Guidebook for Philadelphia
Drinks & Nightlife
Great neighborhood bar with delicious food. Best burger in West Philly (and lots of vegan/vegeratian options as well!) Happy Hours feature $3 local craft brews.
108 locals recommend
Local 44
4333 Spruce StreetGreat neighborhood bar with delicious food. Best burger in West Philly (and lots of vegan/vegeratian options as well!) Happy Hours feature $3 local craft brews.
Unique dive bar for beer snobs. I highly recommend the live bluegrass nights on Thursdays.
29 locals recommend
Fiume
229 S 45th StUnique dive bar for beer snobs. I highly recommend the live bluegrass nights on Thursdays.
Incredible margaritas and delicious, upscale food. A little on the pricey side, but definitely worth it.
38 locals recommend
Distrito
3945 Chestnut StIncredible margaritas and delicious, upscale food. A little on the pricey side, but definitely worth it.
This place is really fun if you're in the neighborhood - it's like a German beer-hall, but with outdoor fire pits, Jenga, and ping-pong.
275 locals recommend
Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford AveThis place is really fun if you're in the neighborhood - it's like a German beer-hall, but with outdoor fire pits, Jenga, and ping-pong.
Johnny Brenda's
1201 Frankford AveOne of the best bars in Philly, and a great music venue.
A popular gastropub - with one of the best burgers in Philly. (Seriously)
141 locals recommend
The Franklin Bar
1715 S 18th StA popular gastropub - with one of the best burgers in Philly. (Seriously)
Great little cantina with a fun atmosphere, especially on the patio in the summer.
137 locals recommend
Cantina Los Caballitos
1651 E Passyunk AveGreat little cantina with a fun atmosphere, especially on the patio in the summer.
Fantastic taqueria - I love getting margaritas and dinner here, then heading over to North Bowl next door!
13 locals recommend
Jose Pistola's
263 S 15th StFantastic taqueria - I love getting margaritas and dinner here, then heading over to North Bowl next door!
Food Scene
Honest Tom's Plant Based Taco Shop
261 S 44th StAwesome BYOB taco joint.
Lil Pop Shop
265 S 44th StDelish gourmet popsicles!
Hands down, my favorite brunch spot in West Philly. The cozy decor (complete with a fireplace) and friendly staff are great, but the french toast is even better. Very affordable as well.
79 locals recommend
The Gold Standard Cafe
4800 Baltimore AveHands down, my favorite brunch spot in West Philly. The cozy decor (complete with a fireplace) and friendly staff are great, but the french toast is even better. Very affordable as well.
My favorite neighborhood coffee shop, by far. Lots of outdoor space overlooking clark park, and plenty of tables inside as well. The house-made food is pretty tasty too.
94 locals recommend
Green Line Cafe
4239 Baltimore AveMy favorite neighborhood coffee shop, by far. Lots of outdoor space overlooking clark park, and plenty of tables inside as well. The house-made food is pretty tasty too.
A unique, upscale dining experience in a renovated Victorian home. One of the best restaurants in Philly.
13 locals recommend
Marigold Kitchen
A unique, upscale dining experience in a renovated Victorian home. One of the best restaurants in Philly.
Perfect for spice fanatics! Authentic Chinese cuisine that will knock your socks off and tingle your taste buds. Definitely order the Dan Dan noodles!
53 locals recommend
Han Dynasty
3711 Market StPerfect for spice fanatics! Authentic Chinese cuisine that will knock your socks off and tingle your taste buds. Definitely order the Dan Dan noodles!
A relaxed, friendly little cafe. Great for a casual brunch or a quick bagel on the go.
31 locals recommend
Renata's Kitchen
3940 Baltimore AvenueA relaxed, friendly little cafe. Great for a casual brunch or a quick bagel on the go.
I can't decide if this place is a dive bar, brewery, or gourmet wood-fired pizza restaurant, and I'm okay with that. In all seriousness, order the Fig Jam Pizza. You won't regret it.
156 locals recommend
Dock Street Brewing Co
701 S 50th StI can't decide if this place is a dive bar, brewery, or gourmet wood-fired pizza restaurant, and I'm okay with that. In all seriousness, order the Fig Jam Pizza. You won't regret it.
Abyssinia Restaurant
229 S 45th StDelish Ethiopian Cuisine.
Vientiane Café
4728 Baltimore AveDelicious, affordable Thai restaurant.
Greek Lady
222 S 40th StMind-blowingly delicious gyros!
A very crunchy-granola-type coffee shop. Friendly staff, tasty food, and very good coffee. Plenty of outdoor seating.
31 locals recommend
Earth Cup Cafe
405 S 45th StA very crunchy-granola-type coffee shop. Friendly staff, tasty food, and very good coffee. Plenty of outdoor seating.
A little on the pricier side for brunch, but honestly it's worth it. Completely organic, locally-sourced farm-to-table food is prepared immaculately. It gets busy, so try to get there early.
10 locals recommend
The Farmacy
A little on the pricier side for brunch, but honestly it's worth it. Completely organic, locally-sourced farm-to-table food is prepared immaculately. It gets busy, so try to get there early.
Mind-blowingly delicious noodles in an intimate setting. I highly recommend the miso ramen, and whatever their special dumpling of the day is!
35 locals recommend
CHeU noodle bar
255 S 10th StMind-blowingly delicious noodles in an intimate setting. I highly recommend the miso ramen, and whatever their special dumpling of the day is!
