Guidebook for Philadelphia
Drinks & Nightlife
Living room atmosphere, neighborhood spot. Games. Bar food+ with things like bacon wrapped dates & spaghetti squash w goat cheese as well as burgers. Kitchen open til 1am. Less than a block from home.
9 locals recommend
Growlers
736 S 8th StLiving room atmosphere, neighborhood spot. Games. Bar food+ with things like bacon wrapped dates & spaghetti squash w goat cheese as well as burgers. Kitchen open til 1am. Less than a block from home.
Old school Philly spot. Dark wood, classic bar and deep rich dining room. Great steaks and amazing spinach salad - trust me. Closed Sundays. Lots of history here.
7 locals recommend
Saloon Restaurant
750 S 7th StOld school Philly spot. Dark wood, classic bar and deep rich dining room. Great steaks and amazing spinach salad - trust me. Closed Sundays. Lots of history here.
Another high quality place open late (kitchen til 1am). Small but wonderful wine list, beers, one of the best burgers in the city, cheeseboard, brunch - everything is here. Across from Nomad Pizza.
41 locals recommend
The Good King Tavern
614 South 7th StreetAnother high quality place open late (kitchen til 1am). Small but wonderful wine list, beers, one of the best burgers in the city, cheeseboard, brunch - everything is here. Across from Nomad Pizza.
Looking to splurge on your trip? How about one of the best steakhouses you'll ever go to? I had my first and best taste of Kobe here, it's in a library setting, and they take their jobs very seriously
52 locals recommend
Barclay Prime
237 S 18th StLooking to splurge on your trip? How about one of the best steakhouses you'll ever go to? I had my first and best taste of Kobe here, it's in a library setting, and they take their jobs very seriously
One of the most consistently excellent restaurants in the city for me. Good bread, serious and delicious French food, great desserts.
28 locals recommend
Bistrot La Minette
623 S 6th StOne of the most consistently excellent restaurants in the city for me. Good bread, serious and delicious French food, great desserts.
The yelp reviews only give this place about three stars but it has come far from there. Don't miss brunch. Serious about their beers all the time. **One of the best roast pork sandwiches around**.
18 locals recommend
Bainbridge Street Barrel House
625-627 S 6th StThe yelp reviews only give this place about three stars but it has come far from there. Don't miss brunch. Serious about their beers all the time. **One of the best roast pork sandwiches around**.
Fat Salmon Sushi
719 Walnut StMy favorite sushi place in the city.
Food Scene
Parking! But it's only a block away so you don't need it. I'm picky about French toast and they do it well. Delicious breakfast and lunch fare. Bright sunny space. Been here forever. Check it out.
15 locals recommend
Fitzwater Cafe
728 S 7th StParking! But it's only a block away so you don't need it. I'm picky about French toast and they do it well. Delicious breakfast and lunch fare. Bright sunny space. Been here forever. Check it out.
My friends and I jokingly call it "diet pizza" because the crust is so thin. High quality toppings, local ingredients, beer, sometimes movies upstairs! Extremely, dangerously tasty. Little pricey.
55 locals recommend
Nomad Pizza
611 S 7th StMy friends and I jokingly call it "diet pizza" because the crust is so thin. High quality toppings, local ingredients, beer, sometimes movies upstairs! Extremely, dangerously tasty. Little pricey.
Best ramen and udon soups with a few other awesome things on the menu.
30 locals recommend
Terakawa Ramen
204 N 9th StBest ramen and udon soups with a few other awesome things on the menu.
You can get good pho so many places here - we're spoiled. Just across Washington Avenue (pretty big street but good crosswalks). Super fast, pay at the counter amazing hot Vietnamese food.
26 locals recommend
Pho Ha
600 Washington AveYou can get good pho so many places here - we're spoiled. Just across Washington Avenue (pretty big street but good crosswalks). Super fast, pay at the counter amazing hot Vietnamese food.
IMHO on par or better than Vedge, which is widely known as one of the best vegan restaurants in the country. Easier to get in, but a small space. Amazing drinks incl. non-alc and careful, tasty food.
47 locals recommend
Charlie was a sinner.
131 S 13th StIMHO on par or better than Vedge, which is widely known as one of the best vegan restaurants in the country. Easier to get in, but a small space. Amazing drinks incl. non-alc and careful, tasty food.
Vegan pizza joint. Amazing crust, cool people. Soups and cookies and stuff, oh my!
