Planning a trip to Philadelphia? Having explored Philly’s food scene firsthand and visited over 73 countries, I can say this city is a hidden gem for food lovers. From iconic cheesesteak spots in South Philly to rooftop bars with views of the historic skyline, Philly’s dining options are as exciting as they are diverse.
With its rich American heritage and ever-evolving food culture, you’ll find everything from classic hoagies to inventive dishes blending international flavors with local twists. Whether you’re in the mood for a casual pub crawl through Fishtown or a chic dinner overlooking City Hall, these 20 restaurants showcase the best of Philly’s unique food scene. Let’s dive into the most fun and memorable spots this city has to offer!
- 👉 Pro Tip: I HIGHLY recommend doing this Flavors of Philly Food Tour. They bring you to the five amazing eateries in the heart of the city where you can try Philly cheesesteaks, tomato pies, soft pretzels, and more. This tour is an absolute must-do on any Philadelphia itinerary in my opinion.
20 Most Unique Restaurants in Philadelphia at a Glance
Philly’s food scene is a bit of a wildcard, ranging from opera-singing servers to rooftop pasta spots hidden inside old school buildings.
This quick breakdown highlights the top ten places that bring something truly different to the table, whether it’s a specific mood or a ritual you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
| Restaurant | Best For | What Makes It Unique | Neighborhood |
| 1. The Victor Cafe | Opera lovers | Servers sing opera arias roughly every 20 minutes in a 1933 dining room featured in Rocky Balboa and Creed. | South Philly |
| 2. Tattooed Mom | Street art fans | A graffiti-covered South Street bar with $4 draft happy hour and a big vegan menu. | South Street |
| 3. Her Place Supper Club | Intimate dinners | A Michelin-starred, 24-seat supper club where every table is served each course at the same time. | Rittenhouse |
| 4. Irwin’s | Scenic Sicilian | Authentic pasta served on the 8th floor of a converted school with a skyline view. | South Philly |
| 5. Royal Sushi and Izakaya | Sushi fans | A James Beard Award-winning chef’s hidden omakase counter behind a lively, Michelin Bib Gourmand izakaya. | Queen Village |
| 6. Craft Hall | Families & Groups | A 35,000-square-foot brewery and BBQ hall with an indoor pirate ship playground and dog-friendly beer garden. | Northern Liberties |
| 7. The Olde Bar | History buffs | Located in the landmark Old Original Bookbinder’s building with a grand raw bar. | Old City |
| 8. Suraya | Garden dining | A Michelin Recommended Lebanese restaurant, café, and market with a large outdoor garden and wood-fired grill. | Fishtown |
| 9. Angelo’s Pizzeria | Authentic Philly | A cash-only, Michelin Bib Gourmand takeout shop where the long line is part of the ritual. | South Philly |
| 10. Talula’s Garden | Romantic dates | A hidden garden courtyard and a six-cheese “Master Class” board on a seasonal Mid-Atlantic menu. | Washington Square West |
This snapshot covers the heavy hitters for atmosphere and originality, but it’s just the starting point for a full city tour. Keep reading for the deep dive into all 20 eateries, where we break down the must-order dishes and local secrets for every neighborhood on the map.
1. The Olde Bar
- 📍 Location: Old City
- 💲 Price range: $30 – $70 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Classic Oyster Bar / Contemporary American Seafood
- 🔥 Standout Features: Historic Old Original Bookbinder’s building, classic seafood preparations, raw bar, sophisticated cocktails, grand ambiance.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Oyster lovers, seafood connoisseurs, experiencing Philadelphia history, upscale happy hour, and classic cocktails.
Step into a piece of Philadelphia history at The Olde Bar, located in the iconic former Old Original Bookbinder’s space. This grand oyster bar and cocktail lounge exudes old-world charm with a contemporary polish, perfect for savoring fresh seafood and classic drinks.
Shucking a dozen fresh oysters from their extensive raw bar is a great start. Their classic snapper soup or a perfectly made shrimp cocktail also pay homage to the building’s legacy. The elegant atmosphere makes it ideal for a sophisticated bite.
