Guidebook for Philadelphia

Lowell
Guidebook for Philadelphia

Getting Around

Fast, reliable service, but few late-night trains.
48 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Berks station
West Berks Street
48 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fast, reliable service, but few late-night trains.

Essentials

Nearest grocery/convenience store. Quite a large selection of essentials, and it's near the Berks El stop, but a little bit pricy. Take-out counter with excellent shawarma and falafel sandwiches in the back!
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Liberty Choice
1939 N Front St
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nearest grocery/convenience store. Quite a large selection of essentials, and it's near the Berks El stop, but a little bit pricy. Take-out counter with excellent shawarma and falafel sandwiches in the back!
A surprising variety of useful things here: ATM, milk, bread, deli meats (or sandwiches), cleaning supplies.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tejada Grocery
2036 E York St
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
A surprising variety of useful things here: ATM, milk, bread, deli meats (or sandwiches), cleaning supplies.
Fancy-pants store with Philly foodstuffs so clever and cute you’ll want to buy as gifts, if you don't end up eating them before you get home.
43 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Riverwards Produce Market
2200 E Norris St
43 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fancy-pants store with Philly foodstuffs so clever and cute you’ll want to buy as gifts, if you don't end up eating them before you get home.

Drinks & Nightlife

a James Beard Award finalist with a huge selection of regional alcohol, including ciders, sour beers and natural wines. https://martha.menu
62 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Martha
2113 E York St
62 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
a James Beard Award finalist with a huge selection of regional alcohol, including ciders, sour beers and natural wines. https://martha.menu
Fermentery Form doesn't technically BREW beer, but they do ferment an amazing variety of well-balanced sours, and on Saturdays they open their workspace and sell glasses and bottles. http://www.fermenteryform.com/
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fermentery Form
1700 Palethorp St
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fermentery Form doesn't technically BREW beer, but they do ferment an amazing variety of well-balanced sours, and on Saturdays they open their workspace and sell glasses and bottles. http://www.fermenteryform.com/
PBC makes tasty beer in an 1885 brewery, complete with a lovely “Peacock Room” and beer garden. They only distribute regionally, so if you’re from outside Philly, drink now. http://philadelphiabrewing.com
64 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Philadelphia Brewing Co.
2440 Frankford Ave
64 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
PBC makes tasty beer in an 1885 brewery, complete with a lovely “Peacock Room” and beer garden. They only distribute regionally, so if you’re from outside Philly, drink now. http://philadelphiabrewing.com
New Liberty does not actually distill their own whiskey. But they do have beautiful labels. And they make their own liqueurs, like a lovely limoncello. And they have a cool space with a sweet bar, tours and tastings. https://newlibertydistillery.com/
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
New Liberty Distillery
1431 Cadwallader St
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
New Liberty does not actually distill their own whiskey. But they do have beautiful labels. And they make their own liqueurs, like a lovely limoncello. And they have a cool space with a sweet bar, tours and tastings. https://newlibertydistillery.com/
Exceptional small batch whiskey, rum and birch beer, open for tours and tastings on certain weekends and by appointment. http://www.redbrickcraftdistillery.com/
Red Brick Distillery
2628 Martha St
Exceptional small batch whiskey, rum and birch beer, open for tours and tastings on certain weekends and by appointment. http://www.redbrickcraftdistillery.com/
More music. http://www.thefillmorephilly.com/
138 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Fillmore Philadelphia
29 E Allen St
138 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
More music. http://www.thefillmorephilly.com/
Music. https://www.johnnybrendas.com/
248 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Johnny Brenda's
1201 Frankford Ave
248 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Music. https://www.johnnybrendas.com/
More music. https://www.kungfunecktie.com/
35 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kung Fu Necktie
1248 N Front St
35 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
More music. https://www.kungfunecktie.com/
I'm a bit of a sour beer fan, and Memphis Tap always has something delicious. Their food is a bit hit-and-miss for me—it tends to skew greasy—but Chelle thinks the fries are great! http://memphistaproom.com/
82 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Memphis Taproom
2331 E Cumberland St
82 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
I'm a bit of a sour beer fan, and Memphis Tap always has something delicious. Their food is a bit hit-and-miss for me—it tends to skew greasy—but Chelle thinks the fries are great! http://memphistaproom.com/
Ducos and Francesca Galarus age, bottle and sell lovely, balanced small-batch wines out of the back of an old warehouse. All vintages are sourced within 300 miles of Philadelphia. Limited hours, tastings available. https://www.muralcitycellars.com
Mural City Cellars
2011 Amber Street
Ducos and Francesca Galarus age, bottle and sell lovely, balanced small-batch wines out of the back of an old warehouse. All vintages are sourced within 300 miles of Philadelphia. Limited hours, tastings available. https://www.muralcitycellars.com

