Guidebook for Philadelphia
Food Scene
Barbuzzo
110 S 13th St salted caramel budino
Bud & Marilyn's
1234 Locust StA lot of seating, a great bar, delicious food and cocktails
Little Nonna's
1234 Locust StRed sauce Italian, but very good. The atmosphere is great.
Great interior design, love the food. They don't take reservations.
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Tredici Enoteca
114 S 13th StGreat interior design, love the food. They don't take reservations.
Great wine and beer list, the food is delicious (try the mozzarella sandwich) and if you're in town on a Sunday, their Sunday Fun Day half price menu is a great deal.
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Tria Cafe Wash West
1137 Spruce StGreat wine and beer list, the food is delicious (try the mozzarella sandwich) and if you're in town on a Sunday, their Sunday Fun Day half price menu is a great deal.
Pinefish
1138 Pine StNice happy hour specials, and great seafood menu.
Lolita
106 S 13th StDelicious menu
The Last Drop Coffee House
1300 Pine StGreat local hangout
Great espresso drinks, but very small so you might not find a seat.
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Greenstreet Coffee Co.
1101 Spruce StGreat espresso drinks, but very small so you might not find a seat.
Mercato
1216 Spruce StGreat BYOB. I highly recommend.
Yellowtail
1218 Pine StDelicious sushi
Green Eggs Café
212 S 13th StGreat brunch spot, but plan on a long wait for a table.
Hidden gem. You'll be surprised how good the food is in this basement level restaurant. Go upstairs after dinner for a cocktail by the piano in the piano bar.
The Tavern Philly
243 S Camac StHidden gem. You'll be surprised how good the food is in this basement level restaurant. Go upstairs after dinner for a cocktail by the piano in the piano bar.
Vedge
1221 Locust StIf you are looking for great Vegan place, look no further.
Sampan
124 S 13th StGreat happy hour!
Varga Bar
941 Spruce StFun spot for brunch.
Monsú
901 Christian StSicilian. Do the tasting menu - so delicious. BYOB.
Cafe during the day, prohibition style restaurant with amazing ambience in the basement, along with a bar at night. Definitely worth a try.
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Double Knot
120 S 13th StCafe during the day, prohibition style restaurant with amazing ambience in the basement, along with a bar at night. Definitely worth a try.
Zavino
112 S 13th StPizza and wine...
Jamonera
105 S 13th StSpanish tapas - everything is delicious.
HipCityVeg
127 S 18th StVegan Cafe, green smoothies. Great for a quick take out meal.
Special occasions, dress up for this place and make sure you've paid your credit card bill ahead of time.
Volvér
300 S Broad StSpecial occasions, dress up for this place and make sure you've paid your credit card bill ahead of time.
Cuban. Nice ambiance, friendly staff. Good brunch spot. This place won't knock your socks off, but it's a safe bet.
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Mixto Restaurante
1141 Pine StCuban. Nice ambiance, friendly staff. Good brunch spot. This place won't knock your socks off, but it's a safe bet.
Kanella Grill
1001 Spruce StBYOB. Tasting menu is great. Cash only.
Special occassions. Pricey, but a great experience. Tasting menu only.
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Vetri Cucina
1312 Spruce StSpecial occassions. Pricey, but a great experience. Tasting menu only.
My favorite creperie in the city. Love going here for brunch and it is usually possible to get a seat.
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Creperie Beau Monde & L'Etage
624 S 6th StMy favorite creperie in the city. Love going here for brunch and it is usually possible to get a seat.
Indeblue Restaurant and Bar
65 S 13th StA trendy Indian restaurant.
And older restaurant in the neighborhood. This isn't a hot spot, but the food is good and you can generally get a table here when other places are booked up.
Caribou Cafe
1126 Walnut StAnd older restaurant in the neighborhood. This isn't a hot spot, but the food is good and you can generally get a table here when other places are booked up.
Vegan. Nice cocktails. You'll probably spend a lot of money here.
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Charlie was a sinner.
131 S 13th StVegan. Nice cocktails. You'll probably spend a lot of money here.
Casual food menu, not too expensive, not really a hot spot, so this is a place you can go when there aren't tables elsewhere and still have a good time.
Smokin' Betty's
116 S 11th StCasual food menu, not too expensive, not really a hot spot, so this is a place you can go when there aren't tables elsewhere and still have a good time.