2. Suraya Restaurant
- 📍 Location: Fishtown (1528 Frankford Ave.)
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $80 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Lebanese / Levantine
- 🔥 Standout Features: Michelin Recommended, large outdoor garden, wood-fired grill, café and market, Lebanese wine list
- 🎯 Perfect For: Group dinners, weekend brunch, garden dining
Suraya is a Lebanese restaurant, café, market, and garden under one roof on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown. The Michelin Guide added it to its Recommended list in November 2025, Philadelphia’s first year in the guide. Siblings Nathalie Richan and Roland Kassis named it after their grandmother in Beirut.
Dinner centers on mezze and dishes from the wood-fired grill, all meant for sharing. For a first visit, I recommend the $75 tasting menu, which brings a spread of mezze with warm pita plus your choice of main. The muhammara is my favorite dip, and the dry-aged ribeye is the main I’d pick.
Every cocktail is named after the words of Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, and the wine list has one of the city’s biggest selections of Château Musar. For brunch, I’d order the pastry basket, which comes loaded with house-made French and Levantine pastries. Brunch is Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and I’d reserve ahead on Resy because it fills up fast.
Lunch is Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner starts at 5 p.m. every night. I’d request a garden table on mild fall evenings, and the indoor fireplace makes the dining room a cozy pick in winter. Suraya is a short walk from Girard Station on SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line, with street parking on Frankford Avenue and Front Street.
3. Talula’s Garden
- 📍 Location: Washington Square West (210 W. Washington Square)
- 💲 Price range: $60 – $100 per person with a drink
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Seasonal Farm-to-Table American
- 🔥 Standout Features: Garden courtyard dining, six-cheese tasting board, Sunday brunch, seasonal fall desserts
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, anniversaries, Sunday brunch, cheese lovers
Talula’s Garden sits behind a wrought iron gate on Washington Square, with a garden courtyard for outdoor dining and warm rooms inside. Restaurateur Aimee Olexy operates it with Starr Restaurants, and the menu changes with the seasons using local Mid-Atlantic ingredients. Philadelphia magazine has named it the city’s best restaurant for a first date, and I’d book it for any date night or anniversary.
Start with The Master Class, a board of six artisan cheeses with candied nuts, honey, and house-made jam for $25. Cheese is what Talula’s is known for, and the board comes with a short lesson on each pick. For a main, I like the crispy spatchcock chicken with brown butter gnocchi ($38) or the lamb Bolognese with handmade pappardelle ($35).
Sunday brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the shrimp and grits ($26) is my pick. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. on weekdays and 4 p.m. on weekends, with indoor and outdoor seating. I’d book through OpenTable and ask for a garden table when the weather is mild.
The fall dessert menu has warm spiced cider donuts and a pumpkin blondie skillet, and I’d save room for one. Entrées range from $30 to $52, and dinner with a starter and a cocktail comes to about $75 per person before tip. Washington Square is right outside the gate if you want a short walk after your meal.
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- Read reviews of Talula’s Garden
- Read Next: 12 Mind-Blowing Places in Philadelphia
4. Her Place Supper Club
- 📍 Location: Rittenhouse (1740 Sansom St.)
- 💲 Price range: $110 set menu per person, plus drinks, tax, and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: French and Italian Set Menu
- 🔥 Standout Features: One Michelin star, dinner party format, menu changes every two weeks, 24 seats
- 🎯 Perfect For: Food lovers, special occasions, small groups of up to six
Her Place Supper Club is chef Amanda Shulman’s 24-seat restaurant on Sansom Street, set up like a dinner party at a friend’s home. In November 2025, it became one of the first three restaurants in Philadelphia to earn a Michelin star. Every table gets each course at the same time, and the staff explains each dish to the whole room.
The only option is a multi-course set menu for $110 per person, with French and Italian cooking that changes every two weeks. Michelin’s inspectors praised the sauces, like the beurre blanc served with house-made chitarra pasta and clams. The kitchen can’t accommodate dietary restrictions or substitutions, and outside bottles aren’t allowed.