Parks & Nature

This is obviously not in Fishtown. Valley Green is a historic tavern on Forbidden Drive, a former carriage road that winds eight miles north into Chestnut Hill, and joins the Schuylkill River Trail the whole way to downtown, and beyond. A wonderful place for biking, hiking, having a drink, watching ducks or just feeling lost in the city.
55 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Valley Green Inn
Valley Green Road
55 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
This is obviously not in Fishtown. Valley Green is a historic tavern on Forbidden Drive, a former carriage road that winds eight miles north into Chestnut Hill, and joins the Schuylkill River Trail the whole way to downtown, and beyond. A wonderful place for biking, hiking, having a drink, watching ducks or just feeling lost in the city.
John Bartram (1699-1777) was a third-generation Pennsylvania Quaker. He purchased 102 acres from Swedish settlers in 1728, and systematically began gathering the most varied collection of North American plants in the world. Today his legacy, expanded by his son and granddaughter, is preserved as a 45-acre National Historic Landmark. https://bartramsgarden.org
77 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bartram's Garden
5400 Lindbergh Blvd.
77 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
John Bartram (1699-1777) was a third-generation Pennsylvania Quaker. He purchased 102 acres from Swedish settlers in 1728, and systematically began gathering the most varied collection of North American plants in the world. Today his legacy, expanded by his son and granddaughter, is preserved as a 45-acre National Historic Landmark. https://bartramsgarden.org

Arts & Culture

Free University of Pennsylvania art museum. https://icaphila.org/
39 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S 36th St
39 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Free University of Pennsylvania art museum. https://icaphila.org/
Museum-quality shows for free. https://centerforartinwood.org/
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Center for Art in Wood
141 N 3rd St
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museum-quality shows for free. https://centerforartinwood.org/
Things you never thought ceramics could do. https://www.theclaystudio.org/
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Clay Studio
1425 N 2nd St
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Things you never thought ceramics could do. https://www.theclaystudio.org/
Entrancing, macabre and thoroughly original, the Mütter Museum displays anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments in a 19th-century ’cabinet museum’ format. http://muttermuseum.org/
335 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
First Food Market
116 S 21st St
335 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Entrancing, macabre and thoroughly original, the Mütter Museum displays anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments in a 19th-century ’cabinet museum’ format. http://muttermuseum.org/
Formally, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Alongside the troublesome creepiness of having long-dead Egyptians in display cases, the University has an exceptional new gallery devoted to American Indian cultures, stunning Middle Eastern statues you can stare at for hours, and new Africa Galleries and a Mexico & Central America Gallery on the way in the fall of 2019. https://www.penn.museum/
110 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo Penn
3260 South St
110 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Formally, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Alongside the troublesome creepiness of having long-dead Egyptians in display cases, the University has an exceptional new gallery devoted to American Indian cultures, stunning Middle Eastern statues you can stare at for hours, and new Africa Galleries and a Mexico & Central America Gallery on the way in the fall of 2019. https://www.penn.museum/
This interactive, family-friendly science museum is a Philadelphia classic. The staff to a great job letting kids learn on their own, and there is a lot to learn: electricity, space, robots, and of course the walk-through human heart.
458 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Instituto Franklin
222 N 20th St
458 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
This interactive, family-friendly science museum is a Philadelphia classic. The staff to a great job letting kids learn on their own, and there is a lot to learn: electricity, space, robots, and of course the walk-through human heart.

