Sarah & Alex's Philly Guidebook || 2024 edit
Food Scene
Streetside
165 W Girard AveTasty and inexpensive Vietnamese street food to go
In adjacent neighborhood Northern Liberties, Bardot is a great spot for small plates and cocktails.
18 locals recommend
Bardot Cafe
447 Poplar StIn adjacent neighborhood Northern Liberties, Bardot is a great spot for small plates and cocktails.
Fancy little eats, often with an emphasis on local ingredients. Beautiful interior, on the pricey side.
40 locals recommend
R&D
1206 Frankford AveFancy little eats, often with an emphasis on local ingredients. Beautiful interior, on the pricey side.
Prepared food, gourmet & grocery in the old Reading Terminal station, local produce and products, Amish pretzels and candy, and outposts of some of Philly's hottest restaurants. CROWDED at peak times; weekday afternoons are great.
739 locals recommend
Reading Terminal Market
1136 N 12th StPrepared food, gourmet & grocery in the old Reading Terminal station, local produce and products, Amish pretzels and candy, and outposts of some of Philly's hottest restaurants. CROWDED at peak times; weekday afternoons are great.
Great new American with an emphasis on local ingredients, good from breakfast/brunch through dinner and drinks, with a beautiful large back garden for al fresco dining. Right around the corner from our house!
112 locals recommend
Front Street Cafe
1253 N Front StGreat new American with an emphasis on local ingredients, good from breakfast/brunch through dinner and drinks, with a beautiful large back garden for al fresco dining. Right around the corner from our house!
Awesome family-run inexpensive Poblano Mexican restaurant - right around the corner from our house, Pancho's is one of our go-to's!
8 locals recommend
Pancho's Cafe
152 W Girard AveAwesome family-run inexpensive Poblano Mexican restaurant - right around the corner from our house, Pancho's is one of our go-to's!
Excellent high end Baja Mexican from Stephen Starr; reservations recommended for weekends and popular dates
21 locals recommend
LMNO
1739-1749 North Front StreetExcellent high end Baja Mexican from Stephen Starr; reservations recommended for weekends and popular dates
Great Italian and New American food with a solid brunch (reservations recommended)
94 locals recommend
Wm. Mulherin’s Sons
1355 N Front StGreat Italian and New American food with a solid brunch (reservations recommended)
Voted "Best Pizza in America" a few years ago, Beddia makes excellent thin crust pizza with seasonal offerings (get the corn pizza if you're here in the summer). Reserve pickup times online, limited indoor dining space available.
82 locals recommend
Pizzeria Beddia
1313 North Lee StreetVoted "Best Pizza in America" a few years ago, Beddia makes excellent thin crust pizza with seasonal offerings (get the corn pizza if you're here in the summer). Reserve pickup times online, limited indoor dining space available.
Half a block from our house, Laser Wolf is one of the major new additions to the neighborhood (reservations recommended for popular dates)
16 locals recommend
Laser Wolf
1301 North Howard StreetHalf a block from our house, Laser Wolf is one of the major new additions to the neighborhood (reservations recommended for popular dates)
High end meat and seafood a short walk from our house (lunch specials with very reasonable pricing are sometimes offered)
55 locals recommend
Kensington Quarters
1310 Frankford AveHigh end meat and seafood a short walk from our house (lunch specials with very reasonable pricing are sometimes offered)
Our local go-to for cheesesteak sandwiches is a short walk from our house. We recommend them with American cheese, and mushrooms & grilled onions. They also have great crinkle cut cheese fries and milk shakes (our favorite is vanilla & peanut butter).
60 locals recommend
Joe's Steaks + Soda Shop Fishtown
1 W Girard AveOur local go-to for cheesesteak sandwiches is a short walk from our house. We recommend them with American cheese, and mushrooms & grilled onions. They also have great crinkle cut cheese fries and milk shakes (our favorite is vanilla & peanut butter).
Great spot for what they call Japanese bar food - unpretentious and delicious! Good selection of rolls, bao, noodles and snacks.
40 locals recommend
Cheu Fishtown
1416 Frankford AveGreat spot for what they call Japanese bar food - unpretentious and delicious! Good selection of rolls, bao, noodles and snacks.