Reservations drop on OpenTable at 6 p.m. ET on the third Sunday of each month, covering the following month. I recommend logging into the OpenTable app and saving your card beforehand, because tables disappear quickly. If you miss out, join the Notify list or book Shulman’s other restaurant, My Loup, which is Michelin Recommended.
Her Place is open Monday through Friday, with seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and a maximum party of six. Cancellations within 48 hours are charged the full $110 per person plus gratuity and tax. The November 15, 2026 drop covers December, and I’d set a reminder if you’re planning a holiday visit.
5. Royal Sushi and Izakaya
- 📍 Location: Queen Village (780 S. 2nd St.)
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $80 per person (izakaya); $355 omakase, service included
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese Izakaya and Omakase Sushi
- 🔥 Standout Features: James Beard Award-winning chef, Michelin Bib Gourmand, hidden eight-seat omakase counter, large sake and Japanese whisky list
- 🎯 Perfect For: Sushi lovers, late-night eats, special occasions
Royal Sushi and Izakaya is two restaurants behind one blue door on 2nd Street, marked only by a red lantern out front. Chef Jesse Ito won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in June, after nine nominations. The Michelin Guide also gave the front izakaya a Bib Gourmand in its first Philadelphia edition.
The front room is a lively Japanese pub serving sushi, sashimi, and grilled and fried small plates. I’d order the karaage wings and the broiled eggplant with sweet miso glaze, then add a few pieces of nigiri. The bar is walk-in only, and it pours one of the deepest sake and Japanese whisky lists in Philly.
Behind a curtain in the back sits Royal Sushi, an eight-seat counter serving about 16 courses for $355 per person, service included. Seatings are Tuesday through Saturday at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., for parties of two or four. Reservations open on Resy 30 days in advance, and I’d join the Notify list if your date is full.
Cancellations need at least 72 hours’ notice. I expect the omakase to get even harder to book after Ito’s James Beard win and Michelin’s next Philadelphia results on December 14, 2026. If you can’t get a seat, try Dancerobot, Ito’s ’80s-inspired izakaya in Center City.
- Visit the Royal Sushi and Izakaya website
- Read reviews of Royal Sushi and Izakaya
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6. Friday Saturday Sunday
- 📍 Location: Rittenhouse (261 S. 21st St.)
- 💲 Price range: $195 tasting menu per person, prepaid; à la carte menu at the bar
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Contemporary American Tasting Menu
- 🔥 Standout Features: One Michelin star, 2023 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant, award-nominated cocktail bar, two-story townhouse
- 🎯 Perfect For: Anniversaries, special occasions, cocktail lovers
Friday Saturday Sunday is a Rittenhouse townhouse restaurant that chef Chad Williams and his wife Hanna took over in 2015 and turned into one of Philly’s top tasting-menu spots. It won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2023 and earned one of the city’s first Michelin stars in November 2025. The downstairs bar was also a finalist for Outstanding Bar at the 2026 James Beard Awards.
Dinner is a multi-course tasting menu for $195 per person, prepaid, served in the cozy dining room upstairs. The menu changes with the seasons, and the crispy sweetbreads are the signature dish Michelin’s inspectors singled out. I’d plan on at least two hours and add the wine pairing for a big celebration.
Reservations for the entire following month open on the first of each month at 10 a.m. on OpenTable. Tables go fast, and December 1 is the date to watch for January 2027 dinners. If you miss out, the downstairs bar is first come, first served, with an à la carte menu and some of the best cocktails in Philly.
The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday, and the dining room is on the second floor with no elevator. Guests with limited mobility can order the full dinner menu at the bar. Street parking is scarce, and I’d take a rideshare or use the lot at 20th and Walnut Streets.
7. Angelo’s Pizzeria South Philly
- 📍 Location: Bella Vista / Italian Market (736 S. 9th St.)
