The Ultimate Guide to Philly
Want to see it all on a map? View our interactive Google Map HERE (or see it below)
* = suggestions or favorites
Food
Pizza
*Paulie Gee’s Soul City Slice Shop, Washington Square West — Slice shop with a retro bar inside
*Angelo's, Bella Vista — Famous pizza and sandwiches that sell out every day; cash only
*Beddia, Fishtown — Buzz-worthy thin-crust pizza
Circles and Squares, Fishtown — Detroit-style pizza
Pizzeria Pizzata, Fitler Square
Pizza Shackamaxon, Fishtown
Square Pie, Queen Village — Sicilian-ish pizza
Emmy Squared, Queen Village — Detroit-style pizza with rooftop deck
Lorenzo's, Queen Village — Famously enormous slices
O Sole Mio, Bella Vista — Try their spicy sopressata pizza
Pasta
*Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar, Fishtown
*Cry Baby Pasta, Queen Village — Featured on Philly's season of Netflix's Queer Eye
*Fiorella Pasta, Italian Market
*Trattoria Carina, Fitler Square
Via Locusta, Rittenhouse
W.M. Mulherin’s & Sons, Fishtown
Giuseppe and Sons, Center City — Moody subterranean restaurant
Giorgio on Pine, Washington Square West
Little Nonna’s, Gayborhood
Ralph’s Italian Restaurant, Italian Market
Dante and Luigi’s, Italian Market — One of the oldest Italian restaurants in America
Osteria, Spring Garden
Cheesesteaks
*Joe’s Steak & Soda Shop, Fishtown
*Angelo’s, Bella Vista
*Cleavers, Rittenhouse
Sonny’s, Old City
Ishkabibble’s, Queen Village
Jim’s (currently closed), Queen Village — Burned down in 2022, but keep your eyes peeled for their reopening
Pats, East Passyunk — We feel compelled to tell you that this is more of a touristy spot...not good cheesesteaks
Genos, East Passyunk — We feel compelled to tell you that this is more of a touristy spot...not good cheesesteaks
*Delassandro’s, Roxborough — A ways away from center city, but famously delicious if you're willing to drive
Chubby’s, Roxborough — Directly across the street from Delassandro's LOL
Steve’s Price of Steak, Northeast Philadelphia — A ways away from center city
Hoagies & Sandwiches
*Primo Hoagies, Multiple locations
*Antonio's Deli, East Passyunk — Try the crispy tomato hoagie; IYKYK
*Angelo's, Bella Vista
*Middle Child, Washington Square West
Mi-Pal, South Philly
John's Roast Pork, Pennsport — Rivals the cheesesteak for the ultimate Philly sandwich
Tommy DiNic's, Center City — Featured on the Food Network; inside Reading Terminal Market
Wawa, Multiple locations — Look, it's a take-out hoagie. But they're still darn good
Buzz-worthy
Friday Saturday Sunday, American, Rittenhouse — 2023 James Beard Award winner
*Laser Wolf, Israeli, Fishtown — If you end up scoring a highly-coveted reservation, count yourself lucky
*Zahav, Israeli, Old City — Named the best restaurant IN ALL OF AMERICA
*Kalaya, Thai, Fishtown — 2023 James Beard Award winner
*Her Place, American, Midtown — 2023 James Beard Award winner
Middle Child Clubhouse, Upscale comfort food, Fishtown
Amina, American Southern, Old CIty
Parc, French, Rittenhouse
Famous 4th St Deli, Jewish deli, Queen Village — Cookies as big as your face and sandwiches stacked a foot high
South Philly Barbacoa, Mexican, East Passyunk — Featured on Netflix's Chef's Table
Mish Mish, Mediterranean, East Passyunk
Marrakesh, Moroccan, Queen Village — Complete with belly dancers and family-style floor seating
Perla, Filipino, Fishtown
Royal Izakaya, Japanese, Queen Village
Neighborhood Ramen, Japanese, Queen Village — Modern takes on traditional ramen
Dim Sum Garden, Chinese, Chinatown
Vibes for Days
*Condesa/El Techo, Mexican, Rittenhouse — El Techo is a year-round rooftop bar on the 11th floor of Condesa
*Double Knot, Asian fusion, Center City
*Prunella, Italian, Center City
*Martha, American, East Kensington — Great tap list & vegan food options
Wilder, American, Rittenhouse
Harp & Crown, American, Center City — Don't forget about the bowling alley in the basement
LMNO, Mexican, Fishtown
Forsythia, French, Old CIty
Suraya, Lebanese, Fishtown
Pearl & Mary, Seafood, Center City
The Dandelion, English, Rittenhouse
Mission Taqueria, Mexican, Center City
The Love., American southern, Rittenhouse
Tabachoy, Filipino, Bella Vita — BYOB
Vegan
*A lot of restaurants in Philly offer vegan options on their menu, but these are just a few locations that are exclusively vegan
*Charlie was a sinner., Gayborhood
*Dottie's Donuts, Washington Square West
HipCityVeg, Multiple locations
Miss Rachel’s Pantry, South Philly
Monster Vegan, Washington Square West
Vedge, Gayborhood
Breakfast
*Korshak Bagels, East Passyunk — Sell out daily, so be speedy!
