Guidebook for Philadelphia
Food Scene in My Area
Bar/restaurant with great Mexican food and drinks on the cheap. The nachos are massive and only $5 during Happy Hour! The brunch is also killer ($5 Bloody Mary's during "brunch Happy Hour"). On one random night every week, all the tacos are $1 EACH (check their Facebook or Instagram to find out which night)
167 locals recommend
Loco Pez
2401 E Norris StBar/restaurant with great Mexican food and drinks on the cheap. The nachos are massive and only $5 during Happy Hour! The brunch is also killer ($5 Bloody Mary's during "brunch Happy Hour"). On one random night every week, all the tacos are $1 EACH (check their Facebook or Instagram to find out which night)
Outdoor deck seating and cool interior. The veggie wings are great, especially during Happy Hour when they're (I think) $5!
59 locals recommend
Cedar Point Bar & Kitchen
2370 E Norris StOutdoor deck seating and cool interior. The veggie wings are great, especially during Happy Hour when they're (I think) $5!
BBQ and Tex-Mex menus. Great for meat-lovers and vegetarians (the latter should try the veggie wings or the seitan cheesesteak). Outdoor seating and cheap margarita pitchers during happy hour.
48 locals recommend
El Camino Real Restaurant
1040 N 2nd StBBQ and Tex-Mex menus. Great for meat-lovers and vegetarians (the latter should try the veggie wings or the seitan cheesesteak). Outdoor seating and cheap margarita pitchers during happy hour.
One of my favorite menus in the area, for both dinner and brunch. Bar/restaurant downstairs, music venue upstairs.
20 locals recommend
Bourbon & Branch
705 N 2nd StOne of my favorite menus in the area, for both dinner and brunch. Bar/restaurant downstairs, music venue upstairs.
Honey's Sit 'N Eat
2101 South StBrunch all day every day. Southern comfort-food influenced.
Que Chula Es Puebla Inc
1356 N 2nd StAwesome traditional Mexican food. BYO.
Beautiful (and huge) coffee shop with amazing decor. Features a Steve Powers mural inside. They also sell coffee-infused rum that is distilled on-site.
334 locals recommend
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
1335 Frankford AveBeautiful (and huge) coffee shop with amazing decor. Features a Steve Powers mural inside. They also sell coffee-infused rum that is distilled on-site.
Some of the best BBQ you will ever eat, even if you're from the South like myself. Check out their happy-hour that features reduced-price pork sandwiches and $5 Old Fashions and Manhattans
140 locals recommend
Fette Sau
1208 Frankford AveSome of the best BBQ you will ever eat, even if you're from the South like myself. Check out their happy-hour that features reduced-price pork sandwiches and $5 Old Fashions and Manhattans
Great pizza and home to the world’s largest collection of pizza-memorabilia (as certified by Guinness Records). And Little Baby's Ice Cream is right next door!
111 locals recommend
Pizza Brain
2313 Frankford AveGreat pizza and home to the world’s largest collection of pizza-memorabilia (as certified by Guinness Records). And Little Baby's Ice Cream is right next door!
Fusion asian noodle shop with creative takes on ramen, dumplings etc.
40 locals recommend
Cheu Fishtown
1416 Frankford AveFusion asian noodle shop with creative takes on ramen, dumplings etc.
Bar, coffeeshop, and restaurant, all-in-one. Very nice patio area and a comfy upstairs that's great for working on a laptop.
112 locals recommend
Front Street Cafe
1253 N Front StBar, coffeeshop, and restaurant, all-in-one. Very nice patio area and a comfy upstairs that's great for working on a laptop.
Hip counter-serve spot for locally sourced salads, stir-fries & fruit-honey desserts.
Honeygrow Test Kitchen
Hip counter-serve spot for locally sourced salads, stir-fries & fruit-honey desserts.
Walk-up taqueria for fusion tacos, burritos & quesadillas, with late weekend hours & outdoor seats. Cash only but they have an ATM.
26 locals recommend
Heffe Tacos
1431 Frankford AveWalk-up taqueria for fusion tacos, burritos & quesadillas, with late weekend hours & outdoor seats. Cash only but they have an ATM.
Bars & Nightlife
One of the original "cool spots" in Fishtown, this place is a solid bar/restaurant and live music venue (upstairs) that hosts lots of great acts. Great food, decor, & outdoor seating. Also, pool table
248 locals recommend
Johnny Brenda's
1201 Frankford AveOne of the original "cool spots" in Fishtown, this place is a solid bar/restaurant and live music venue (upstairs) that hosts lots of great acts. Great food, decor, & outdoor seating. Also, pool table
The quintessential Fishtown dive bar. No food. Just cheap booze, jukebox, and karaoke some nights. $2.25 PBR tall boys all the time. Back yard. Dogs are usually allowed, even inside.
45 locals recommend
El Bar
1356 N Front StThe quintessential Fishtown dive bar. No food. Just cheap booze, jukebox, and karaoke some nights. $2.25 PBR tall boys all the time. Back yard. Dogs are usually allowed, even inside.
Huge selection of beers for takeout. It's also a bar/restaurant in the back.
62 locals recommend
Bottle Bar East
1308 Frankford AveHuge selection of beers for takeout. It's also a bar/restaurant in the back.
Beer garden that is simultaneously indoor & outdoor, complete with fire-pits and games like table tennis & foozball, and Jenga sets on all the tables.