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Italian-American Pizzeria and Sandwich Shop
- 🔥 Standout Features: Michelin Bib Gourmand, house-baked seeded rolls, upside-down Sicilian pizza, cash only, takeout only
- 🎯 Perfect For: Cheesesteak hunters, pizza lovers, casual lunches
Angelo’s Pizzeria is a cash-only takeout shop on 9th Street near the Italian Market, and it’s one of three cheesesteak spots to earn a Michelin Bib Gourmand in Philly’s first guide. Owner Danny DiGiampietro bakes his own sesame-seed rolls, and I think they’re a big reason his sandwiches stand out. Expect a line out the door at almost any hour.
My order is the cheesesteak with Cooper Sharp and hot cherry peppers, which starts around $17. One sandwich can easily feed two people, and Michelin’s inspectors said the same. For pizza, I’d get the upside-down Sicilian, a thick square pie with the sauce on top, and plan on sharing because one pie feeds a group.
Angelo’s doesn’t take phone orders, and you’ll order at the counter inside before joining the pickup line. Waits of 30 to 60 minutes are common, and I’d go mid-afternoon on a weekday to cut the wait. There’s an ATM on-site if you forget cash.
There’s no indoor seating, and I’d take your food to nearby Palumbo Park or the benches around the block. Angelo’s is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed Monday and Tuesday. If you’d rather skip the line, Angelo’s is on Uber Eats, though prices are higher than in-store and hoagies aren’t available.
8. Kalaya
- 📍 Location: Fishtown (4 W. Palmer St.)
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $90 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Southern Thai
- 🔥 Standout Features: 2026 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant, Michelin Recommended, family-style sharing plates, full bar
- 🎯 Perfect For: Groups, spice lovers, celebration dinners
Kalaya won the 2026 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in June, the highest honor a restaurant can earn at the Beards. Chef Nok Suntaranon named it after her mother and cooks the Southern Thai food she grew up with in Trang, Thailand. It’s also on the Michelin Guide’s Recommended list, and Nok won her own James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2023.
The menu is built for sharing, and I’d order more dishes than you think you need. Start with the dumplings, then add a curry and a herb-packed salad for the table. The crab curry is my splurge pick, and it’s milder than many of the other dishes.
Southern Thai cooking can get very spicy, and I’d tell your server how much heat you want. Reservations are on Resy, and weekend tables go fast after the James Beard win. The bar takes walk-ins starting at 5 p.m., and you can order the full menu there.
Dinner is served nightly from 5 p.m., with lunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On October 12, 2026, Kalaya hosts a one-night collaboration dinner with Langbaan from Portland and AngloThai from London. Suraya and Pizzeria Beddia are both a short walk away if you want to make a night of Fishtown.
9. Craft Hall
- 📍 Location: Northern Liberties (901 N. Delaware Ave.)
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American BBQ, Pizza, and Brewpub Fare
- 🔥 Standout Features: Indoor pirate ship playground, on-site Mainstay brewery, applewood smoker, dog-friendly beer garden, giant LED screens for games
- 🎯 Perfect For: Families with kids, big groups, game days
Craft Hall fills a 35,000-square-foot warehouse on Delaware Avenue with a brewery, a barbecue smoker, and an indoor pirate ship playground. Philadelphia magazine named it the city’s Best Bar for Parents, and I’d bring anyone traveling with young kids here. Dogs are welcome too, in an outdoor beer garden called Unleashed.
The barbecue is smoked daily over applewood, and I’d order the baby back ribs ($19) or share the BBQ Tower ($48) with three proteins. Stone hearth pizzas cost $13 to $18, and the menu has easy picks for kids like chicken tenders and mac and cheese. Beer is brewed on-site by Mainstay Independent Brewing, with drafts starting at $6.
I think Craft Hall is one of Philly’s best spots to watch an Eagles game, with a 140-square-foot LED video wall and big screens throughout the building. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, and I’d reserve on Resy for groups of eight or more.
Craft Hall opens at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends, and the kitchen closes two hours before the bar. Parking is free in Craft Hall’s private lot across the street. Pay with a debit card if you can, because other credit cards carry a 3% fee.