Classic french bistro. Love going here for brunch when the weather is warm and grabbing an outdoor table (prepare for a wait). Try the warm shrimp salad and the cranberry bread.
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Parc
227 S 18th StClassic french bistro. Love going here for brunch when the weather is warm and grabbing an outdoor table (prepare for a wait). Try the warm shrimp salad and the cranberry bread.
My old roommates introduced me to this place and it became one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Make sure you are very hungry when you go here because the bowls of ramen are huge and they are packed with delicious. The staff is very friendly. I go here about once a week and look forward to it every time. I love the Miso Ramen. Add spinach or bok choi and an extra egg. :) This place gets busy, so you might need to wait a while for a table, but it is well worth it.
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Terakawa Ramen
204 N 9th StMy old roommates introduced me to this place and it became one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Make sure you are very hungry when you go here because the bowls of ramen are huge and they are packed with delicious. The staff is very friendly. I go here about once a week and look forward to it every time. I love the Miso Ramen. Add spinach or bok choi and an extra egg. :) This place gets busy, so you might need to wait a while for a table, but it is well worth it.
Devil's Den
1148 S 11th StFun spot for brunch.
I've had some fun brunches here, and in the Summer, you can take an elevator to a roof bar that is nice.
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The Continental Mid-town
1801 Chestnut StI've had some fun brunches here, and in the Summer, you can take an elevator to a roof bar that is nice.
A little lesser known, but here you can get a French Basque tapas style dinner on Tuesday nights in addition to their normal daytime cafe hours. This is a place I think mostly locals go to. I think it would be a fun spot for an out of towner to see a lesser known and delicious Philadelphia experience if you are here on a Tuesday evening.
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Café Lutécia
2301 Lombard StA little lesser known, but here you can get a French Basque tapas style dinner on Tuesday nights in addition to their normal daytime cafe hours. This is a place I think mostly locals go to. I think it would be a fun spot for an out of towner to see a lesser known and delicious Philadelphia experience if you are here on a Tuesday evening.
Good food and wine. NIce interior. This is the only Tria location that does a legit Brunch on the weekends. This location has a larger kitchen than their other locations so they can be a little more robust in their food offering on the weekend.
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Tria Fitler Square
Good food and wine. NIce interior. This is the only Tria location that does a legit Brunch on the weekends. This location has a larger kitchen than their other locations so they can be a little more robust in their food offering on the weekend.
Traditional British cuisine. A lot of beautiful rooms. In the Winter, you can have hot toddies by the fireplace. I think this would be a good place for a date also.
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The Franklin Bar
1715 S 18th StTraditional British cuisine. A lot of beautiful rooms. In the Winter, you can have hot toddies by the fireplace. I think this would be a good place for a date also.
Rouge
205 S 18th StCasual but upscale.
Pennsylvania 6
114 South 12th StreetLarger restaurant. Great happy hour special on clams.
Gelato. As in the world's best gelato according to National Geographic magazine. They also serve La Columbe coffee. If you leave this place disappointed it's your own fault for not knowing what to order.
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Capogiro Gelato Artisans
119 S 13th StGelato. As in the world's best gelato according to National Geographic magazine. They also serve La Columbe coffee. If you leave this place disappointed it's your own fault for not knowing what to order.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great piano bar. Beautiful interior and fun performers 7 days a week.
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Tavern on Camac
243 S Camac StGreat piano bar. Beautiful interior and fun performers 7 days a week.
U BAR
1220 Locust StFun bar, relaxed atmosphere
Time
1315 Sansom StLive music, GREAT cocktails, and the food is good too.
Knock Restaurant and Bar
225 South 12th StreetOld school gay bar and restaurant.
Hand crafted cocktails, 3 levels of seating including 2 bars and one lounge style seating.
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Writer's Block Rehab
1342 Cypress StHand crafted cocktails, 3 levels of seating including 2 bars and one lounge style seating.
Toasted Walnut Bar & Kitchen
1316 Walnut StNew LGBTQ bar. Give it a try.
Franky Bradley's
1320 Chancellor StThe food is surprisingly good here. Fun spot.
Great spot for cheap drinks and a nice, friendly, local atmosphere. This isn't a gentrified or upscale hangout, so don't expect a fashion forward interior design and craft cocktail menu. The bartenders here are some of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. I can't say enough good about this place.
