Guidebook for Philadelphia
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar Hygge
1720 Fairmount AveBumpin' place with microbew and decent food. $$$
Best local dive, friendly staff and cheap food. Good beer selection. $.
16 locals recommend
Kelliann's Bar and Grill
1549 Spring Garden StBest local dive, friendly staff and cheap food. Good beer selection. $.
Ha a mostly bar vibe, but excellent food. Cooler crowd wit divey vibe, although not a dive! Big craft beer selection. $$
44 locals recommend
Prohibition Taproom
501 N 13th StHa a mostly bar vibe, but excellent food. Cooler crowd wit divey vibe, although not a dive! Big craft beer selection. $$
Best and biggest indie venue in the city. Just check site for shows. Very close.
94 locals recommend
Union Transfer
1026 Spring Garden StBest and biggest indie venue in the city. Just check site for shows. Very close.
If you go to the Corner of Frankford and Girard any weekend or spring night it resembles Mardi Gras. With 0.5 miles there are major bars and venues. Johnny Brendas, Frankford Hall, Garage, Bottle Bar, Barcade, The Barbary, Sugar House Casino, Live Nation, Bowling, Comedy club. You name it. Huge epicenter of night life.
248 locals recommend
Johnny Brenda's
1201 Frankford AveIf you go to the Corner of Frankford and Girard any weekend or spring night it resembles Mardi Gras. With 0.5 miles there are major bars and venues. Johnny Brendas, Frankford Hall, Garage, Bottle Bar, Barcade, The Barbary, Sugar House Casino, Live Nation, Bowling, Comedy club. You name it. Huge epicenter of night life.
RIVERS CASINO PHILADELPHIA
1001 N Delaware AveCha ching.
Food Scene
Excellent Korean take-out, Korean fried chicken and dan dan noodles are as good as anywhere in chinatown. Mostly a take out spot. $
I Tea
1537 Spring Garden StExcellent Korean take-out, Korean fried chicken and dan dan noodles are as good as anywhere in chinatown. Mostly a take out spot. $
Sushi Sushi Sushi, most affordable place to go for cheap sushi that is still good, more of a take out spot. $$
Sakura Japanese Cuisine
1521 Spring Garden StSushi Sushi Sushi, most affordable place to go for cheap sushi that is still good, more of a take out spot. $$
LaScala's Pronto
1501 Spring Garden StBest of the pizza joints around. Try the gorgonzola. $$.
One of the best brunches in the city, awesome decor and cool vibe. Very good brunch, cash only. Only open until 3. $$
58 locals recommend
Cafe Lift
1124 N 13th StOne of the best brunches in the city, awesome decor and cool vibe. Very good brunch, cash only. Only open until 3. $$
Known for fun and quality sandwiches, small cafe. Mostly takeout with a small seating area. $
40 locals recommend
Rybread
1711 Fairmount AveKnown for fun and quality sandwiches, small cafe. Mostly takeout with a small seating area. $
Awesome brunch and lunch spot with a full gourmet market inside. Full of light and lively. $$
79 locals recommend
Tela's Market & Kitchen
1833 Fairmount AveAwesome brunch and lunch spot with a full gourmet market inside. Full of light and lively. $$
Cut above the rest chinese spot. No decor to speak of, but higher quality food. Fried dumplings are a must, and affordable lunch platters.
Golden Chopsticks
490 N Broad StCut above the rest chinese spot. No decor to speak of, but higher quality food. Fried dumplings are a must, and affordable lunch platters.