*K’Far, Rittenhouse
*Winkel, Washington Square West
*Middle Child, Washington Square West — Not to be confused with their upscale location, Middle Child Clubhouse
*The Dutch, East Passyunk — Try their Dutch Baby
Samuel’s, Center City
Honey’s Sit n Eat, Northern Liberties
La Colombe, Multiple locations, but their Fishtown location has a full breakfast menu
Cafe La Maude, Northern Liberties
Philly Style Bagels, Old City & Fishtown — Boiled in beer (so Philly) (don't worry, they don't taste like beer)
Spread, Multiple locations
The Breakfast Den, Graduate Hospital
Sweets & Breads
*1-900-Ice Cream, Ice Cream, Rittenhouse
*Milk Jawn, Ice Cream, East Passyunk
*Weckerly’s, Ice Cream, Fishtown
*Beiler’s, Donuts, Center City — Known for inventive flavor combos like maple bacon
*Termini Bros., Italian bakery, Center City
*Mighty Bread Co., Bakery, East Passyunk
Franklin Fountain, Ice cream, Old City — Vintage-style ice cream
Jenni’s, Ice Cream, Rittenhouse & Fishtown
Van Leeuwen, Ice Cream, Center City & Fishtown
Sweet Box, Sweet baked goods, Washington Square West — Try their Philly Jawn for a serious sugar rush
J’aime, French bakery, Washington Square West
Metropolitan Bakery, Bakery, Rittenhouse
Lost Bread Co., Bakery, Fishtown — Try their pretzel shortbread
Cake Life, Sweet baked goods, Fishtown
Ramona Susan’s, Sweet baked goods, Fishtown & Center City
Oui, French bakery, Old City
Okie Dokie Donuts, Donuts, South Philly — Gluten free!
Grab-n-Go
*Dizengoff, Hummus, Rittenhouse
*Zig Zag BBQ, BBQ, East Kensington
*Woodrow’s, Sandwiches, Society Hill
*Báhn Mì and Bottles, Báhn Mì, Queen Village
*CAVA, Mediterranean, Center City
Mac Mart, Gourmet mac & cheese, Rittenhouse
Bao Nine, Bao buns, Rittenhouse
DIG, Health food, Center City
Sweetgreen, Salads, Multiple locations
Jay’s Deli, Sandwiches, Washington Square West
Old Nelson, Sanwiches, Rittenhouse & Center City
Primo Hoagies, Sandwiches, Multiple locations
Schlesinger’s Deli, Sandwiches, Center City
DiBruno Brothers, Prepared Italian food, Multiple locations
Good Delivery
*Avenue Steaks & Pizza (open 24/7) (Slice)
*New Wave Cafe (UberEATS)
*Koto Sushi (UberEATS)
*Famous 4th St Deli (Caviar) — Cookies as big as your face
*Paulie Gee’s (DoorDash)
Fette Sau (Caviar) — Try their burnt ends baked beans
DaMo Pasta Lab (UberEATS)
Dan Dan (UberEATS)
Joe’s Steaks & Soda Shop (Caviar)
Stock (Caviar) — Pho
Little Italy (S. 9th. St) (Slice)
Zio’s Brick Oven Pizza (Slice)
Chinatown
*Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House, Chinese
*Terakawa Ramen, Japanese
*Bonchon, Korean — Fried chicken chain
EMei Restaurant, Chinese
Spice C, Chinese
Nom Wah, Chinese — Dim sum
Tsaocaa & BBQ Chicken, Korean
Pho Xe Lua Viet Thai Restaurant, Vietnamese
Beverages
Cocktails & Wine
*Philadelphia Distilling, Northern Liberties
*Tria, Rittenhouse & Washington Square West
*Blind Barber, Gayborhood — Speakeasy
*R&D, Fishtown
*Bloomsday, Queen Village
Two Robbers, Fishtown — Hard seltzer
Wilder, Rittenhouse
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company, Rittenhouse — Speakeasy
1 Tippling Place, Rittenhouse
Friday Saturday Sunday, Rittenhouse
a.bar, Rittenhouse
Vintage Wine Bar, Gayborhood
Good King Tavern, Queen Village
Hop Sing Laundromat, Chinatown — Speakeasy
The Olde Bar, Old City
The Ranstead Room, Rittenhouse
Beer
Tired Hands - St. Oners, Fishtown
Brewery ARS, West Passyunk
Human Robot, East Kensington
Crime and Punishment, Brewerytown
Love City, Callowhill
Source Urban Brewery, Fishtown
Second District Brewing, West Passyunk
Fermentary Form, Fishtown
Other Half, Northern Liberties
Yards, Northern Liberties
Philadelphia Brewing, East Kensington
Evil Genius, Fishtown
Iron Hill Brewing, Center City — Popular chain
Tradesman's, Center City — Not a brewery but has an impressive tap list
Zero-Proof Drinks
*A lot of restaurants in Philly offer non-alcoholic options on their menu, but these are just a few well-known spots
*R&D, Fishtown
Ember & Ash, East Passyunk
Wilder, Rittenhouse
Spice Finch, Rittenhouse
White Dog Cafe, University City
Dives
*Le Caveau, Queen Village — Above Good King Tavern. Two words: French hotdogs.
