Sarah and Alex's Philly Guidebook
Food Scene
Everything from vegan, gluten free, dairy free to one of the world's best burgers. Emphasis on local ingredients. Good cocktails, good brunch (but busy at brunch)
112 locals recommend
Front Street Cafe
1253 N Front StEverything from vegan, gluten free, dairy free to one of the world's best burgers. Emphasis on local ingredients. Good cocktails, good brunch (but busy at brunch)
Burmese food is awesome - if you've never had it, think halfway between Thai and Indian (although there are unique elements that make it really great). Inexpensive, friendly - we recommend the 1000 layer bread, country chicken, glass noodle and garden salads, paggan beef, and coconut shrimp - and if you like fish, let them recommend one, they're all great. Their desserts are not amazing, but there are several bubble tea and ice cream places in nearby in Chinatown.
14 locals recommend
Rangoon
112 N 9th StBurmese food is awesome - if you've never had it, think halfway between Thai and Indian (although there are unique elements that make it really great). Inexpensive, friendly - we recommend the 1000 layer bread, country chicken, glass noodle and garden salads, paggan beef, and coconut shrimp - and if you like fish, let them recommend one, they're all great. Their desserts are not amazing, but there are several bubble tea and ice cream places in nearby in Chinatown.
Amazing soups and small eats made from organic local produce (Tues-Sat 11am-6pm)
24 locals recommend
Good Spoon Soupery
1400 N Front StAmazing soups and small eats made from organic local produce (Tues-Sat 11am-6pm)
Possibly the best fried chicken. Limited hours; check online or call.
15 locals recommend
Love & Honey Fried Chicken
1100 N Front StPossibly the best fried chicken. Limited hours; check online or call.
Small batch ice cream made with local dairy, and love. Our top pick if you eat nowhere else in the neighborhood (even in winter).
34 locals recommend
Weckerly’s Ice Cream
9 W Girard AveSmall batch ice cream made with local dairy, and love. Our top pick if you eat nowhere else in the neighborhood (even in winter).
Indoor food market (prepared, specialty and grocery) in the old Reading Terminal station (local produce and products, Amish pretzels and candy, new gastronomy, international foods) - avoid peak times like Saturday lunch unless you REALLY like crowds
739 locals recommend
Reading Terminal Market
1136 N 12th StIndoor food market (prepared, specialty and grocery) in the old Reading Terminal station (local produce and products, Amish pretzels and candy, new gastronomy, international foods) - avoid peak times like Saturday lunch unless you REALLY like crowds
Drinks & Nightlife
Vintage arcade games (street fighter, ninja turtles, etc.) and a good selection of craft beers.
149 locals recommend
Barcade
1114 Frankford AveVintage arcade games (street fighter, ninja turtles, etc.) and a good selection of craft beers.
The Fillmore Philadelphia
29 E Allen StTons of great shows at the Fillmore
Yards Brewing Company
500 Spring Garden StUnion Transfer
1026 Spring Garden StKung Fu Necktie
1248 N Front StFranklin Music Hall
421 N 7th StJohnny Brenda's
1201 Frankford AveBB&T Pavilion
1 Harbour BlvdSightseeing
Tons of historic buildings, Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's workshop - and there are often historically dressed actors roaming around, who will tell you about who they are and what they did!
258 locals recommend
Old City District
231 Market StTons of historic buildings, Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's workshop - and there are often historically dressed actors roaming around, who will tell you about who they are and what they did!
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 StNational Constitution Center
525 Arch StSee the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed (free same day, sometimes with a wait, or get next day / date specific tickets online for about $1.50)
569 locals recommend
Independence Hall
520 Chestnut StSee the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed (free same day, sometimes with a wait, or get next day / date specific tickets online for about $1.50)
Liberty Bell
526 Market StSee Ben Franklin's print shop and post office, where he actually worked, plus the footprint and foundation of his house, artifacts from his life, and souvenir prints of famous historical documents.
49 locals recommend
Benjamin Franklin Museum
317 Chestnut StSee Ben Franklin's print shop and post office, where he actually worked, plus the footprint and foundation of his house, artifacts from his life, and souvenir prints of famous historical documents.
