Guidebook for Philadelphia
Food Scene
Delicious coffee, great tea selection, yummy sandwiches (meat and veggie), best vegan muffins and donuts, wifi. Great for a quiet breakfast or getting some work or reading done.
43 personas locales recomiendan
The Green Line Cafe
4426 Locust StDelicious coffee, great tea selection, yummy sandwiches (meat and veggie), best vegan muffins and donuts, wifi. Great for a quiet breakfast or getting some work or reading done.
Philadelphia's best artisanal bakery – based in Rittenhouse Square – opened a tiny branch near the University of Pennsylvania. The owners and staff are friendly, the baked goods are delicious (think cannelés, macarons, chocolate cake, nut and fruit breads, bagels), and the coffee is good. No wifi, great place to meet friends or read a book.
17 personas locales recomiendan
Metropolitan Bakery & Cafe
4013 Walnut StPhiladelphia's best artisanal bakery – based in Rittenhouse Square – opened a tiny branch near the University of Pennsylvania. The owners and staff are friendly, the baked goods are delicious (think cannelés, macarons, chocolate cake, nut and fruit breads, bagels), and the coffee is good. No wifi, great place to meet friends or read a book.
Healthy, quick middle eastern food, such as falafel sandwiches and wraps, beet or carrot salads, hummus, dips, sides. Yum.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Hummus Grill
3931 Walnut StHealthy, quick middle eastern food, such as falafel sandwiches and wraps, beet or carrot salads, hummus, dips, sides. Yum.
Punky vibe, slightly surly staff, but delicious delicious everything. Coffee, kale smoothie, wraps. Yes!
58 personas locales recomiendan
Satellite Cafe
4901-4999 Willows AvePunky vibe, slightly surly staff, but delicious delicious everything. Coffee, kale smoothie, wraps. Yes!
My favourite little cafe in our area. Friendly staff, lovely outdoor seating where people often bring their cute dogs, delicious coffee, renowned for apple muffins and zucchini bread.
31 personas locales recomiendan
Earth Cup Cafe
405 S 45th StMy favourite little cafe in our area. Friendly staff, lovely outdoor seating where people often bring their cute dogs, delicious coffee, renowned for apple muffins and zucchini bread.
Tiny Indian street food joint run by the most lovely man, who will talk you through every dish if you're new to eating chaat. More than 100 lassi flavor choices! Inside and outside seating. One of the top rated cafes on Yelp for Philadelphia.
31 personas locales recomiendan
Mood Cafe
4618 Baltimore AveTiny Indian street food joint run by the most lovely man, who will talk you through every dish if you're new to eating chaat. More than 100 lassi flavor choices! Inside and outside seating. One of the top rated cafes on Yelp for Philadelphia.
If you're looking for wonderful Ethiopian dishes and a great beer selection, this is the place that everyone will recommend to you. Curry-like entrees are served on Injera (a kind of pancakey-bready-delicacy) and eaten with your hands. Dig in! Afterwards, have a cocktail at the secret bar Fiume, upstairs. Beloved by West Philly locals for quiet drinks and packed bluegrass music nights.
56 personas locales recomiendan
Abyssinia Restaurant
229 S 45th StIf you're looking for wonderful Ethiopian dishes and a great beer selection, this is the place that everyone will recommend to you. Curry-like entrees are served on Injera (a kind of pancakey-bready-delicacy) and eaten with your hands. Dig in! Afterwards, have a cocktail at the secret bar Fiume, upstairs. Beloved by West Philly locals for quiet drinks and packed bluegrass music nights.
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and American food vibes; yummy pastries; BYO and a great special where you can buy orange juice and get free bubbly! Brunch is the best. It's also cool with the nice staff to just nurse a coffee and read a book.
31 personas locales recomiendan
Renata's Kitchen
3940 Baltimore AvenueMediterranean, Middle Eastern, and American food vibes; yummy pastries; BYO and a great special where you can buy orange juice and get free bubbly! Brunch is the best. It's also cool with the nice staff to just nurse a coffee and read a book.
Our favourite pizza delivery place. Pizza arrives fast, hot, and yummy.
8 personas locales recomiendan
Colonial Pizza
400 S 43rd StOur favourite pizza delivery place. Pizza arrives fast, hot, and yummy.
Arts & Culture
The only place to see cutting-edge contemporary art in Philadelphia (and it's free!). The museum's continued commitment to both accessibility and risk-taking prompted New York Times art critic Roberta Smith to declare ICA “among the most adventuresome showcases in the country where art since 1970 is concerned…”
39 personas locales recomiendan
Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S 36th StThe only place to see cutting-edge contemporary art in Philadelphia (and it's free!). The museum's continued commitment to both accessibility and risk-taking prompted New York Times art critic Roberta Smith to declare ICA “among the most adventuresome showcases in the country where art since 1970 is concerned…”
One of Philadelphia's longest-running artist collective spaces, the gallery typically offers four concurrent exhibitions which rotate every one or two months, plus a video room, and a performance theater that hosts everything from rockunroll to experimental performance art. It's free - check their website for opening times. Typically open Weds-Sun.