Incredible Greek food! A little on the fancy side - great for a date night (or even an upscale brunch.)
23 locals recommend
Kanella South
757 South Front StreetIncredible Greek food! A little on the fancy side - great for a date night (or even an upscale brunch.)
Really, truly, delicious sushi. One of my favorite sushi places in Philly.
17 locals recommend
Fat Salmon Sushi
719 Walnut StReally, truly, delicious sushi. One of my favorite sushi places in Philly.
Fantastic gourmet wood-fired pizzas - a great spot for lunch or dinner.
73 locals recommend
Pizzeria Vetri
1939 Callowhill StFantastic gourmet wood-fired pizzas - a great spot for lunch or dinner.
White Dog Cafe
3420 Sansom StAnother great brunch spot - bottomless mimosas… need I say more?
A quiet, perfectly authentic, and entirely unpretentious little Italian trattoria. Dim lighting, candles, and seriously good Italian food with a home-cooked feel.
130 locals recommend
Sabrina's Cafe
910 Christian StreetA quiet, perfectly authentic, and entirely unpretentious little Italian trattoria. Dim lighting, candles, and seriously good Italian food with a home-cooked feel.
One of my favorite restaurants in Philly - if you can get a reservation! :) Fantastic Italian food, romantic ambiance. Try sitting outside in the garden in the warmer weather. Good for a fancy date.
31 locals recommend
Little Nonna's
1234 Locust StOne of my favorite restaurants in Philly - if you can get a reservation! :) Fantastic Italian food, romantic ambiance. Try sitting outside in the garden in the warmer weather. Good for a fancy date.
One of Philly's new breed of seriously good BYOBs. Make a reservation, bring a bottle, and enjoy an awesome seafood menu that changes every night.
40 locals recommend
Little Fish Byob
746 S 6th StOne of Philly's new breed of seriously good BYOBs. Make a reservation, bring a bottle, and enjoy an awesome seafood menu that changes every night.
Vic Sushi Bar
2035 Sansom StFantastic sushi - I highly recommend it!
This place is like stepping right into a Parisian bistro. One of my favorite romantic date spots, and they also serve a delish brunch (one of the few places you can make reservations for brunch)
223 locals recommend
Parc
227 S 18th StThis place is like stepping right into a Parisian bistro. One of my favorite romantic date spots, and they also serve a delish brunch (one of the few places you can make reservations for brunch)
A perfectly cute little coffee shop - grab a cup to go and stroll in the park!
17 locals recommend
Talula's Daily
208 W Washington SquareA perfectly cute little coffee shop - grab a cup to go and stroll in the park!
Entertainment & Activities
A great spot to enjoy some fresh air or have a picnic! A quintessential West Philly community space.
188 locals recommend
Clark Park
4300-4398 Baltimore AveA great spot to enjoy some fresh air or have a picnic! A quintessential West Philly community space.
More than just a bowling alley - this place is a lot of fun, complete with lane-side bar service and a whole menu page devoted to a variety of gourmet tater tots.
104 locals recommend
North Bowl Lounge n Lanes
909 N 2nd StMore than just a bowling alley - this place is a lot of fun, complete with lane-side bar service and a whole menu page devoted to a variety of gourmet tater tots.
Arts & Culture
Penn Museum
3260 South StA fantastic museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Solid movie theater - clean, comfortable, and always a good movie selection.
71 locals recommend
Cinemark University City Penn 6
4012 Walnut StSolid movie theater - clean, comfortable, and always a good movie selection.
One of my favorite music venues in Philadelphia. Get dinner or drinks while you watch live music upstairs - the food is awesome and the drink specials are super affordable.
38 locals recommend
World Cafe Live Philadelphia
3025 Walnut StOne of my favorite music venues in Philadelphia. Get dinner or drinks while you watch live music upstairs - the food is awesome and the drink specials are super affordable.
An indoor-outdoor "magic garden" of stunningly unique mosaic art. Difficult to describe, but absolutely worth seeing. Check out their after-hours events for a special night.
385 locals recommend
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
1020 South StAn indoor-outdoor "magic garden" of stunningly unique mosaic art. Difficult to describe, but absolutely worth seeing. Check out their after-hours events for a special night.
If you're a book nerd like me, this is a must-see. It's a fancy townhouse converted into a museum housing a priceless rare book collection and stunning antique furniture and art. Off the beaten track!
14 locals recommend
The Rosenbach
2008-2010 Delancey PlIf you're a book nerd like me, this is a must-see. It's a fancy townhouse converted into a museum housing a priceless rare book collection and stunning antique furniture and art. Off the beaten track!
Shopping
House of Our Own Book Store
3920 Spruce StA darling little independent book store.
A great used bookstore with a wide selection - easy to get lost in here and wile away an entire afternoon browsing.
7 locals recommend
The Last Word Bookshop
220 S 40th StA great used bookstore with a wide selection - easy to get lost in here and wile away an entire afternoon browsing.
Everything Else
Even if you're just in town for a few nights, it's worth taking a class here. Most classes are $5, and it's a very peaceful, welcoming environment.
24 locals recommend
Studio 34 Yoga Healing Arts
4522 Baltimore AveEven if you're just in town for a few nights, it's worth taking a class here. Most classes are $5, and it's a very peaceful, welcoming environment.