Philadelphia Official Visitors Guide - Spring/Summer 2024

Anchored by the Pennsylvania Convention Center, this bustling district is where culture, collaboration, and commerce converge.

DO: Take the City Hall Tower Tour and get a panoramic view of Philadelphia from 548 feet above ground. Tour the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the oldest art museum and art school in the nation. Walk under the Friendship Gate, a gift from Philadelphia’s sister city of Tianjin, which welcomes visitors to Chinatown. Visit the free Fabric Workshop and Museum, a modern art-exhibition space with a unique artist-in-residence program that showcases one-of-a-kind collaborations with internationally renowned artists.

DINE: Satisfy just about any craving at the historic Reading Terminal Market, home to more than 80 independent vendors and 30 eateries. Grab a drink at McGillin’s Olde Ale House — the city’s oldest continuously operating tavern — or settle in at a speakeasy and have a nightcap at Hop Sing Laundromat. Savor the best duck in the city in Chinatown’s local favorite, Sang Kee Peking Duck House.

A European-like park in the middle of Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square is known for its picturesque plaza, upscale shopping, and alfresco dining.

DO: Home to a collection of more than 25,000 medical specimens and instruments, the iconic Mütter Museum is dedicated to displaying fascinating discoveries about the human body. The Rosenbach Museum holds a private collection of noted rare books, including the only surviving copy of Benjamin Franklin’s first “Poor Richard’s Almanack” and Bram Stoker’s notes for “Dracula.” For latenight fun, reserve a ping-pong table at SPIN Philadelphia, a ping-pong social club.

DINE: Enjoy a Parisian-brasserie experience at Parc, complete with outdoor seating along the square. Gran Caffè L’Aquila serves authentic Italian delicacies from a building moved to Philadelphia from Italy. Indulge in a holistic journey at Ancient Spirits and Grille, where your dinner is built based on your dosha — personality traits.

The pulse of Washington Square West in Philadelphia is always beating as lively dining, entrancing performances, and vibrant nightlife fill this quaint, historic neighborhood.

DO: Founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond, Pennsylvania Hospital is the nation’s first hospital and boasts the inaugural surgical amphitheater and medical library, both viewable on tours of the historic Pine Building. Headlining Broad Street, Ensemble Arts Philly is a collection of performing arts venues, including the Academy of Music and the Miller Theater, where visiting Broadway tours perform. The campus is also home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, one of America’s “Big Five” symphony orchestras.

DINE: Unexpected interpretations of Mexican classics join traditional cooking on the expansive menu at El Vez. Time is a luxurious triple threat with a restaurant, whiskey bar, and jazz lounge all under one roof. Home to iconic LGBTQ+ bars, the night is always still young when venturing out in the Gayborhood. At Tabu, catching a drag show is as common as catching the big game at this dynamic sports bar.

Stroll along charming cobblestone streets and explore trendy boutiques and art galleries as you discover America’s spirit on a sunny day in Old City.

DO: Experience history first-hand at Independence Mall, including the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. At the Museum of the American Revolution, visitors discover the history of the American Revolution with all-ages exhibits that include George Washington’s actual war tent. Or explore the mind-bending Museum of Illusions’ holograms, optical trickery, and immersive rooms.

DINE: A giant golden Buddha greets diners at Stephen Starr’s Buddakan, serving Asianfusion dishes and drinks in a hip dining room. Located inside the landmark Old Original Bookbinder’s, The Olde Bar is a contemporary oyster bar and cocktail lounge steeped in the city’s nautical traditions. Dine at James Beardaward winner Chef Jose Garces’ Amada, specializing in Spanish tapas. For dessert, order scoops of ice cream made on-site from an authentic turn-of-the-century parlor setting at the Franklin Fountain.

Just north of Center City, the art-inspired neighborhoods of Northern Liberties and Fishtown are home to eclectic restaurants, craft breweries, and vibrant live-music venues.

DO: Peruse and purchase literature celebrating female writers, activists, and artists at Black-owned Harriett’s Bookshop. In the evening, visit Fabrika, a dinner theater with nightly performances, including circus and cabaret acts. To enjoy more live entertainment, catch rising acts at Johnny Brenda’s, Ortlieb’s, The Fire, or Heritage.