275 locals recommend
Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford AveBeer garden that is simultaneously indoor & outdoor, complete with fire-pits and games like table tennis & foozball, and Jenga sets on all the tables.
Fishtown Tavern
1301 Frankford AveEssentials
Basically a fancy bodega with great made-to-order food (try the falafel) and basic groceries. Good amount of health/vegan grocery options.
26 locals recommend
Liberty Choice
1939 N Front StBasically a fancy bodega with great made-to-order food (try the falafel) and basic groceries. Good amount of health/vegan grocery options.
Great shop for organic, locally-sourced produce. Also happens to be owned by my friend, and an all-around amazing human, Vincent Finazzo.
43 locals recommend
Riverwards Produce Market
2200 E Norris StGreat shop for organic, locally-sourced produce. Also happens to be owned by my friend, and an all-around amazing human, Vincent Finazzo.
ACME Markets
1400 E Passyunk AveStandard large supermarket. They also sell beer.
Big selection of wine and Liquor. You can get beer upstairs at the ACME supermarket.
43 locals recommend
Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection
180 W Girard AveBig selection of wine and Liquor. You can get beer upstairs at the ACME supermarket.
Other Entertainment
Indoor BYOB Miniature Golf Course and Arcade. Enough said.
20 locals recommend
Keystone Mini-Golf & Arcade
161 Cecil B. Moore AveIndoor BYOB Miniature Golf Course and Arcade. Enough said.
Urban Axes Philadelphia
2019 E Boston StGet drunk and throw axes.
Trendy bowling alley with a full bar + pool & other games upstairs. Lower priced bowling on Sun and Wed nights
104 locals recommend
North Bowl Lounge n Lanes
909 N 2nd StTrendy bowling alley with a full bar + pool & other games upstairs. Lower priced bowling on Sun and Wed nights
Shops
Jinxed Fishtown
1331 Frankford AveVintage furniture and collectibles at amazingly low prices.
Indie Photo
206 E Girard AveFilm development, supplies, and gallery
DiPinto Guitars
407 E Girard AveLocal guitar shop with custom builds
Sightseeing
One of the best art museums around, but it's massive, so budget your time. The contemporary wing is awesome, and houses the largest collection of Marcel Duchamp work in the world
1164 locals recommend
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin PkwyOne of the best art museums around, but it's massive, so budget your time. The contemporary wing is awesome, and houses the largest collection of Marcel Duchamp work in the world
Massive food market with basically any type of food you can think of. Not the best for indecisive people like myself, but def a fun place to wander through and/or eat
739 locals recommend
Reading Terminal Market
1136 N 12th StMassive food market with basically any type of food you can think of. Not the best for indecisive people like myself, but def a fun place to wander through and/or eat
Better known as the Mutter Museum, if you're into medical oddities from generations past, this is your spot.
333 locals recommend
First Food Market
116 S 21st StBetter known as the Mutter Museum, if you're into medical oddities from generations past, this is your spot.
Possibly the best private collection of post-impressionist and early-modern art in the world. Features 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 16 Modiglianis, 7 Van Goghs, etc etc
560 locals recommend
Barnes
2025 Benjamin Franklin PkwyPossibly the best private collection of post-impressionist and early-modern art in the world. Features 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 16 Modiglianis, 7 Van Goghs, etc etc
Who knew Philadelphia had a Japanese tea house, eh? Well indeed it does, hiding within the beautiful and expansive Fairmount Park.
20 locals recommend
Japanese House and Garden
Who knew Philadelphia had a Japanese tea house, eh? Well indeed it does, hiding within the beautiful and expansive Fairmount Park.
Park by the river with tons of hammocks, games, food trucks, and a floating beer garden on the water. Some nights, they have free concerts as well. Best on weekdays, if you want a chance at finding an open hammock.
317 locals recommend
Spruce Street Harbor Park
301 S Christopher Columbus BlvdPark by the river with tons of hammocks, games, food trucks, and a floating beer garden on the water. Some nights, they have free concerts as well. Best on weekdays, if you want a chance at finding an open hammock.
Philadelphia City Hall
1400 John F Kennedy BlvdAmazing example of early American architecture
Gothic-style prison-turned-attraction with tours of Al Capone's cell, exhibits & a haunted house in Halloween season
433 locals recommend
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount AveGothic-style prison-turned-attraction with tours of Al Capone's cell, exhibits & a haunted house in Halloween season
Insane folk art sculpture garden created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar
385 locals recommend
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
1020 South StInsane folk art sculpture garden created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar
Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S 36th StGreat contemporary art museum with FREE admission
FDR Skatepark
Pattison AvenueLegendary skate park under the freeway.
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
532 N 7th StAdventure Aquarium
1 Riverside DrCoffee shops
Beautiful (and huge) coffee shop with amazing decor. Features a Steve Powers mural inside. They also sell alcoholic options like draft lattes, and coffee-infused rum that is distilled on-site.
334 locals recommend
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
1335 Frankford AveBeautiful (and huge) coffee shop with amazing decor. Features a Steve Powers mural inside. They also sell alcoholic options like draft lattes, and coffee-infused rum that is distilled on-site.
ReAnimator Coffee
1523 E Susquehanna AveLocal micro roasters that source and roast their own beans
Closest shop to my loft--it's on the same block. Also has good sandwiches. Only open in the mornings, they close at 2pm most days.
9 locals recommend
Buzz Cafe Philly
1800 N Howard StClosest shop to my loft--it's on the same block. Also has good sandwiches. Only open in the mornings, they close at 2pm most days.