10. Irwin’s
- 📍 Location: South Philly (800 Mifflin St., 8th floor of the Bok Building)
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $90 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern Sicilian
- 🔥 Standout Features: Eighth-floor skyline views, seasonal outdoor terrace, handmade pasta, natural wine list, Salvatore’s Counter tasting menu
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, sunset dinners, pasta lovers
Irwin’s sits on the eighth floor of the Bok Building, a 1930s vocational high school in South Philly that now houses studios, shops, and small businesses. Chef Michael Vincent Ferreri cooks modern Sicilian food here, with a focus on seafood, vegetables, and handmade pasta. The restaurant turned five this year, and the dining room still has fun details from its school days.
I’d build my order around the pasta, which chef de cuisine Ervis Kullolli rolls by hand every day. Trofie is the signature shape, and Ferreri changes the toppings with the seasons, adding mushrooms in the fall. Start with the crudo and a round of focaccia, which the kitchen serves a different way each week.
The outdoor terrace is open roughly May through October, and I’d book a table close to sunset for the skyline views. Irwin’s serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday starting at 5 p.m., with reservations on Resy. There’s no parking lot, and you’ll need to find a spot on the street.
For a special night, book Salvatore’s Counter, a 10-course dinner for up to four guests at the bar next to the kitchen pass. Ferreri cooks every course himself and shares the stories behind each dish as you eat. Seating is Sunday evenings at 6 p.m., for parties of two or four.
11. The Victor Cafe
- 📍 Location: South Philly (1303 Dickinson St.)
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $75 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Classic Italian-American
- 🔥 Standout Features: Opera-singing servers, history dating to 1933, Rocky filming location, upstairs cocktail lounge, valet parking
- 🎯 Perfect For: Families, birthdays, first-time visitors, Rocky fans
The Victor Cafe has served diners in South Philly since 1933, when a neighborhood gramophone shop became a “Music Lover’s Rendezvous.” Roughly every 20 minutes, a bell rings and one of the servers, many of them trained opera singers and music students, performs an aria in the dining room. Performances happen every night, and I’d plan on about 90 minutes to catch several singers.
The menu sticks to red-sauce classics like veal saltimbocca, linguine with clams, and seafood fra diavolo. I’d start with the Victor Salad and order a pasta to share for the table. The upstairs candlelit lounge is a great spot for a cocktail before or after dinner.
Movie fans will recognize the dining room as Adrian’s, the restaurant from Rocky Balboa and Creed. The original Rocky turns 50 this fall, and I expect extra interest from fans visiting Philly for the anniversary. Pair dinner here with a run up the Rocky Steps for a full movie day.
The Victor Cafe serves dinner nightly, and I’d reserve on OpenTable, especially for weekends. Valet parking is available every night for $18, and street parking is also an option. Kids love the performances, and it’s an easy pick for a family birthday dinner.
12. Tattooed Mom
- 📍 Location: South Street (530 South St.)
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Bar Food with a Large Vegan Menu
- 🔥 Standout Features: Graffiti-covered walls, $4 draft happy hour, vegan cheesesteaks, two pool tables, award-winning jukebox
- 🎯 Perfect For: Cheap drinks, vegans, late nights on South Street
Tattooed Mom is a two-story bar on South Street where nearly every surface is covered in graffiti and stickers. Guests and artists keep adding to the walls, and they look a little different every time I visit. Upstairs, you’ll find a second bar, a lounge, two pool tables, and toys and candy scattered along the bar.
The menu is bar food, and a big share of it is vegan. I’d order the vegan Philly cheesesteak or the pierogi, which are vegan and on special every Thursday. Taco Tuesday brings $1.50 beef or bean tacos and $3 Tecate from 4 to 11 p.m.
Happy hour is daily from 4 to 6 p.m., with every draft at $4. The draft list rotates through local and regional beers, and I think the jukebox is one of the best in Philly. Tattooed Mom also hosts art shows and pop-ups, including a wheatpaste street art exhibit with artists from more than 15 countries.