8 personas locales recomiendan
Vox Populi
319 N 11th StOne of Philadelphia's longest-running artist collective spaces, the gallery typically offers four concurrent exhibitions which rotate every one or two months, plus a video room, and a performance theater that hosts everything from rockunroll to experimental performance art. It's free - check their website for opening times. Typically open Weds-Sun.
A free art gallery in a building full of other galleries and artist studios. It's a great place to start if you're planning to check out the hip Fishtown/Kensington/Northern Liberties areas of the city. The Icebox is notable for its massive space, which gets used to the max by fantastic curators. You might see films, sculptures, installations, paintings, performances, or photography - or stop by during an opening celebration for bespoke drinks and local flavor.
Icebox Project Space
1400 N American StA free art gallery in a building full of other galleries and artist studios. It's a great place to start if you're planning to check out the hip Fishtown/Kensington/Northern Liberties areas of the city. The Icebox is notable for its massive space, which gets used to the max by fantastic curators. You might see films, sculptures, installations, paintings, performances, or photography - or stop by during an opening celebration for bespoke drinks and local flavor.
One of the only galleries in Philadelphia to focus on photography, PPAC also hosts photography workshops, artist lectures, and classes.
Philadelphia Photo Arts Center
1400 N American StOne of the only galleries in Philadelphia to focus on photography, PPAC also hosts photography workshops, artist lectures, and classes.
One of my favorite galleries in the city, Locks Gallery shows the caliber of modern and contemporary art that you might otherwise have to travel to New York to see. The gallery also nurtures local talent like painters Jane Irish, Sarah Maceneaney, and Joy Feasley, and digital artist Tim Portlock. The staff are wonderfully knowledgeable and friendly. The building itself is a stunning work of architecture nestled on leafy Washington Square, which is a great place from which to plan any visit of the city. Lovely food and other cultural sights nearby. Oh, and it's free!
Locks Gallery
600 S Washington SquareOne of my favorite galleries in the city, Locks Gallery shows the caliber of modern and contemporary art that you might otherwise have to travel to New York to see. The gallery also nurtures local talent like painters Jane Irish, Sarah Maceneaney, and Joy Feasley, and digital artist Tim Portlock. The staff are wonderfully knowledgeable and friendly. The building itself is a stunning work of architecture nestled on leafy Washington Square, which is a great place from which to plan any visit of the city. Lovely food and other cultural sights nearby. Oh, and it's free!
It goes without saying that the Museum is a jewel of Philadelphia's arts and cultural heritage. Tip: check out the Perelman Building (free tram ride to and from the main building) which houses more experimental contemporary and international exhibitions that change more frequently.
1164 personas locales recomiendan
Museo de Arte de Filadelfia
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyIt goes without saying that the Museum is a jewel of Philadelphia's arts and cultural heritage. Tip: check out the Perelman Building (free tram ride to and from the main building) which houses more experimental contemporary and international exhibitions that change more frequently.
A cross between a museum, art gallery, and atelier, the Fabric Workshop and Museum hosts artist residencies in its stunning, tall building and then displays the results across multiple floors. Always something new and interesting to see - and sometimes you'll catch experimental work by an established artist like Sarah Sze or Richard Tuttle. There are brilliant, free tour guides to help you get the most from the exhibitions (and a delicious high end gift shop). A unique place.
11 personas locales recomiendan
Fabric Workshop and Museum
1214 Arch StA cross between a museum, art gallery, and atelier, the Fabric Workshop and Museum hosts artist residencies in its stunning, tall building and then displays the results across multiple floors. Always something new and interesting to see - and sometimes you'll catch experimental work by an established artist like Sarah Sze or Richard Tuttle. There are brilliant, free tour guides to help you get the most from the exhibitions (and a delicious high end gift shop). A unique place.
An eclectic commercial art gallery run by some of the most interesting curators/dealers on the east coast. Fleisher Ollman focuses on local contemporary art and international "outsider" (i.e., untrained) artists. The results are always mind-expanding and span every medium, from film/animation to textile to collage/assemblage to painting to ceramics. Check opening times on their website , sometimes you need to make an appointment.
Fleisher/Ollman Gallery
915 Spring Garden StAn eclectic commercial art gallery run by some of the most interesting curators/dealers on the east coast. Fleisher Ollman focuses on local contemporary art and international "outsider" (i.e., untrained) artists. The results are always mind-expanding and span every medium, from film/animation to textile to collage/assemblage to painting to ceramics. Check opening times on their website , sometimes you need to make an appointment.