Shopping

Sarah does an amazing job curating quirky, designer, vintage things—clothes and more. It's not cheap, but it sure is beautiful.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Two Percent To Glory
2031 Frankford Ave
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sarah does an amazing job curating quirky, designer, vintage things—clothes and more. It's not cheap, but it sure is beautiful.
Hip vintage fashions more expensive than Circle Thrift down the block, but less expensive than your average Bachelor’s degree. Two floors. Frequent bag sales. https://urbanexchangeproject.com/
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Urban Exchange Project
1868 Frankford Ave
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hip vintage fashions more expensive than Circle Thrift down the block, but less expensive than your average Bachelor’s degree. Two floors. Frequent bag sales. https://urbanexchangeproject.com/
Super cute baby boutique with well-made and carefully selected wares no one else will be bringing to the baby shower. https://minnowlane.com/
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Minnow Lane
2029 Frankford Ave
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Super cute baby boutique with well-made and carefully selected wares no one else will be bringing to the baby shower. https://minnowlane.com/
Discriminating design and uncompromising quality of materials set these handcrafted American jeans, shirts and boots apart. https://franklinandpoe.com/
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Franklin & Poe
1817 Frankford Ave
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Discriminating design and uncompromising quality of materials set these handcrafted American jeans, shirts and boots apart. https://franklinandpoe.com/
Vintage clothing, old-school vinyl, used furniture, antique glassware and weird metal things you didn't even know existed, all stuffed (relatively neatly) inside an old church. https://www.phillythunderbird.com/new-index/
Thunderbird Salvage
2441 Frankford Ave
Vintage clothing, old-school vinyl, used furniture, antique glassware and weird metal things you didn't even know existed, all stuffed (relatively neatly) inside an old church. https://www.phillythunderbird.com/new-index/