Liberty Kitchen PHL
1400 N Front StNourish
177 S 9th Stvegan food, fresh juice, natural bath and home products (try the vegan empanadas)
Murph's Bar
Irish dive bar with under the radar great Italian food
Penang Restaurant
117 N 10th StMalaysian food, one of our top favorites in Chinatown
Authentic Shanghai soup dumplings in Chinatown (get fried and steamed versions, better during non peak times)
42 locals recommend
Dim Sum Garden
1020 Race StAuthentic Shanghai soup dumplings in Chinatown (get fried and steamed versions, better during non peak times)
Awesome neighborhood ice cream spot with friendly staff and creative flavors
34 locals recommend
Weckerly’s Ice Cream
9 W Girard AveAwesome neighborhood ice cream spot with friendly staff and creative flavors
Drinks & Nightlife
Great cheap Greek food and bar with pool tables, large back garden in summer.
21 locals recommend
Kostas Restaurant
15 W Girard AveGreat cheap Greek food and bar with pool tables, large back garden in summer.
Barcade
1114 Frankford AveTons of old arcade games, good craft beer selection, cheap bar snacks.
Speakeasy style bar in Chinatown, with great cocktails. Be prepared to wait in line on weekends. Dress code enforced (and strictly no sneakers). Cash only. The guy at the door is probably Mr. Lee (he's almost always smoking an e-cigarette).
79 locals recommend
Hop Sing Laundromat
1029 Race StSpeakeasy style bar in Chinatown, with great cocktails. Be prepared to wait in line on weekends. Dress code enforced (and strictly no sneakers). Cash only. The guy at the door is probably Mr. Lee (he's almost always smoking an e-cigarette).
Bar, restaurant and music venue. They have some great cocktails, good draft wines, outdoor seating in nice weather.
248 locals recommend
Johnny Brenda's
1201 Frankford AveBar, restaurant and music venue. They have some great cocktails, good draft wines, outdoor seating in nice weather.
The Fillmore Philadelphia
29 E Allen StRIVERS CASINO PHILADELPHIA
1001 N Delaware AveYards Brewing Company
500 Spring Garden StUnion Transfer
1026 Spring Garden StKung Fu Necktie
1248 N Front StBB&T Pavilion
1 Harbour BlvdFranklin Music Hall
421 N 7th StArts & Culture
Weds nights are pay what you want, but you can generally skip the line at the main door by going around to the back entrance! Stop around the front of the museum to see the Rocky steps, though!
1164 locals recommend
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyWeds nights are pay what you want, but you can generally skip the line at the main door by going around to the back entrance! Stop around the front of the museum to see the Rocky steps, though!
Fascinating museum based on William Barnes' juxtaposition of traditional art and other media.
560 locals recommend
Barnes
2025 Benjamin Franklin PkwyFascinating museum based on William Barnes' juxtaposition of traditional art and other media.
Science museum that is a lot of fun even if you're not bringing kids! Includes a wrap around IMAX theater and generally one limited time special exhibit.
458 locals recommend
The Franklin Institute
222 N 20th StScience museum that is a lot of fun even if you're not bringing kids! Includes a wrap around IMAX theater and generally one limited time special exhibit.
Located on the site of Ben Franklin's house, the tiny museum includes a look into the old foundations of the house, and the preserved print shop and post office from when Franklin lived on site. Prints of the Declaration of Independence and other historical documents, produced on a replica of Franklin's printing press, are available for purchase.
49 locals recommend
Benjamin Franklin Museum
317 Chestnut StLocated on the site of Ben Franklin's house, the tiny museum includes a look into the old foundations of the house, and the preserved print shop and post office from when Franklin lived on site. Prints of the Declaration of Independence and other historical documents, produced on a replica of Franklin's printing press, are available for purchase.
Dynamic art installation and gallery on Philadelphia's famous South Street (home to lots of cool shops and entertaining party bars)
385 locals recommend
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
1020 South StDynamic art installation and gallery on Philadelphia's famous South Street (home to lots of cool shops and entertaining party bars)
Small but good selection of Rodin, right next to the Barnes Museum on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philly's Museum District.