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Dirty Franks
347 S 13th StGreat spot for cheap drinks and a nice, friendly, local atmosphere. This isn't a gentrified or upscale hangout, so don't expect a fashion forward interior design and craft cocktail menu. The bartenders here are some of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. I can't say enough good about this place.
Wine bar. Decent amount of seating, great wine list and friendly staff.
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Vintage
129 S 13th StWine bar. Decent amount of seating, great wine list and friendly staff.
Tria Taproom
2005 Walnut StWine, beer and food. I don't think you'll go wrong here.
Great bar and restaurant. But it's a hot spot, so it is going to be crowded. I think I left here drunker from whiskey then I'd ever been in my life. That was a good thing.
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Village Whiskey
118 S 20th StGreat bar and restaurant. But it's a hot spot, so it is going to be crowded. I think I left here drunker from whiskey then I'd ever been in my life. That was a good thing.
The Franklin Bar
1715 S 18th StProhibition style bar. Great cocktails. Worth a visit.
Arts & Culture
I-Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyIt's awesome.
Music Building
201 South 34th StreetAncient artifacts. Go here!
If you like history, I'm not sure how you'll find a continuously inhabited residential street in a major American city older than this one. Take a walk down here. I think you'll enjoy the scenery.
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Elfreth's Alley
126 Elfreth's AlleyIf you like history, I'm not sure how you'll find a continuously inhabited residential street in a major American city older than this one. Take a walk down here. I think you'll enjoy the scenery.
I-Academy of Music
240 S Broad StI don't think this place needs further explanation.
The Wilma Theater
265 S Broad StIf you like theatre, this is a good one.
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Sthistoric and awesome.
Go here. Book a ceremonial tea service. If you are disappointed, you are really weird.
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I-Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
Horticultural DriveGo here. Book a ceremonial tea service. If you are disappointed, you are really weird.
Essentials
Walgreens
1800 South Stpharmacy, grocery, etc.
CVS
4314 Locust Stpharmacy, etc.
CVS
4314 Locust Stpharmacy, etc.
Rite Aid
2301 Walnut Stpharmacy, etc.
Whole Foods Market
929 South StThey have a parking garage.
ACME Markets
1400 E Passyunk AveLast resort... lol
It's actually really nice. If you're feeling swanky or want to show off, there's a "wine cellar" where you can drop some serious cash on premium wines.
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Fine Wine & Good Spirits
411 N 20th StIt's actually really nice. If you're feeling swanky or want to show off, there's a "wine cellar" where you can drop some serious cash on premium wines.
Everything Fresh
1222 Walnut StreetI love this place. I think go go here almost every day.
Getting Around
Patco stops station
Shopping
More than just clothing. Go to the basement for the fun stuff. Also, remember this used to be a Philadelphia mansion. Gaze in awe at the amazing architecture.
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Anthropologie
1801 Walnut StMore than just clothing. Go to the basement for the fun stuff. Also, remember this used to be a Philadelphia mansion. Gaze in awe at the amazing architecture.
Barneys New York, Philadelphia
because you know why.
Open House Store
107 S 13th Stgifts
Verde
108 S 13th Stgifts - jewelry and you can also buy artisinal chocolate.
You might find some rare and amazing find. Plus, when you shop here, you are contributing a non-profit that benefits the HIV+ community. So, go here.
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Philly AIDS Thrift
710 S 5th StYou might find some rare and amazing find. Plus, when you shop here, you are contributing a non-profit that benefits the HIV+ community. So, go here.
Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room
345 S 12th StGo here. This is a non-profit, and a Philly landmark.
Beaux Arts Vintage (and Video)
1000 Spruce StFun vintage store in center city.
Parks & Nature
A wonderful place to take a walk, ride a bike, jog, lay on the grass and enjoy the outdoors.
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Schuylkill River Trail
Schuylkill River TrailA wonderful place to take a walk, ride a bike, jog, lay on the grass and enjoy the outdoors.
Take a book, a blanket and enjoy one of the most beautiful city parks.
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Rittenhouse Square
135 S 18th StTake a book, a blanket and enjoy one of the most beautiful city parks.
Another really beautiful city park. This one is more quiet. A nice place to meditate.
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Washington Square West
Another really beautiful city park. This one is more quiet. A nice place to meditate.