DINE: Laser Wolf serves visitors a salatim spread of Israeli delicacies made on a charcoal grill, intensifying its subjects’ flavor. The charming Elwood serves family-style entrees celebrating heirloom recipes from Pennsylvania’s culinary history. German for “fat pig,” Fette Sau redefines barbecue with high-quality, locally sourced meats, dryrubbed and smoked on the premises.

A mile-long red carpet of world-renowned museums lines the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the Fairmount neighborhood. Steps away from these cultural centers, visitors enjoy beautiful green spaces and a thriving food scene.

DO: See impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modern art at the Barnes Foundation. Then venture to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to take in exhibits spanning 2,000 years from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The Thinker welcomes visitors to the Rodin Museum, the largest collection of Auguste Rodin's works outside of France. Stroll through Eastern State Penitentiary's haunting halls, kept in “preserved ruin,” to learn about former inhabitants, including Al Capone.

DINE: Atop the Logan Hotel is Assembly, a rooftop bar with picturesque views that serves equally stunning craft cocktails and charcuterie. On Fairmount Avenue, Bar Hygge is a cozy brewpub focusing on neighborhood comfort food. Grab a burger and a beer at City Tap House, whose menu features bar favorites and brick-oven pizza.

Home to the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University campuses, West Philadelphia is a folksy neighborhood with diverse restaurants and community pride.

DO: On the University of Pennsylvania campus, explore priceless archaeological artifacts from around the globe — including the largest sphinx in the Western Hemisphere — at the Penn Museum. Take in a theater, dance, or world-music performance at Penn Live Arts and view installations from up-and-coming artists at the Institute of Contemporary Art, home of Andy Warhol’s first solo show.

DINE: Reserve a table or grab a quick snack to go from Walnut Street Café, which prepares hot American plates, breakfast through dinner. A European bistro, Louie Louie is known as one of the most beautiful restaurants in America. Baltimore Avenue is the go-to street for international dining, lined with Indian, Mediterranean, Mexican, and Thai cuisine, such as Booker’s Restaurant & Bar, serving a worldly take on traditional Southern-inspired dishes.

South Philadelphia blends its residents’ rich cultural heritage with its own unique flavors.

DO: A mix of traditional charm and modern eccentricity, East Passyunk Avenue is filled with neighborhood-favorite bars, restaurants, and independent shops. Bask in the reflections of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, a mesmerizing mixed-media tiled labyrinth. Head down to scenic FDR Park for a day out in the sun and visit the American Swedish Historical Museum, which celebrates Swedish heritage and culture in America.

DINE: Bánh Mì and Bottles offers 12 rotating unique craft beers on tap and authentic Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist. Known for their homemade pasta, Gnocchi lovingly creates Italian food from scratch. River Twice is dedicated to sustainably sharing the region’s bounty through a menu of highquality local ingredients.

Just minutes outside of Center City, Germantown, Manayunk, East Falls, Chestnut Hill, and Mt. Airy are charming neighborhoods with lively main streets, boutique shopping, and restaurants with a homey feel.

DO: Survey the 16 early American sites of Historic Germantown and learn about the Revolutionary War battle fought there. Take advantage of tax-free shopping at the boutique shops in delightful Chestnut Hill or along Main Street Manayunk. Admire the Morris Arboretum & Gardens, where nature’s wonders unfold amid meticulously curated plant collections.

DINE: At Jansen in Mt. Airy, Chef David Jansen serves contemporary- American dishes with classical French techniques in a lovely 18th-century cottage. The area is also home to one of the top-ranked classic cheesesteaks at Dalessandro’s Steaks and Hoagies.

From New Jersey to the Countryside of Philadelphia, the expansive regions surrounding the city offer an abundance of attractions that are perfect for a day trip.

DO: Take the short trip to the Countryside of Philadelphia and be rewarded with rich, rolling hills and inviting towns. At Brandywine Valley, explore the expansive grounds of Longwood Gardens, complete with ethereal indoor and outdoor gardens featuring seasonal displays. Explore the Mushroom Capital of the World, Kennett Square, to find a walkable downtown with local shops and restaurants. Experience the life of a pilot and climb into militaristic and commercial aircrafts at the American Helicopter Museum.

Along the shores of the Delaware River in Camden, New Jersey, is the most-decorated battleship in U.S. history, the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial. Climb up and down ladders, navigate narrow passageways and go out with a bang by firing the Saluting Gun. Nearby, visit the Adventure Aquarium to enter an underwater world, home to more than 7,000 fish species, and walk on a bridge suspended over a shark tank.