15 locals recommend
Blackbird Pizzeria
507 South 6th StreetVegan pizza joint. Amazing crust, cool people. Soups and cookies and stuff, oh my!
Great place next to a nice park. Pick up a coffee, cappuccino, specialty drink, fresh salad, sandwich or something more serious to eat in or go. Neighbor sister restaurant Talula's Daily is beautiful.
17 locals recommend
Talula's Daily
208 W Washington SquareGreat place next to a nice park. Pick up a coffee, cappuccino, specialty drink, fresh salad, sandwich or something more serious to eat in or go. Neighbor sister restaurant Talula's Daily is beautiful.
Like an even pickier Whole Foods. Mostly vegan, started as a place the original owner could have his often very ill clients shop at freely. Best vegan hot food bar in the city. Also beauty/medicine.
40 locals recommend
Essene Market & Café
719 S 4th StLike an even pickier Whole Foods. Mostly vegan, started as a place the original owner could have his often very ill clients shop at freely. Best vegan hot food bar in the city. Also beauty/medicine.
The exterior shots for the cafe in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia were done here back when it was Philly Java. Still a really nice quality coffee spot.
6 locals recommend
Milk & Honey Cafe
518 S 4th StThe exterior shots for the cafe in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia were done here back when it was Philly Java. Still a really nice quality coffee spot.
Do you like food? Then go here. You can make a nice day trip of it and Chinatown, if your stomach can handle it. If you want Amish indulgences (donuts!) go any day but Sunday.
739 locals recommend
Reading Terminal Market
1136 N 12th StDo you like food? Then go here. You can make a nice day trip of it and Chinatown, if your stomach can handle it. If you want Amish indulgences (donuts!) go any day but Sunday.
Do you need food and it's 3 am? There are surprisingly few 24 hour places around but this will cure what ails ya for a straight up nice 24 hour diner experience.
32 locals recommend
South Street Headhouse District
407 Pine StDo you need food and it's 3 am? There are surprisingly few 24 hour places around but this will cure what ails ya for a straight up nice 24 hour diner experience.
Everything Else
You might be staying at an airbnb so you have the option of cooking for at least a few meals - here's where I get most of my groceries.
263 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
929 South StYou might be staying at an airbnb so you have the option of cooking for at least a few meals - here's where I get most of my groceries.
Where I spend most of my time. Thai bodywork studio, Jiu-Jitsu, lots of classes, huge gym with climbing wall, basketball court, swimming pool, treadmills, weights, roofdeck. Drop in for a fee.
Optimal Gym
325 Bainbridge StWhere I spend most of my time. Thai bodywork studio, Jiu-Jitsu, lots of classes, huge gym with climbing wall, basketball court, swimming pool, treadmills, weights, roofdeck. Drop in for a fee.
Sooo good. I'm not vegan nor vegetarian and I love this place. They made some deal with the devil with their mock-goods. "Chicken" nuggets and cheesesteaks, "fish" sandwiches, great desserts, all good
21 locals recommend
Govinda's Vegetarian Cuisine
1408 South StSooo good. I'm not vegan nor vegetarian and I love this place. They made some deal with the devil with their mock-goods. "Chicken" nuggets and cheesesteaks, "fish" sandwiches, great desserts, all good
The building is huge, and beautiful, and made in a way they just don't make em any more. I always bring people visiting me around here for a night drive to marvel.
354 locals recommend
Philadelphia City Hall
1400 John F Kennedy BlvdThe building is huge, and beautiful, and made in a way they just don't make em any more. I always bring people visiting me around here for a night drive to marvel.
One of the biggest collections of priceless art in the world yet somehow almost under the radar. Definitely worth your time!
560 locals recommend
Barnes
2025 Benjamin Franklin PkwyOne of the biggest collections of priceless art in the world yet somehow almost under the radar. Definitely worth your time!
You probably haven't heard of this, but if you love cars, you should make the trip outside the city.
Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
6825-31 Norwitch DrYou probably haven't heard of this, but if you love cars, you should make the trip outside the city.
If you need a nature respite during your stay, the Wissahickon is an amazing resource to be so close to the city. Beautiful woods and trails along the river.
209 locals recommend
Wissahickon Valley Park
Valley Green RoadIf you need a nature respite during your stay, the Wissahickon is an amazing resource to be so close to the city. Beautiful woods and trails along the river.