Getting Around
The 52nd Street subway stop is a six to eight-minute walk from our house. It will get you to Center City in ten to fifteen minutes. This blue line (running west to east) connects with the orange line (running north to south) at City Hall Station. You'll need to buy subway tokens at the station (approx. $10 for 5 tokens, which will will take you anywhere on the line). Google Maps is great for planning public transit trips in Philly.
5200 Market St
5200 Market StreetThe 52nd Street subway stop is a six to eight-minute walk from our house. It will get you to Center City in ten to fifteen minutes. This blue line (running west to east) connects with the orange line (running north to south) at City Hall Station. You'll need to buy subway tokens at the station (approx. $10 for 5 tokens, which will will take you anywhere on the line). Google Maps is great for planning public transit trips in Philly.
The green line trolley (tram) runs to and from Center City. Catch it anywhere along Baltimore Avenue. 50th and Baltimore is the closest to our house, about a ten to twelve-minute walk. You can either use subway tokens (purchase in advance at a subway stop or at a machine in CVS or the Penn Bookstore) or the exact fare in cash ($2.25). It's about a fifteen minute ride to Center City. The green line connects with the blue line subway at 30th Street Station and with the orange line subway at 15th Street/City Hall Station.
5000 Baltimore Ave
5000 Baltimore AvenueThe green line trolley (tram) runs to and from Center City. Catch it anywhere along Baltimore Avenue. 50th and Baltimore is the closest to our house, about a ten to twelve-minute walk. You can either use subway tokens (purchase in advance at a subway stop or at a machine in CVS or the Penn Bookstore) or the exact fare in cash ($2.25). It's about a fifteen minute ride to Center City. The green line connects with the blue line subway at 30th Street Station and with the orange line subway at 15th Street/City Hall Station.
Drinks & Nightlife
Rotating list of local and international craft beers served by beer lovers. Need I say more?
108 personas locales recomiendan
Local 44
4333 Spruce StreetRotating list of local and international craft beers served by beer lovers. Need I say more?
My favourite happy hour ever! Many local and/or organic wines and beers. Also a wonderful local, organic restaurant. 10% discount if you sit at the bar.
42 personas locales recomiendan
White Dog Cafe
3420 Sansom StMy favourite happy hour ever! Many local and/or organic wines and beers. Also a wonderful local, organic restaurant. 10% discount if you sit at the bar.
Gojjo
4540 Baltimore AveBudget-friendly, hipster Ethiopian bar.
This is a bar and brewery in one, only serving their own brews and outstanding thin-crust pizza, which sometimes comes with foraged ingredients.
156 personas locales recomiendan
Dock Street Brewing Co
701 S 50th StThis is a bar and brewery in one, only serving their own brews and outstanding thin-crust pizza, which sometimes comes with foraged ingredients.
Parks & Nature
This local favourite urban paradise is approximately 2 blocks wide and long. Lots of dog walkers, tightrope walkers, picnics, park games players (chess, bowls), and students reading books. Saturday morning farmers market and monthly flea market. In the summer, there is sometimes free live music, as well as outdoor theatre and movies. A couple of great bars/cafes around the edge of the park. Often delicious food trucks too.
188 personas locales recomiendan
Clark Park
4300-4398 Baltimore AveThis local favourite urban paradise is approximately 2 blocks wide and long. Lots of dog walkers, tightrope walkers, picnics, park games players (chess, bowls), and students reading books. Saturday morning farmers market and monthly flea market. In the summer, there is sometimes free live music, as well as outdoor theatre and movies. A couple of great bars/cafes around the edge of the park. Often delicious food trucks too.
Essentials
Part of a national group of food co-ops, Mariposa has all kinds of healthy, organic, local, and regular/conventional foods, plus toiletries, greetings cards, and fairly traded souvenirs.
146 personas locales recomiendan
Mariposa Food Co-op
4824 Baltimore AvePart of a national group of food co-ops, Mariposa has all kinds of healthy, organic, local, and regular/conventional foods, plus toiletries, greetings cards, and fairly traded souvenirs.
Kinda crazy busy when Penn students are in town, but otherwise a good, quite large grocery store. There is a parking garage with free parking if you spend $10.
101 personas locales recomiendan
The Fat Chicken
2355 S Bucknell StKinda crazy busy when Penn students are in town, but otherwise a good, quite large grocery store. There is a parking garage with free parking if you spend $10.
Entertainment & Activities
Punky, affordable, fun hair salon. Get a chunk of Philly color in your hair!
6 personas locales recomiendan
Talking Headz
4922 Baltimore AvePunky, affordable, fun hair salon. Get a chunk of Philly color in your hair!