Tattooed Mom opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at noon Friday through Sunday. It stays open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and it’s an easy late-night stop on South Street. I’d come for drinks and snacks, since the menu sticks to apps and sandwiches.
13. South Philly Barbacoa
- 📍 Location: Italian Market (1134 S. 9th St., inside Casa México)
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mexican Barbacoa and Tacos
- 🔥 Standout Features: James Beard Award-winning chef, pit-cooked lamb barbacoa, handmade tortillas, self-serve salsa bar, second counter at Triple Bottom Brewing
- 🎯 Perfect For: Taco lovers, weekend breakfast, Chef’s Table fans
South Philly Barbacoa is chef Cristina Martinez’s famous taco shop, and it now operates inside her larger restaurant, Casa México, two doors up from the original spot on 9th Street. Martinez slow-cooks lamb barbacoa in the style of her hometown of Capulhuac, Mexico, and serves it on handmade corn tortillas. She won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2022 and starred in an episode of Netflix’s Chef’s Table.
You’ll order and pay at the counter, then dress your tacos at a self-serve bar of salsas and toppings. Barbacoa tacos cost about $7 each, and I’d sip the lamb consommé between bites. For a group, I recommend the kilo of barbacoa, which comes with consommé, tortillas, salsas, and toppings.
Barbacoa is served on select days inside Casa México, and weekends are your best bet. Doors open at 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and I’d go early before the line builds. Pat’s and Geno’s are about a block south if you want to compare Philly icons on the same walk.
If you’re staying in Center City, South Philly Barbacoa also has a permanent counter inside Triple Bottom Brewing at 915 Spring Garden St. Tacos there are $7 each, and you can pair them with the brewery’s rotating beers. The taproom is open Wednesday through Sunday, and consommé may join the menu there this winter.
14. Harp & Crown
- 📍 Location: Rittenhouse (1525 Sansom St.)
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $90 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: New American with Global Influences
- 🔥 Standout Features: Hidden two-lane bowling alley, 24-foot ceilings with chandeliers, weekend brunch buffet, wood-fired pizzas
- 🎯 Perfect For: Group nights out, birthdays, weekend brunch, date nights
Harp & Crown is restaurateur Michael Schulson’s grand dining room on Sansom Street, with 24-foot ceilings, four chandeliers, and vintage wallpaper. The menu is seasonal New American with global influences, and I’d order a wood-fired pizza for the table. Downstairs sits Elbow Lane, a hidden basement bar with a cocktail lounge and a two-lane bowling alley.
To find Elbow Lane, head toward the back of the restaurant and keep going past what looks like a linen closet. Bowling is available on weekends by reservation only, and the full menu is served downstairs. I’d book a lane for a birthday or group night and order cocktails between frames.
Weekend brunch is a buffet set up around the upstairs bar, with pastries, a raw bar, and a carving station. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m., and Elbow Lane opens at 11 a.m. with an à la carte menu. You can reserve a lane on Resy to bowl before or after you eat.
Harp & Crown opens at 4 p.m. on weekdays, and happy hour at the bar and lounge is walk-in only. Groups of 11 or more need to book through the events team. The kitchen stays open until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and the Avenue of the Arts is a short walk away if you’re catching a show.
15. Wilder
- 📍 Location: Rittenhouse (2009 Sansom St.)
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $80 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: New American with Italian Influences
- 🔥 Standout Features: Best of Philly 2026 happy hour, wood-fired pizzas, raw bar, three-level space, outdoor patio
- 🎯 Perfect For: Happy hour, date nights, weekend brunch, walk-ins
Wilder is an independently owned restaurant spread across three levels in Rittenhouse, with a raw bar, a wood-fired pizza oven, and an outdoor patio. Philadelphia magazine named it the Best Happy Hour in its Best of Philly 2026 awards. It’s open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with brunch on weekends.
Happy hour starts at 4:30 p.m. and lasts two hours at the bar, lounge, and patio, with no reservation needed. Expect $9 cocktails, $5 craft beers, and $2 oysters, plus scamorza-stuffed arancini and honey-drizzled ricotta toast. I’d get there right at 4:30, because seats fill up fast after work.