225 locals recommend
Rodin Museum
2151 Benjamin Franklin PkwySmall but good selection of Rodin, right next to the Barnes Museum on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philly's Museum District.
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin PkwyGreat natural history museum
Independence Seaport Museum
211 S Christopher Columbus BlvdTour a real battleship right across the river in NJ! (Uber probably the best way to get there, although there is a parking garage nearby)
37 locals recommend
Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
100 Clinton StTour a real battleship right across the river in NJ! (Uber probably the best way to get there, although there is a parking garage nearby)
National Constitution Center
525 Arch StBetsy Ross House
239 Arch StLesser known than the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and includes less well known collections.
47 locals recommend
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
118-128 N Broad StLesser known than the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and includes less well known collections.
Museum of the American Revolution
101 S 3rd StAlso known as the Mutter Museum, it contains a cool, creepy collection of medical and scientific oddities and curiosities!
Mutter Museum
19 S 22nd StAlso known as the Mutter Museum, it contains a cool, creepy collection of medical and scientific oddities and curiosities!
Parks & Nature
Beautiful views and secret trails, great for sitting, running, biking, or exploring.
315 locals recommend
Fairmount Park
Reservoir DriveBeautiful views and secret trails, great for sitting, running, biking, or exploring.
Rittenhouse Square
135 S 18th StIndependence National Historical Park
Beautiful park with rotating exhibits like the Chinese Lantern Festival, located right near Independence Hall.
149 locals recommend
Franklin Square
200 N 6th StBeautiful park with rotating exhibits like the Chinese Lantern Festival, located right near Independence Hall.
Schuylkill River Trail
Schuylkill River TrailSightseeing
Old prison turned tourist attraction - an it's a Haunted House at Halloween!
433 locals recommend
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount AveOld prison turned tourist attraction - an it's a Haunted House at Halloween!
Independence Hall
520 Chestnut StOne of the oldest streets around - a charming tiny street lined with houses that are hundreds of years old! Located in Old City, which is filled with antiques, galleries, eateries, and amazing old buildings.
154 locals recommend
Elfreth's Alley
126 Elfreth's AlleyOne of the oldest streets around - a charming tiny street lined with houses that are hundreds of years old! Located in Old City, which is filled with antiques, galleries, eateries, and amazing old buildings.
Elfreth's Alley
126 Elfreth's AlleyChrist Church
20 N American StCathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
1723 Race StLiberty Bell
526 Market StRocky Steps
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
532 N 7th StEntertainment & Activities
Greensgrow Farms
2501 E Cumberland StLocal urban farm with great produce for sale!
You don't need to be a kid to enjoy the zoo, and you can take the trolley across Girard Ave right to the zoo!
416 locals recommend
Philadelphia Zoo
3400 W Girard AveYou don't need to be a kid to enjoy the zoo, and you can take the trolley across Girard Ave right to the zoo!
Olde City Escape Games - Escape Rooms
221 Chestnut StThemed escape room games!
Shopping
Really cool selection of antiques, from small knick knacks, to larger furniture and installation pieces.
65 locals recommend
Jinxed Fishtown
1331 Frankford AveReally cool selection of antiques, from small knick knacks, to larger furniture and installation pieces.
In PA, liquor and wine are sold by the state. The store is open until 9pm on every night except Sunday, when they close at 5pm.
43 locals recommend
Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection
180 W Girard AveIn PA, liquor and wine are sold by the state. The store is open until 9pm on every night except Sunday, when they close at 5pm.
Macy's is housed in the old Wanamaker Department Store building, an architectural marvel with incredible interiors, much of it original to roughly a century ago. Contains the Wanamaker Organ, one of the largest in the country (as well as regular stuff you might buy at Macy's - good sales)
49 locals recommend
Macy's Philadelphia
1300 Market StMacy's is housed in the old Wanamaker Department Store building, an architectural marvel with incredible interiors, much of it original to roughly a century ago. Contains the Wanamaker Organ, one of the largest in the country (as well as regular stuff you might buy at Macy's - good sales)
Century 21
821 Market St