Food Scene
Milk & Honey Market
4435 Baltimore AveGood cafe and local market with WiFi.
Wonderful Mediterranean cuisine. It is BYOB. This is where I always take visiting family or friends for a nice, chill dinner.
57 locals recommend
Aksum
4630 Baltimore AveWonderful Mediterranean cuisine. It is BYOB. This is where I always take visiting family or friends for a nice, chill dinner.
Koch's Deli
618 Locust StA famous deli where you can get some classic Philadelphia sandwiches.
Owned by Jose Garces, our favorite chef and restaurant owner in Philadelphia. Great for an upscale and fun dinner. Really lively decor- you can even sit in a swing if you prefer over a regular chair :)
38 locals recommend
Distrito
3945 Chestnut StOwned by Jose Garces, our favorite chef and restaurant owner in Philadelphia. Great for an upscale and fun dinner. Really lively decor- you can even sit in a swing if you prefer over a regular chair :)
Always a popular place for coffee and WiFi, owned by locals in the neighborhood.
94 locals recommend
Green Line Cafe
4239 Baltimore AveAlways a popular place for coffee and WiFi, owned by locals in the neighborhood.
If you want a cheap, delicious meal, my favorite Indian buffet in the city.
22 locals recommend
Sitar India
60 S 38th StIf you want a cheap, delicious meal, my favorite Indian buffet in the city.
White Dog Cafe
3420 Sansom StCozy and whimsical dog-themed decor with organic, local menu.
My favorite weekend brunch spot. Nice outdoor seating in good weather.
79 locals recommend
The Gold Standard Cafe
4800 Baltimore AveMy favorite weekend brunch spot. Nice outdoor seating in good weather.
Best quiet place off the beaten path of the tourist district for a wonderful brunch or amazing cheese & charcuterie plate. Make sure you ask to sit in the back patio when the weather is nice. Paulo and I used to live a block away and went there often.
15 locals recommend
Wedge + Fig
Best quiet place off the beaten path of the tourist district for a wonderful brunch or amazing cheese & charcuterie plate. Make sure you ask to sit in the back patio when the weather is nice. Paulo and I used to live a block away and went there often.
An upscale vegan restaurant that will wow even the most serious of carnivores. Make a reservation- this place is very popular- or go and ask for a spot at the bar which offers the full menu.
76 locals recommend
Vedge
1221 Locust StAn upscale vegan restaurant that will wow even the most serious of carnivores. Make a reservation- this place is very popular- or go and ask for a spot at the bar which offers the full menu.
Very convenient location to our home. They offer pizza as their main food item, but my favorites are their Fried Chicken with pickles and Spaghetti. Also many good beers on tap. In the summer you can get pizza to go and sit in the park.
39 locals recommend
Clarkville
4301 Baltimore AveVery convenient location to our home. They offer pizza as their main food item, but my favorites are their Fried Chicken with pickles and Spaghetti. Also many good beers on tap. In the summer you can get pizza to go and sit in the park.
This is our favorite cozy restaurant in the neighborhood. We go here for brunch almost 3 times a month, but they are good anytime of day. Mediterranean style dishes, but also many classic American dishes. Very reasonable prices, also a BYOB. Try the Shakshouka- it is my favorite dish!
31 locals recommend
Renata's Kitchen
3940 Baltimore AvenueThis is our favorite cozy restaurant in the neighborhood. We go here for brunch almost 3 times a month, but they are good anytime of day. Mediterranean style dishes, but also many classic American dishes. Very reasonable prices, also a BYOB. Try the Shakshouka- it is my favorite dish!
Vietnam Café
816 S 47th StDrinks & Nightlife
Great portrait of Philadelphia's local beer scene and amazing wood fired pizza. They serve brunch-style pizzas as well and you often see families here in the daytime.
156 locals recommend
Dock Street Brewing Co
701 S 50th StGreat portrait of Philadelphia's local beer scene and amazing wood fired pizza. They serve brunch-style pizzas as well and you often see families here in the daytime.
When you are headed down to Old City to take in the historic sites, stop here for a rest by the fireplace and sample beers of our founding fathers. All the staff dresses in historic clothing as well.
29 locals recommend
City Tavern Restaurant
138 S 2nd StWhen you are headed down to Old City to take in the historic sites, stop here for a rest by the fireplace and sample beers of our founding fathers. All the staff dresses in historic clothing as well.
A speak-easy style late night bar. Go into the secret door, put your name on the list and hang at another bar nearby until the hostess calls your number- we love this secret place.
53 locals recommend
The Ranstead Room
2013 Ranstead StA speak-easy style late night bar. Go into the secret door, put your name on the list and hang at another bar nearby until the hostess calls your number- we love this secret place.
If you like some crazy fun dancing, dive bars and eccentric local people- this is where you go for a good night. Usually a cover charge of about $5-10 to get in. Make sure you take Uber or Lyft there- it is a bit hard to get there via public transit.
45 locals recommend
The Dolphin Tavern
1539 S Broad StIf you like some crazy fun dancing, dive bars and eccentric local people- this is where you go for a good night. Usually a cover charge of about $5-10 to get in. Make sure you take Uber or Lyft there- it is a bit hard to get there via public transit.
