Sarah and Alex's Philly Guidebook
Food Scene
Great range of food from local and responsible ingredients (vegan, veg, DF, GF, and the world's best burger). Get the buffalo cauliflower!
112 locals recommend
Front Street Cafe
1253 N Front StGreat range of food from local and responsible ingredients (vegan, veg, DF, GF, and the world's best burger). Get the buffalo cauliflower!
Burmese food (if you've never had, think halfway between Thai and Indian) - one of our favorite spots outside the neighborhood
14 locals recommend
Rangoon
112 N 9th StBurmese food (if you've never had, think halfway between Thai and Indian) - one of our favorite spots outside the neighborhood
Really small authentic Mexican restaurant (the owners are from Puebla) - try the tacos al pastor if they haven't run out!
8 locals recommend
Pancho's Cafe
152 W Girard AveReally small authentic Mexican restaurant (the owners are from Puebla) - try the tacos al pastor if they haven't run out!
Soup and other small eats from local, seasonal ingredients - soup mention rotates and is on Instagram
24 locals recommend
Good Spoon Soupery
1400 N Front StSoup and other small eats from local, seasonal ingredients - soup mention rotates and is on Instagram
Possibly the world's best ice cream. Unusual flavors, but not weird for weird's sake (also really incredible vanilla and chocolate)
34 locals recommend
Weckerly’s Ice Cream
9 W Girard AvePossibly the world's best ice cream. Unusual flavors, but not weird for weird's sake (also really incredible vanilla and chocolate)
Great inexpensive Vietnamese street food, and super friendly people! We recommend adding hoisin sauce to the banh mi.
12 locals recommend
Streetside
165 W Girard AveGreat inexpensive Vietnamese street food, and super friendly people! We recommend adding hoisin sauce to the banh mi.
These are the cheesesteaks we recommend (we think they're better than Pat's & Gino's). Also great cheesefries and milkshakes, and open late on weekends.
60 locals recommend
Joe's Steaks + Soda Shop Fishtown
1 W Girard AveThese are the cheesesteaks we recommend (we think they're better than Pat's & Gino's). Also great cheesefries and milkshakes, and open late on weekends.
Serious sushi restaurant - we don't recommend going over the bridge to Jersey often, but this is where our friend from Japan goes when he's here. Recommendations a must on weekends.
7 locals recommend
Sagami Japanese Restaurant
37 Crescent BlvdSerious sushi restaurant - we don't recommend going over the bridge to Jersey often, but this is where our friend from Japan goes when he's here. Recommendations a must on weekends.
Housed in the old Reading Terminal station, you can find gourmet prepared food and groceries, local produce and products, Amish pretzels and candy, and outposts from some of Philly's hottest restaurants! CROWDED at peak times like Saturday lunch; weekday afternoons are a great time to go.
739 locals recommend
Reading Terminal Market
1136 N 12th StHoused in the old Reading Terminal station, you can find gourmet prepared food and groceries, local produce and products, Amish pretzels and candy, and outposts from some of Philly's hottest restaurants! CROWDED at peak times like Saturday lunch; weekday afternoons are a great time to go.
Cheese steak sandwiches are a Philly tradition (finely chopped beef or chicken with cheese - preferably "whiz" (nacho cheese without the spice) and sometimes mushrooms and onions. Skip the huge lines and dried out meat at the big places in South Philly - Joe's is a local institution that also has great cheese fries, burgers, and milkshakes (try peanut butter and vanilla for a spin on the Reese's classic).
60 locals recommend
Joe's Steaks + Soda Shop Fishtown
1 W Girard AveCheese steak sandwiches are a Philly tradition (finely chopped beef or chicken with cheese - preferably "whiz" (nacho cheese without the spice) and sometimes mushrooms and onions. Skip the huge lines and dried out meat at the big places in South Philly - Joe's is a local institution that also has great cheese fries, burgers, and milkshakes (try peanut butter and vanilla for a spin on the Reese's classic).