See, be seen, and linger coffee house. Its ok to stay all day. Many offerings, very large space. $$
137 locals recommend
OCF Coffee House
2100 Fairmount AveSee, be seen, and linger coffee house. Its ok to stay all day. Many offerings, very large space. $$
Quintessential brunch spot, dinner too. Always just solid with reasonable prices. $$
104 locals recommend
Reed's Coffee House
3802 Lancaster AveQuintessential brunch spot, dinner too. Always just solid with reasonable prices. $$
Best cheesesteaks north of Market street. This is actually a legitimate Philly Cheese Steak experience. That being said, Pat's and Geno's in south Philly are still worth checking out. $$
27 locals recommend
Jimmy G's Steaks
Best cheesesteaks north of Market street. This is actually a legitimate Philly Cheese Steak experience. That being said, Pat's and Geno's in south Philly are still worth checking out. $$
Very classic sit down diner on the ground floor of the Philadelphian. Catch up on the gossip from 30 years ago from the building residents. $
23 locals recommend
Little Pete's
2401 Pennsylvania AveVery classic sit down diner on the ground floor of the Philadelphian. Catch up on the gossip from 30 years ago from the building residents. $
Hit or miss, but decent brunch and drafts. Somewhat rowdy crowd during games. $$
42 locals recommend
St. Stephen's Green
1701 Green StHit or miss, but decent brunch and drafts. Somewhat rowdy crowd during games. $$
Gives Dmitri's a run for its money for best greek food in the city. Very cool place to have locally. 20+ years in business. $$
43 locals recommend
Zorba's Tavern
2230 Fairmount AveGives Dmitri's a run for its money for best greek food in the city. Very cool place to have locally. 20+ years in business. $$
Classic spot that pushed the limits before the neighborhood turned around and is still kickin' 30 years later. Cool decor, laid back and somewhat refined. $$$
53 locals recommend
Jack's Firehouse
2130 Fairmount AveClassic spot that pushed the limits before the neighborhood turned around and is still kickin' 30 years later. Cool decor, laid back and somewhat refined. $$$
Sushi. Some of the finest around. Get a reservation early. $$$
15 locals recommend
Doma Japanese Restaurant
1822 Callowhill StSushi. Some of the finest around. Get a reservation early. $$$
Hole in the wall sushi place...but a very nice hole and excellent sushi. Sits very few, get a reservation in advance. $$$
27 locals recommend
Umai Umai
533 N 22nd StHole in the wall sushi place...but a very nice hole and excellent sushi. Sits very few, get a reservation in advance. $$$
This type of a place is exactly why Philadelphia is a top 3 beer city in the country. A small corner restaurant, classy, and just happens to have a beer selection almost as robust as Monk's Cafe (the legendary.) It can be seen as a sister restaurant quite frankly. $$$
61 locals recommend
Cooperage: A Wine & Whiskey Bar
123 S 7th StThis type of a place is exactly why Philadelphia is a top 3 beer city in the country. A small corner restaurant, classy, and just happens to have a beer selection almost as robust as Monk's Cafe (the legendary.) It can be seen as a sister restaurant quite frankly. $$$
This probably wins the BYOB crown for the entire neighborhood, as people travel far to come here. If saving up for a special local meal during your trip, come here. $$$$
23 locals recommend
A Mano
2244 Fairmount AveThis probably wins the BYOB crown for the entire neighborhood, as people travel far to come here. If saving up for a special local meal during your trip, come here. $$$$
Nice group of folks putting a lot of TLC into this place, very charming. Great place to get pastries for that special someone. $
Sweet Nectar Dessert Kitchen
547 N 20th StNice group of folks putting a lot of TLC into this place, very charming. Great place to get pastries for that special someone. $
Pizzeria Vetri
1939 Callowhill StGourmetttttttttttttttt pizza, pretty good but somewhat pricey. $$
Best noodles in chinatown bar none. Wickedly cheap. Cash only. $
23 locals recommend
Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House
1022 Race StBest noodles in chinatown bar none. Wickedly cheap. Cash only. $
Set the standard for Urban farmers markets. Come see the original, this place is amazing.
739 locals recommend
Reading Terminal Market
1136 N 12th StSet the standard for Urban farmers markets. Come see the original, this place is amazing.
Pats and Geno's, dueling across the street for decades. Try to get your order down ahead of time, and then pick which one you want to support. They both goooooood.
316 locals recommend
Pat's King of Steaks
1237 E Passyunk AvePats and Geno's, dueling across the street for decades. Try to get your order down ahead of time, and then pick which one you want to support. They both goooooood.
Arts & Culture
This is one of those places that people aren't sure if they should go to, but the answer is always "Yes, you should." I have seen more pleasantly surprised people leaving here than almost any other institution in Philly.
433 locals recommend
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount AveThis is one of those places that people aren't sure if they should go to, but the answer is always "Yes, you should." I have seen more pleasantly surprised people leaving here than almost any other institution in Philly.
Top 5 art museum in the country (probably 5). Everything from Monet, Manet, Dali, Cezanne, Reubens, Duchamp, Twombly, Eakins, Van Gogh, Warhol, Turner, you name it. Also perhaps the most comprehensive armor collections in the states. A little bit of a lot is the best way to describe.
1164 locals recommend
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyTop 5 art museum in the country (probably 5). Everything from Monet, Manet, Dali, Cezanne, Reubens, Duchamp, Twombly, Eakins, Van Gogh, Warhol, Turner, you name it. Also perhaps the most comprehensive armor collections in the states. A little bit of a lot is the best way to describe.