*Moriarty’s, Center City — Known for their wings
*12 Steps Down, Italian Market — Trivia Wednesday nights
New Wave Cafe, Queen Village
Fountain Porter, East Passyunk — $6 burger!
Happy Rooster, Center City
Tattooed Mom, Queen Village
Urban Saloon, Fairmount
Rooftop Bars
*Attico, Center City
*El Techo, Rittenhouse
*Sunset Social at Cira Green, University City
Assembly, Logan Square
Continental Midtown, Rittenhouse
Stratus, Old City
Revolution House, Old City
The Deck at the Moshulu, Penn's Landing — Restaurant on a BOAT!
Bok Bar, South Philly — On top of an old high school
Coffee & Espresso
*Vibrant Coffee Roasters, Rittenhouse
*Three Graces Coffee Co., Queen Village
*Jiggy Coffee, Washington Square West
*La Colombe, Multiple locations, but see their flagship (and original) location in Fishtown
*Elixr, Center City
Old City Coffee, Old City
K’Far, Rittenhouse
Rival Bros, Multiple location
Rally, Queen Village
OX Coffee, Queen Village
Red Hook Coffee, Queen Village
Ultimo, Rittenhouse, Newbold, Grad Hospital
Entertainment
Museums
*Mutter Museum — Medical oddities. Don't go if you're squeamish
Barnes Foundation — Private but robust art collection if the PMA is too big for you
Museum of the American Revolution
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Franklin Institute — See fossils! And old inventions! Walk through a giant human heart!
Attractions (Historical and Tourist)
*Reading Terminal Market
*History tour
*Italian Market Food Tour
*Chinatown Food Tour
LOVE park
JG Sky High — Swanky restaurant on top of the Comcast Technology Center
Rocky steps & statue
Pat's & Geno’s — These are truly more tourist spots than good cheesesteak spots
Activities
Group Activities
*Karaoke at Yakitori Boy
*Quizzo every night
*The Philly Cheese School — Cheese pairing classes
*Lumiere Candle Studio — Candle making
*Barcade — Bar + arcade
Yay Clay — Pottery classes
The Clay Studio — Pottery classes
Hudson Table — Cooking classes
La Cucina at the Market — Cooking classes
Loomen Labs — Candle making
Wax & Wine — Candle making
Wonderspaces
Museum of Illusions
Lucky Strike — Bowling
North Bowl — Bowling
Brooklyn Bowl — Bowling
Magic Gardens
SPIN Philadelphia — Ping pong bar
Red Rum Theater — Murder mystery
See a movie — Ritz Five (2nd St & Walnut St.), AMC Dine In (Fashion District)
See a performance — Walnut Street Theater, Academy of Music, Punch Line Philly
Active
*Schuylkill Banks River Trail + Kelly drive
Walk across Ben Franklin Bridge for view of the city
The Rail Park — Walking path
Cliffs at Callowhill — Rock climbing gym
Wellness Refinery — Sauna & smoothie bar
Five Iron Golf — Indoor driving range
Free day pass at City Fitness
Music Venues
Johnny Brenda's, Fishtown — Featured in the movie Creed
Milkboy, Center City & Queen Village — Also has a yummy menu!
Underground Arts, Callowhill
World Cafe Live, University City
The Met, Fairmount
The Fillmore, Northern Liberties
Union Transfer, Poplar
The Mann, Fairmount Park — Outdoor music venue
Kung Fu Necktie, Fishtown
DISCLAIMER: This focuses mainly on Center City and closely surrounding neighborhoods. There's a whole other world of amazing things to do, see, and eat in other Philadelphia neighborhoods like Manayunk, North Philly, the Northeast, and Point Breeze, etc.! We purposefully chose these neighborhoods to focus on because of the proximity to the Guru office and public transportation. Have suggestions of places to add in these neighborhoods? We're all ears!