Drinks & Nightlife
Barcade
1114 Frankford AveVintage arcade games and great craft beer selection!
Good cocktails, shows upstairs, good food but a little pricey for a bar
248 locals recommend
Johnny Brenda's
1201 Frankford AveGood cocktails, shows upstairs, good food but a little pricey for a bar
Inexpensive Greek food + dive bar, pool tables, great back garden open in warm months
21 locals recommend
Kostas Restaurant
15 W Girard AveInexpensive Greek food + dive bar, pool tables, great back garden open in warm months
German style beer hall with good basic eats and sometimes games (may be weather permitting)
275 locals recommend
Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford AveGerman style beer hall with good basic eats and sometimes games (may be weather permitting)
The Fillmore Philadelphia
29 E Allen StYards Brewing Company
500 Spring Garden StUnion Transfer
1026 Spring Garden StFranklin Music Hall
421 N 7th StKung Fu Necktie
1248 N Front StRIVERS CASINO PHILADELPHIA
1001 N Delaware AveBB&T Pavilion
1 Harbour BlvdSightseeing
Independence Hall
520 Chestnut StChina Town
An historic prison converted into a museum (and serious haunted house in the autumn!)
433 locals recommend
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount AveAn historic prison converted into a museum (and serious haunted house in the autumn!)
Elfreth's Alley
126 Elfreth's AlleyChrist Church
20 N American StRittenhouse Square
135 S 18th StCathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
1723 Race StLiberty Bell
526 Market StRocky Steps
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyLike Rocky Balboa, from the movies :)
Betsy Ross House
239 Arch StEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
532 N 7th StArts & Culture
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyPhiladelphia's Magic Gardens
1020 South StInstallations of murals and mirrors
The Franklin Institute
222 N 20th StAcademy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin PkwyIndependence Seaport Museum
211 S Christopher Columbus BlvdBattleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
100 Clinton StNational Constitution Center
525 Arch StWhere Old Ben actually worked! Buy reproductions of historic documents as a great souvenir.
49 locals recommend
Benjamin Franklin Museum
317 Chestnut StWhere Old Ben actually worked! Buy reproductions of historic documents as a great souvenir.
Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the RepublicInteractive kids science museum!
Cool, creepy collection of scientific and medical oddities and curiosities
333 locals recommend
First Food Market
116 S 21st StCool, creepy collection of scientific and medical oddities and curiosities
Great art museum, if lesser known than the Philadelphia Museum of Art
47 locals recommend
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
118-128 N Broad StGreat art museum, if lesser known than the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Museum of the American Revolution
101 S 3rd StParks & Nature
Philadelphia's Central Park - see Boathouse Row, hiking trails, or walk along the Schuylkill River, where there are statues, places to sit and picnic, and great views of the Art Museum and the city.
315 locals recommend
Fairmount Park
Reservoir DrivePhiladelphia's Central Park - see Boathouse Row, hiking trails, or walk along the Schuylkill River, where there are statues, places to sit and picnic, and great views of the Art Museum and the city.
Independence National Historical Park
Franklin Square
200 N 6th StRotating exhibitions like the Chinese Lantern Festival
Schuylkill River Trail
Schuylkill River TrailShopping
Antiques, oddities, curios - if it's old and interesting, it may be at Jinxed.
65 locals recommend
Jinxed Fishtown
1331 Frankford AveAntiques, oddities, curios - if it's old and interesting, it may be at Jinxed.
Century 21
821 Market StHoused in the old Wanamaker Department Store building, an architectural marvel that includes the Wanamaker Organ, one of the largest in the country, and incredible interiors dating back a century. Also a Macy's - good sales.
49 locals recommend
Macy's Philadelphia
1300 Market StHoused in the old Wanamaker Department Store building, an architectural marvel that includes the Wanamaker Organ, one of the largest in the country, and incredible interiors dating back a century. Also a Macy's - good sales.
Essentials
ACME Markets
1400 E Passyunk Ave