Perhaps the best private collection in the states (Frick collection might have slight edge.) More Renoir's than Paris, tons of Matisse, some van gogh, lost of other impressionists. Pound for pound a top 5 private collection in the world.
560 locals recommend
Barnes
2025 Benjamin Franklin PkwyPerhaps the best private collection in the states (Frick collection might have slight edge.) More Renoir's than Paris, tons of Matisse, some van gogh, lost of other impressionists. Pound for pound a top 5 private collection in the world.
Perhaps the most unique museum in Philadelphia: Medical oddities. This is the first place I would take a guest. Truly unique to the entire world. Definitely a little macabre.
335 locals recommend
First Food Market
116 S 21st StPerhaps the most unique museum in Philadelphia: Medical oddities. This is the first place I would take a guest. Truly unique to the entire world. Definitely a little macabre.
One of the finest Anthropology museums. Penn's archaeologists have been amassing this world class collection for over 100 years.
110 locals recommend
Penn Museum
3260 South StOne of the finest Anthropology museums. Penn's archaeologists have been amassing this world class collection for over 100 years.
Ride up to the bell tower and stand right below William Penn. Tallest habitably building in the world for a decade, tallest statue on any building on the world, largest municipal building in the united states. Breathtaking.
354 locals recommend
Philadelphia City Hall
1400 John F Kennedy BlvdRide up to the bell tower and stand right below William Penn. Tallest habitably building in the world for a decade, tallest statue on any building on the world, largest municipal building in the united states. Breathtaking.
Sightseeing
You should be able to find it by the amount of people hovered around it. And while you're at it take a shot running up the ol' art museum steps and don't forget to yell "Yo Adrian!!"
91 locals recommend
Rocky Statue
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyYou should be able to find it by the amount of people hovered around it. And while you're at it take a shot running up the ol' art museum steps and don't forget to yell "Yo Adrian!!"
View the row of boathouses from Philadelphia's legendary rowing school. High drama can be seen almost daily on the Shuylkill river.
204 locals recommend
Boathouse Row
1 Boathouse RowView the row of boathouses from Philadelphia's legendary rowing school. High drama can be seen almost daily on the Shuylkill river.
Liberty Place
1625 Chestnut StreetRide up to the tallest observation deck in Philadelphia.
Shopping
Chestnut St & 15th St station
Median range. Shop from Broad to 20th.
Second biggest Macy's in the country, massively beautiful building. Still holds weekly concerts with the worlds largest pipe organ built inside!
49 locals recommend
Macy's Philadelphia
1300 Market StSecond biggest Macy's in the country, massively beautiful building. Still holds weekly concerts with the worlds largest pipe organ built inside!
Best high end designer brand discounts, some huge names for men and women.
15 locals recommend
Century 21
821 Market StBest high end designer brand discounts, some huge names for men and women.
Target
456 N 5th StIts a target, and its close. Bonus: Has parking.
Beer distributor only 3 blocks away! Huge selection of craft and regular.
9 locals recommend
Stone's Beverage Center
3145 Fairmount AveBeer distributor only 3 blocks away! Huge selection of craft and regular.
Essentials
If you don't know wawa you will soon. 24/hr hoagies and snacks. Its where one SHOULD end up after a large night. All over the city.
80 locals recommend
Wawa
200-210 Lombard StIf you don't know wawa you will soon. 24/hr hoagies and snacks. Its where one SHOULD end up after a large night. All over the city.
Rite Aid
2301 Walnut StRite aides have the best deals, several around.
MJ Laundromat
607 N 20th StIts a laundromat. People are pretty nice, just a fine old laundromat.
Spring Garden Cleaners
1941 Spring Garden StRun by very nice family, pretty close.
In PA you can only buy wine and Spirits at "state stores." Its best to know where the closest is. This one is only 6 blocks, however they are all over the city.
176 locals recommend
Fine Wine & Good Spirits
411 N 20th StIn PA you can only buy wine and Spirits at "state stores." Its best to know where the closest is. This one is only 6 blocks, however they are all over the city.
This is like Whole Foods on steroids. This place is insane, feel like you are in manhattan. Great coffee shop and indoor restaurants. $$$
269 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
2101 Pennsylvania AveThis is like Whole Foods on steroids. This place is insane, feel like you are in manhattan. Great coffee shop and indoor restaurants. $$$
Entertainment & Activities
Awesome retro bowling alley with live music and games, good food too.
104 locals recommend
North Bowl Lounge n Lanes
909 N 2nd StAwesome retro bowling alley with live music and games, good food too.