Sundays in the summer and fall there's a farmer's market til 2:00pm. Sometimes events are held here. There's a wawa and some good Irish bars on the square. Good spot just off South Street.
16 locals recommend
Head House Square
Sundays in the summer and fall there's a farmer's market til 2:00pm. Sometimes events are held here. There's a wawa and some good Irish bars on the square. Good spot just off South Street.
Lovely park in a ritzy area. Flanked by expensive but often (not always) worth-it restaurants, good people watching, and high end shopping. I love Anthropologie.
620 locals recommend
Rittenhouse Square
135 S 18th StLovely park in a ritzy area. Flanked by expensive but often (not always) worth-it restaurants, good people watching, and high end shopping. I love Anthropologie.
Crepes! Lovely, lovely place. Exquisite entree salads honestly. Great for savory or sweet or both. French restaurant with emphasis on crepes.
49 locals recommend
Creperie Beau Monde & L'Etage
624 S 6th StCrepes! Lovely, lovely place. Exquisite entree salads honestly. Great for savory or sweet or both. French restaurant with emphasis on crepes.
I've tasted a lot of the Chinese pastries in the area, but this self-serve spot is the best. Amazingly cheap and delicious. Bubble tea too.
K C's Pastries
109 N 10th StI've tasted a lot of the Chinese pastries in the area, but this self-serve spot is the best. Amazingly cheap and delicious. Bubble tea too.
You're in the city. We are spoiled here. Spoiled by things like hot fresh cookies delivered to your door until 3am. You should go walk this amazing block in the city but can also order late at home.
19 locals recommend
Insomnia Cookies
135 S 13th StYou're in the city. We are spoiled here. Spoiled by things like hot fresh cookies delivered to your door until 3am. You should go walk this amazing block in the city but can also order late at home.
If you're planning on cooking, this is where you should buy produce imo. Cheap and fresh though I can't guarantee organic or anything. Much looks better than other places.
9 locals recommend
First Oriental Market Inc
1111 S 6th StIf you're planning on cooking, this is where you should buy produce imo. Cheap and fresh though I can't guarantee organic or anything. Much looks better than other places.
You should visit and walk around the Italian Market. DiBruno Bros and neighboring Claudio's are the quintessential shop experience. Taste cheese, buy antipasti, enjoy life.
48 locals recommend
Di Bruno Bros. - Italian Market
930 S 9th StYou should visit and walk around the Italian Market. DiBruno Bros and neighboring Claudio's are the quintessential shop experience. Taste cheese, buy antipasti, enjoy life.
If you're going to wait in a long line for cheesesteaks this would be my recommendation over Pat's and Geno's. Upstairs seating and a few barstools downstairs.
204 locals recommend
Jim's Steaks
400 N 62nd StIf you're going to wait in a long line for cheesesteaks this would be my recommendation over Pat's and Geno's. Upstairs seating and a few barstools downstairs.
Shopping
Philly classic! We call Italian Ice "water ice" here for some reason. Great quality. Usually I get ice cream - homemade, delicious, and cheaper than you'd expect!
35 locals recommend
John's Water Ice
701 Christian StPhilly classic! We call Italian Ice "water ice" here for some reason. Great quality. Usually I get ice cream - homemade, delicious, and cheaper than you'd expect!
The most New York Deli you can find. Huge behemoth everything and great quality at that. You pay for it but you get 3 meals worth, too. Best chocolate chip cookies. Breakfast all day (opens @11 wkdys)
44 locals recommend
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen
700 S 4th StThe most New York Deli you can find. Huge behemoth everything and great quality at that. You pay for it but you get 3 meals worth, too. Best chocolate chip cookies. Breakfast all day (opens @11 wkdys)
The gelato is amazing, though maybe not "best in the world" as they claim (if you've been to Italy you can be a snob with me). This spot is important as a jump off for the incredible food scene nearby
32 locals recommend
Capogiro Gelato Artisans Scoop Shop
1625 E Passyunk AveThe gelato is amazing, though maybe not "best in the world" as they claim (if you've been to Italy you can be a snob with me). This spot is important as a jump off for the incredible food scene nearby
Just so good. So so good. Burgers, shakes, beer, krinkle fries, hot dogs I've never tried because the burgers are so good.
45 locals recommend
Shake Shack
2000 Sansom StJust so good. So so good. Burgers, shakes, beer, krinkle fries, hot dogs I've never tried because the burgers are so good.