For dinner, I’d share a wood-fired pizza like the Sweetie Pie with sweet potato, nduja, and aged balsamic. The malfadine alla vodka with jumbo lump crab breadcrumbs is my pasta pick, and I think the cheeseburger is one of the best in Rittenhouse. Start with the warm pull-apart rolls and a few roasted oysters.
Walk-ins are welcome, and the bar, lounge, and patio are first come, first served with the full menu. For a dining room table, book on Resy, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. The Kimmel Center and the Avenue of the Arts are about a 10-minute walk if you’re catching a show.
16. Marrakesh
- 📍 Location: Queen Village (517 S. Leithgow St.)
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Traditional Moroccan Feast
- 🔥 Standout Features: $40 seven-course tasting menu, low cushioned banquettes, hand-washing ritual, belly dancers, BYOB
- 🎯 Perfect For: Groups, birthdays, vegetarians, adventurous date nights
Marrakesh has served Moroccan feasts in Queen Village for more than 40 years, tucked away on tiny Leithgow Street just off South Street. You’ll sit on low banquettes piled with colorful pillows, and a server washes your hands with rose water before the meal. Dishes are shared, and you eat them with your hands the traditional Moroccan way.
The $40 tasting menu brings seven courses, starting with a spread of tangy Moroccan salads and b’stilla, a flaky chicken and nut pastry. You’ll choose a main like lamb, beef, or the spicy chicken, which is my pick. The meal ends with fresh fruit and sweet mint tea, and there’s a vegetarian version of the full menu.
Belly dancers perform on weekends, and I’d book a Friday or Saturday night if you want the full show. Reservations are required, and you can bring your own wine or order from the full bar. Bring cash too, since Marrakesh has long been cash only.
Marrakesh opens for dinner at 5:30 p.m., and I’d leave at least two hours to enjoy all seven courses at an easy pace. Leithgow Street is a narrow side street that’s easy to miss, and I’d map it before you go. The cushioned booths fit groups well, and bringing your own wine keeps the bill low for birthday dinners.
17. Little Nonna’s
- 📍 Location: Midtown Village (1234 Locust St.)
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $70 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Italian-American Comfort Food
- 🔥 Standout Features: Hidden garden courtyard, Sunday gravy served daily, $55 chef’s prix fixe, cozy 40-seat dining room
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, pre-theater dinners, comfort food lovers
Little Nonna’s looks like a small café from Locust Street, but it opens up to a covered garden courtyard in the back with string lights over a trellis. Owners Valerie Safran and chef Marcie Turney styled the 40-seat dining room like a grandmother’s home, with gilt-frame mirrors, vintage lace, and copper pots. The garden seats another 40 guests, with heaters and fans to keep it comfortable through the seasons.
The Sunday gravy is the dish to order, and it’s served every day while supplies last. You’ll get a big plate of pasta with braised short ribs, meatballs, and fennel sausage in slow-cooked tomato gravy. It sometimes sells out before the night ends, and I’d book an early reservation to make sure you get it.
Start with the garlic bread, made with a seeded roll from Sarcone’s Bakery, confit garlic, and roasted garlic butter. The eggplant parmigiana with basil-walnut pesto and burrata is another favorite of mine. For a set meal, the chef’s $55 prix fixe menu is served in the covered courtyard.
Little Nonna’s serves dinner nightly from 5 p.m., and reservations are on OpenTable. A card holds your table, and cancellations within 24 hours cost $25 per guest. The theaters on Broad Street are around the corner, which makes it an easy pre-show dinner.
18. Moshulu
- 📍 Location: Penn’s Landing (401 S. Columbus Blvd.)
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $100 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Contemporary American Seafood
- 🔥 Standout Features: World’s oldest and largest four-masted tall ship, river and skyline views, open-air and tented decks, weekday happy hour
- 🎯 Perfect For: Special occasions, waterfront drinks, weekend brunch, movie buffs
Moshulu is a restaurant aboard the world’s oldest and largest four-masted tall ship, docked at Penn’s Landing on the Delaware River since 1996. The ship appeared in Rocky and The Godfather Part II, and it’s a fun stop for movie fans during Rocky‘s 50th anniversary this fall. You can dine in the intimate rooms below or out on the decks with views of the river and city skyline.
