I feel that Philly’s food scene continues to be somewhat slept on, likely thanks in part to the city’s proximity to the foodie mecca that is New York City. But that may change soon with the Michelin Guide finally coming to town! Now who am I to say what the best restaurant, coffee shop, or bar is in all of Philadelphia? I’m not a magazine with a review budget or dozens of staff members to send around to all the hot spots around the city. It’s just me, and whoever I can drag along (which usually just ends up being my husband).
I will say that I haven’t had a chance to check out some Philly “hot spots” yet like Zahav, Friday Saturday Sunday, or Kalaya, but I plan to! Maybe they’ll make a future updated favorites list. So if you’re looking for a “Best of…” list, they’re a dime a dozen and you’ll find them all over the internet with a simple Google search. This list, on the other hand, includes all of my personal favorite places in this city I’ve called home since 2020.
Breakfast & Brunch
Cake – 8501 Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill.
Who wouldn’t want to eat breakfast in a converted Victorian greenhouse? This cute BYOB cafe and bakery is just off the main street and because of all the windows it can sometimes be a little hot or cold depending on the weather. Make sure to ask about the quiche of the day!
Jerry’s Bar – 129 W Laurel Street, Northern Liberties.
While it’s also a great place for dinner, happy hour or trivia, my favorite time to go to Jerry’s is for brunch. Their mimosa flavors (along with the rest of the menu) at this bistro are always changing based on the season, but I’d have to say the blueberry lavender is by far my favorite.
Mia Ragazza – 4411 Main Street, Manayunk.
Four words: cacio e pepe fries. If that’s not enough, this Italian restaurant is another spot with great mimosas (some even come with sorbet!). To be fair, you can’t go wrong with dinner here either – check out my full post here.
One Shot Coffee – 217 W George Street, Northern Liberties.
We lived across the street from One Shot when we first moved to Philadelphia and quickly became regulars. Along with coffee and pastries, they also serve an ever-changing variety of burritos, toasts, and breakfast sandwiches. The second floor has plenty of tables and even a small library/couch area, making it a great spot to read or get some work done. And on the weekends they do a BYOB brunch!
Cafe Walnut – 703 Walnut Street, Washington Square West.
I literally dream about the spicy pork breakfast sandwich from this sibling-run Korean cafe. It’s probably for the best that I don’t live closer, or I’d be tempted to get one every day! It’s arguably one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the city.
Rowhome Coffee – 2536 Pine Street, Fitler Square.
Rowhome Coffee has my other favorite Philly breakfast sandwich, plus great La Colombe coffee. Your bacon (or sausage), egg, and cheese are nestled in the middle of a Philly soft pretzel. Yummm. There’s not a ton of seating here, and sandwiches are made-to-order so sometimes it can get a little crowded with people waiting. They also have a second location up in Fishtown.
Check out every Philly coffee shop I’ve tried so far here!
Bars & Restaurants
Philadelphia Distilling – 25 E Allen Street, Fishtown.
This gin distillery is hands down my favorite place in all of Philadelphia. If you aren’t usually a fan of gin (like me) you should give Philly Distilling a try, as their American-style gin is significantly less juniper heavy. I love it here so much that I’ve already dedicated an entire post to it that you can read here.
Dim Sum Garden – 1024 Race Street, Chinatown.
I can’t speak to the experience of eating in the actual restaurant (which relocated and underwent a major renovation in late 2024) as we only ever order food to-go. But their soup dumplings and scallion pancakes have become a new years eve tradition in our household. They’re well known in the city for a reason!
Taqueria Amor – 4410 Main Street, Manayunk.
While Philly may have plenty of other Mexican spots that are a lot more authentic, I have a soft spot for Taqueria Amor. Probably my favorite thing about this place is the themed pop-ups – from the ones they do every year for Halloween and Christmas, to specials like the Taylor Swift Love Story event in 2024 to celebrate her new album. They switch up the decor and food/drink specials to match the theme!
Fiorella Pasta – 817 Christian Street, Bella Vista.
This Italian restaurant in South Philly used to be a sausage shop! Now instead of a meat display you can sit at the chef’s counter and watch your delicious pasta being made. It’s a pretty small space, with just a few tables inside. So if you’re big on sharing multiple plates like we are, definitely reserve a counter seat as there’s more room than at the small tables. I haven’t done it yet, but they also have a pasta club on the 2nd floor with a set menu.
Harp & Crown – 1525 Sansom Street, Rittenhouse Square.
Probably one of my favorite happy hours in Philly is at the gastropub Harp & Crown. Even if you’re just stopping in for drinks, make sure to at least order the mac & cheese. The flavor reminds me of a pierogi! So good. They’ve even got a small 2-lane bowling alley and speakeasy lounge in the basement.
Charlie was a sinner. – 131 S 13th Street, Midtown Village.
I haven’t had a single cocktail here that wasn’t perfection. My personal favorite? The Black Pearl – rum, italian vermouth, and amari. I’ve only ever stopped in here for drinks, but I’ve heard they have one of the best vegan small plates menus in the city! It’s pretty small inside, so if you’re heading here on a weekend night you should probably make a reservation!
The Goat’s Beard – 4201 Main Street, Manayunk.
I’d walked by this New American restaurant dozens of times before finally stopping in for dinner, and I wish I’d gone sooner! It’s safe to say I’m obsessed with the Smoke Show: a Detroit style pizza topped with ricotta, mozzarella, pepperoni and sausage. This cozy little spot tends to be super busy on weekend evenings, so I’d suggest making a reservation just to be safe.
Double Knot – 120 S 13th Street, Midtown Village.
This Japanese sushi and izakaya bar is one of my favorite date night or special occasion dinner. Get the chef’s tasting menu, you won’t be disappointed. Our last experience was so amazing that I wrote a whole separate post about it! It’s actually just across the street from Charlie is a sinner, so you could easily hop between the two places.
Standard Tap – 901 N 2nd Street, Northern Liberties.
When we lived in Northern Liberties, Standard Tap was one of our go-to’s for dinner and happy hour. This cozy 2-story pub has over 20 beers on tap that rotate seasonally. Their second floor deck is the perfect place to enjoy a warm summer day. You can also play a game of pool on the first floor!
Desserts & Pastries
C&C Creamery – 5461 Ridge Avenue, Roxborough.
Open since 1955, C&C offers ice cream cones and sundaes, along with water ice and ice cream cakes! (Just make sure to order your cake in advance.) I almost always get a salty caramel pretzel cone or a coffee milkshake. Unlike a lot of other ice cream places in the city, C&C has a drive through window. But it gets VERY busy and you don’t want to be the jerk blocking the road while you wait to get into the lot!
Dottie’s Donuts – Multiple Locations Across Philadelphia.
I’d never had a vegan donut before Dottie’s, but now I’m sold. I think we grab a small pizza box full of donuts at least once a month (if not more). You’ll find them in multiple locations around Philly including Center City, Wissahickon, Fishtown, and University City.
Gran Caffe L’Aquila – 1716 Chestnut Street, Rittenhouse Square.
While you can also get dinner here, the main draw for me is the gelato and espresso martinis! The staff behind the bar are so nice and friendly that it makes it hard to leave!
Where’s your favorite spot to eat or grab a drink in Philadelphia?
Let me know in the comments!
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