still there. The 57th floor is still there. But the "Philly From Above" brand is gone.
Currently, the space has been transitioned back into the hands of the building’s owners. There have been whispers about it becoming private office space or a high-end "amenity floor" for the corporate tenants of One Liberty Place. That’s the boring reality of commercial real estate. Sometimes the best view in the city gets traded for a conference room where people argue about spreadsheets.
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Where to Go Now That the Deck is Gone
You're looking for that high-altitude hit. I get it. Since you can't buy a ticket to One Liberty Observation Deck anymore, you have to get creative. You have a few options, but they all come with caveats.
The JG Skyhigh Option: This is located in the Comcast Technology Center. It’s gorgeous. It’s also a lounge. You aren't going to just wander around in cargo shorts taking photos. You’re expected to buy a $20 cocktail. But, the views from the 60th floor are technically higher than One Liberty. It’s just more "corporate chic" and less "educational fun."
City Hall Tower: You have to book this in advance. It’s cramped. You go up in a tiny elevator that feels like a Victorian birdcage. But standing right under Billy Penn is a rite of passage. The view is limited compared to the 360-degree panorama of Liberty Place, but the history is unbeatable.
Assembly Rooftop Lounge: This is over by Logan Square. It’s only nine floors up, but because of the way the Parkway is designed, it feels much higher. You get that straight-shot view of the Art Museum.
The "Secret" Views Nobody Mentions
If you’re a local, you know the best views aren't always from the highest point.
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Go to the top of the parking garage at 7th and Chestnut. Seriously. At sunset, the way the light hits the Independence Hall steeple with the skyline looming behind it is better than any paid deck.
Or, hit the South Street Bridge. If you stand in the middle of that bridge at dusk, you see the entire skyline reflected in the Schuylkill River. It’s the "classic" Philly shot you see on every Sunday Night Football broadcast. It’s free. No elevators required.
What We Lost
We lost the context.
What made the observation deck at One Liberty special was the interactive tech. They had these "Enviro-Scopes" that let you zoom in on specific landmarks. You could point the screen at Eastern State Penitentiary and it would give you a breakdown of the history. It taught people that Philly isn't just a collection of sports stadiums and cheesesteak shops. It’s a dense, complex architectural marvel.
It was a place for proposals. It was a place where kids from North Philly could look out and see their own rooftops from a perspective they never imagined. That’s the real loss.
Actionable Steps for the View-Seeker
If you were planning a trip to see the One Liberty Observation Deck, you need to pivot your itinerary. Don't just show up at 16th and Market expecting to buy a ticket; you'll be met by a security guard and a lobby full of people going to work.
- Check the weather for JG Skyhigh: If you decide to do the Comcast Center lounge instead, go about 45 minutes before sunset. The reflection of the sun off the surrounding glass towers is blindingly beautiful.
- Book City Hall 2 weeks out: The tower tours are small and sell out fast. Don't assume you can walk up.
- Visit the Cira Green park: It's an elevated "park in the sky" in University City. It gives you a "sideways" view of the skyline that is arguably better for photography than being inside a building.
- Follow Philly YIMBY or SkyscraperPage: If you’re obsessed with the skyline, these forums are where the real nerds track new construction. There is always a chance a new public observation deck will be included in the next "super-tall" project, though nothing is currently on the books for 2026.
The era of the dedicated, stand-alone observation deck in Philly is on a hiatus. For now, the city is best viewed from the ground up, or at least from the seat of a rooftop bar with a drink in your hand.