Run up the Art Museum steps like Rocky Balboa (or walk - they're long steps) :) and take a photo with his statue at the top!
206 locals recommend
Rocky Steps
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyRun up the Art Museum steps like Rocky Balboa (or walk - they're long steps) :) and take a photo with his statue at the top!
Betsy Ross House
239 Arch StParks & Nature
Great walk along the Schuylkill River and historical boathouses (this is a major crew (rowing) spot), and a lot of cool sculpture and old bridges.
204 locals recommend
Boathouse Row
1 Boathouse RowGreat walk along the Schuylkill River and historical boathouses (this is a major crew (rowing) spot), and a lot of cool sculpture and old bridges.
Independence National Historical Park
Beautiful park with rotating exhibits like the Chinese Lantern Festival, right near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
149 locals recommend
Franklin Square
200 N 6th StBeautiful park with rotating exhibits like the Chinese Lantern Festival, right near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
Schuylkill River Trail
Schuylkill River TrailArts & Culture
A really cool museum juxtaposing traditional art and things like iron and woodwork. Closed Tuesday.
560 locals recommend
Barnes
2025 Benjamin Franklin PkwyA really cool museum juxtaposing traditional art and things like iron and woodwork. Closed Tuesday.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
1020 South StThe Franklin Institute
222 N 20th StHistorical prison converted into a museum and huge haunted house in the autumn!
433 locals recommend
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount AveHistorical prison converted into a museum and huge haunted house in the autumn!
In Sarah's family, this was always known as the Dinosaur Museum - great collections of dinosaur skeletons, but also lots of other natural history
104 locals recommend
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin PkwyIn Sarah's family, this was always known as the Dinosaur Museum - great collections of dinosaur skeletons, but also lots of other natural history
Independence Seaport Museum
211 S Christopher Columbus BlvdTour a real battleship! Across the bridge in Camden, NJ (fairly short Uber)
37 locals recommend
Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
100 Clinton StTour a real battleship! Across the bridge in Camden, NJ (fairly short Uber)
Small but glorious Rodin museum (admission may be included with The Barnes)
225 locals recommend
Rodin Museum
2151 Benjamin Franklin PkwySmall but glorious Rodin museum (admission may be included with The Barnes)
See Edgar Allen Poe's house (and if you walk from our house across Girard Ave and down 7th street, you'll pass Federal Donuts - stop there for gourmet donuts and fried chicken)
32 locals recommend
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
532 N 7th StSee Edgar Allen Poe's house (and if you walk from our house across Girard Ave and down 7th street, you'll pass Federal Donuts - stop there for gourmet donuts and fried chicken)
Known as the Mutter Museum, it contains a collection of anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment.
333 locals recommend
First Food Market
116 S 21st StKnown as the Mutter Museum, it contains a collection of anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment.
Great art museum, lesser known than the Phila Museum of Art, but includes more unusual collections. Take the MFL train to 13th St / City Hall and walk a few blocks north on Broad Street.
47 locals recommend
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
118-128 N Broad StGreat art museum, lesser known than the Phila Museum of Art, but includes more unusual collections. Take the MFL train to 13th St / City Hall and walk a few blocks north on Broad Street.
Museum of the American Revolution
101 S 3rd StThe name says it all :)
Shopping
Really cool vintage and antique clothes, furniture, books, art, knickknacks and other weird stuff!
65 locals recommend
Jinxed Fishtown
1331 Frankford AveReally cool vintage and antique clothes, furniture, books, art, knickknacks and other weird stuff!
Macy's occupies the historic Wanamaker Building, an architectural triumph with incredibly ornate features inside, including the Wanamaker Organ, one of the largest of it's kind (the last time we were there, someone stopped Sarah and asked if it used to be a cathedral - she replied, "No, it's a cathedral to commerce!"
49 locals recommend
Macy's Philadelphia
1300 Market StMacy's occupies the historic Wanamaker Building, an architectural triumph with incredibly ornate features inside, including the Wanamaker Organ, one of the largest of it's kind (the last time we were there, someone stopped Sarah and asked if it used to be a cathedral - she replied, "No, it's a cathedral to commerce!"