Executive chef Joe Ranakoski cooks contemporary American food with a focus on seafood. I’d order the lobster frites or the crab mac and cheese, and a group should share the Admiral’s Plateau of oysters and chilled seafood. Dinner starts at 4 p.m. every day, with brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., with $6 beer cans, $7 glasses of wine, and $8 specialty cocktails. The open-air decks host outdoor dining from May through October, and early fall evenings are a great time to sit outside. Deck seating depends on the weather, and you can note your preference when you reserve.
Reservations are on OpenTable, and I’d book a table close to sunset on a clear evening. There’s a parking lot near the ship, which is easier than hunting for a spot along Columbus Boulevard. Old City and Society Hill are a short walk away if you want to pair dinner with sightseeing.
19. Reading Terminal Market
- 📍 Location: Center City (1136 Arch St.)
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Historic Food Hall
- 🔥 Standout Features: 80+ merchants, open since 1893, Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch vendors, 2026 USA Today 10Best winner
- 🎯 Perfect For: First-time visitors, casual lunches, groups with different tastes
Reading Terminal Market has fed Philadelphia since 1893, and it’s one of the oldest public markets in the country. More than 80 merchants fill the building next to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, selling everything from sandwiches and doughnuts to produce and cheese. USA Today 10Best readers voted it the best public market in America in 2026.
Start at Tommy DiNic’s for the roast pork sandwich with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe, which the Travel Channel once named America’s best sandwich. For a cheesesteak, I’d try Uncle Gus’ Steaks, a newer stand from the teams behind DiNic’s, Pearl’s Oyster Bar, and Angelo’s Pizzeria. Finish with a doughnut from Beiler’s and a scoop from Bassetts, America’s oldest ice cream company.
The Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch vendors, including Beiler’s and the Dutch Eating Place, open Wednesday through Saturday only. Beiler’s doughnuts often sell out, and I’d arrive before 10 a.m. for the full selection. Avoid Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. if you can, when lines at DiNic’s get long.
For the calmest visit with every vendor open, I’d go on a Wednesday or Thursday morning. Seating is limited, and sharing a table with strangers is part of the experience. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but I’d bring some cash as a backup for smaller stands.
20. Libertee Grounds
- 📍 Location: Francisville (1600 W. Girard Ave.)
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person, plus $12 – $20 for mini golf
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Asian-American Bar Food
- 🔥 Standout Features: Two Philly-themed nine-hole mini golf courses, golf simulator, 30+ local drafts, outdoor beer garden
- 🎯 Perfect For: Group outings, date nights, game days, Sunday family fun
Libertee Grounds is a craft beer bar with two Philly-themed mini golf courses inside a 12,500-square-foot space on Girard Avenue. Each nine-hole course is decorated with murals by local artists, and there’s also a golf simulator for up to 15 players. Philadelphia magazine has named it the city’s Best Mini Golf in its Best of Philly awards.
Nine holes cost $12 per player, and 18 holes cost $20, paid at the mini golf host stand. You can’t book golf on its own, but a table reservation on Resy comes with an assigned tee time when you check in. Walk-ins join a first-come wait for the courses, and I’d reserve ahead for Friday and Saturday nights.
The bar pours more than 30 rotating drafts from local breweries, plus cocktails made with spirits from local distilleries. The food menu is Asian-American bar fare, and I’d order a few plates for the table between rounds. With more than 15 TVs, it’s also a fun spot to watch an Eagles game this fall.
Guests under 21 can only visit the dining room Monday through Saturday, with an adult, until 8 p.m. On Sundays, all ages are welcome all day, including on the mini golf courses. There’s no parking lot, and I’d look for street parking on the surrounding blocks.
Global Viewpoint is a personal blog. All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, medical, or legal advice.