A cabaret/ bar/ dance club that is on the 2nd floor of a romantic French creperie restaurant. Perfect if you want to book a dinner reservation first (the restaurant is called Beau Monde) and then head upstairs to dance.
49 locals recommend
Creperie Beau Monde & L'Etage
624 S 6th StA cabaret/ bar/ dance club that is on the 2nd floor of a romantic French creperie restaurant. Perfect if you want to book a dinner reservation first (the restaurant is called Beau Monde) and then head upstairs to dance.
Entertainment & Activities
Local farmers market every weekend, theater performances, and space for children and pets to play.
188 locals recommend
Clark Park
4300-4398 Baltimore AveLocal farmers market every weekend, theater performances, and space for children and pets to play.
I attend the yoga classes here and you can walk in as a guest and pay very reasonable prices. They also offer pilates, meditation, and other dance classes.
24 locals recommend
Studio 34 Yoga Healing Arts
4522 Baltimore AveI attend the yoga classes here and you can walk in as a guest and pay very reasonable prices. They also offer pilates, meditation, and other dance classes.
The closest movie theater in walking distance with box office hits for a rainy day (and a bar- you can order a beer to take to your movie!)
71 locals recommend
Cinemark University City Penn 6
4012 Walnut StThe closest movie theater in walking distance with box office hits for a rainy day (and a bar- you can order a beer to take to your movie!)
This is our favorite movie theater that plays independent and foreign films. There are two other Ritz theaters within a few blocks of this theater- the Ritz Five & the Ritz Bourse so compare shows at all 3 locations. If you have been in Old City sightseeing and you're tired and need to rest, this is a good place to go.
83 locals recommend
Landmark's Ritz Five
214 Walnut StThis is our favorite movie theater that plays independent and foreign films. There are two other Ritz theaters within a few blocks of this theater- the Ritz Five & the Ritz Bourse so compare shows at all 3 locations. If you have been in Old City sightseeing and you're tired and need to rest, this is a good place to go.
Everything Else
Beautiful and historic campus with many museums and world-class events.
165 locals recommend
University of Pennsylvania
Beautiful and historic campus with many museums and world-class events.
Sightseeing
One of the best-kept secrets of Philadelphia...the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America.
77 locals recommend
Bartram's Garden
5400 Lindbergh Blvd.One of the best-kept secrets of Philadelphia...the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America.
The largest city owned park system in the world at over 9,200 acres. Endless activities with biking/hiking/parks/museums...seriously Google it and ask us our favorite spots.
315 locals recommend
Fairmount Park
Reservoir DriveThe largest city owned park system in the world at over 9,200 acres. Endless activities with biking/hiking/parks/museums...seriously Google it and ask us our favorite spots.
One of our favorite activities is to walk from our home through the university campus and then cross the bridge to enter Rittenhouse Square, always lots of activity and beautiful things to see.
620 locals recommend
Rittenhouse Square
135 S 18th StOne of our favorite activities is to walk from our home through the university campus and then cross the bridge to enter Rittenhouse Square, always lots of activity and beautiful things to see.
When you head to Old City for tourism, make this your first stop for maps, bus tours, tickets to Independence Hall and more.
57 locals recommend
Independence Visitor Center
599 Market StWhen you head to Old City for tourism, make this your first stop for maps, bus tours, tickets to Independence Hall and more.
Arts & Culture
One of the best museums in Philadelphia, although not many people realize the incredible treasures it holds including ancient Egyptian pieces.
110 locals recommend
Penn Museum
3260 South StOne of the best museums in Philadelphia, although not many people realize the incredible treasures it holds including ancient Egyptian pieces.
Local theater company that puts on many thought provoking performances.
14 locals recommend
Curio Theatre Company
4740 Baltimore AveLocal theater company that puts on many thought provoking performances.
One of the largest private collections of Impressionist art in the world, housed in a brand new stunning museum.
560 locals recommend
Barnes
2025 Benjamin Franklin PkwyOne of the largest private collections of Impressionist art in the world, housed in a brand new stunning museum.
If you are an Art Lover, this is a MUST! Also take some time to take a leisurely stroll or run down the banks of the river after you finish at the museum.
1164 locals recommend
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyIf you are an Art Lover, this is a MUST! Also take some time to take a leisurely stroll or run down the banks of the river after you finish at the museum.
Opera, Broadway, Ballet. Local secret: Two hours before a show, head over to the ticket box office in person while you are around center city. Ask if they have any rush tickets available (these are steeply discounted last minute tickets). Quite often you can get them, but has to be in person and paid for with cash.
46 locals recommend
Academy of Music
240 S Broad StOpera, Broadway, Ballet. Local secret: Two hours before a show, head over to the ticket box office in person while you are around center city. Ask if they have any rush tickets available (these are steeply discounted last minute tickets). Quite often you can get them, but has to be in person and paid for with cash.
Essentials
Our local food co-op where you can buy most groceries within walking distance.
146 locals recommend
Mariposa Food Co-op
4824 Baltimore AveOur local food co-op where you can buy most groceries within walking distance.
The Fat Chicken
2355 S Bucknell StLargest local grocery store where you can find anything.