Food Scene

Franny Lou’s Porch, an eclectic, relaxed coffee shop with good coffees and teas named after exemplary women. http://frannylousporch.org
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Franny Lou's Porch
2400 Coral St
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Franny Lou’s Porch, an eclectic, relaxed coffee shop with good coffees and teas named after exemplary women. http://frannylousporch.org
The flagship restaurant of La Colombe is one of the rare places where you can drink alcohol, or coffee or a Draft Latte. While eating flaky pastries or a hot breakfast that would steal the show anywhere else. https://www.lacolombe.com/
334 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
1335 Frankford Ave
334 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The flagship restaurant of La Colombe is one of the rare places where you can drink alcohol, or coffee or a Draft Latte. While eating flaky pastries or a hot breakfast that would steal the show anywhere else. https://www.lacolombe.com/
Aside from being named the country's best new hotel of 2017 by USA Today, Mulherin's does everything else right: pastries, pasta, meats, drinks, ambiance, service. Save $200: stay at Irene's; go to Mulherin's for brunch. http://wmmulherinssons.com/
94 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wm. Mulherin’s Sons
1355 N Front St
94 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Aside from being named the country's best new hotel of 2017 by USA Today, Mulherin's does everything else right: pastries, pasta, meats, drinks, ambiance, service. Save $200: stay at Irene's; go to Mulherin's for brunch. http://wmmulherinssons.com/
Stunning Middle Eastern food in a meticulously appointed space. If you're missing home—or wondering why anyone would eat pita—go here. https://surayaphilly.com/
113 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Suraya Restaurant
1528 Frankford Ave
113 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Stunning Middle Eastern food in a meticulously appointed space. If you're missing home—or wondering why anyone would eat pita—go here. https://surayaphilly.com/
Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan nails it: ‘A 19th-century carriage house has been transformed into a moody Asian night market counter wrapped in a riot of colorful graffiti art, with adoring hipster patrons slurping vegan noodle bowls in their beanie caps, and an energetic, youthful vibe that’s tapped the edgy zeitgeist of Frankford Avenue’s recent revival.’ https://www.cheufishtown.com/
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cheu Fishtown
1416 Frankford Ave
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan nails it: ‘A 19th-century carriage house has been transformed into a moody Asian night market counter wrapped in a riot of colorful graffiti art, with adoring hipster patrons slurping vegan noodle bowls in their beanie caps, and an energetic, youthful vibe that’s tapped the edgy zeitgeist of Frankford Avenue’s recent revival.’ https://www.cheufishtown.com/
Order food at the counter, then sit at the bar. At least that's what we do. The space is eclectic and charming. The meat is exquisite. https://fettesauphilly.com/
140 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fette Sau
1208 Frankford Ave
140 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Order food at the counter, then sit at the bar. At least that's what we do. The space is eclectic and charming. The meat is exquisite. https://fettesauphilly.com/
A large variety of great Vietnamese food at this anchor of a block-long Little Vietnam district on Kensington Avenue. Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan calls it his ‘favorite phở in Philly.’ https://thanglongphilly.com/
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Thang Long Noodle Restaurant (Kensington)
2534-36 Kensington Ave
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
A large variety of great Vietnamese food at this anchor of a block-long Little Vietnam district on Kensington Avenue. Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan calls it his ‘favorite phở in Philly.’ https://thanglongphilly.com/
People love this place, so I put it in. It's hip. It's irreverent. It serves what passes for Mexican food on the East Coast. You can get drunk here. http://locopez.com/
167 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Loco Pez
2401 E Norris St
167 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
People love this place, so I put it in. It's hip. It's irreverent. It serves what passes for Mexican food on the East Coast. You can get drunk here. http://locopez.com/
How do they fit those huge portions on that tiny table? And how can something so big also be so delicious? Questions for the centuries... https://www.coffeehouseco.com/
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Coffee House Too
2514 E York St
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
How do they fit those huge portions on that tiny table? And how can something so big also be so delicious? Questions for the centuries... https://www.coffeehouseco.com/
We liked it, then we felt meh about it, then we had the best biscuits and gravy we can remember eating. https://cedarpointbarandkitchen.com/
59 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cedar Point Bar & Kitchen
2370 E Norris St
59 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
We liked it, then we felt meh about it, then we had the best biscuits and gravy we can remember eating. https://cedarpointbarandkitchen.com/
In 2015, Bon Appetit’s Andrew Knowlton declared Pizzeria Beddia was turning out “the best pizza in America.” Then it closed. Then it reopened in its current location, with much more space but similar requirements about eating: no slices; you have to order a full pie. Be prepared to wait. You should order some natural wine and/or soft serve ice cream. https://www.pizzeriabeddia.com/
82 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pizzeria Beddia
1313 North Lee Street
82 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
In 2015, Bon Appetit’s Andrew Knowlton declared Pizzeria Beddia was turning out “the best pizza in America.” Then it closed. Then it reopened in its current location, with much more space but similar requirements about eating: no slices; you have to order a full pie. Be prepared to wait. You should order some natural wine and/or soft serve ice cream. https://www.pizzeriabeddia.com/
Behind this unassuming facade is a juggernaut of Philly hoagie-dom, hailed by the likes of the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2021: https://www.inquirer.com/philly-tips/best-hoagies-philadelphia-20210511.html. Our neighborhood sports a few other excellent hoagie spots in the same article: Castellino’s Italian Market (1255 E Palmer Street), Liberty Kitchen (1244 N Front), and Martha (2113 E York).
Dan's Food Market
2000 Frankford Ave
Behind this unassuming facade is a juggernaut of Philly hoagie-dom, hailed by the likes of the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2021: https://www.inquirer.com/philly-tips/best-hoagies-philadelphia-20210511.html. Our neighborhood sports a few other excellent hoagie spots in the same article: Castellino’s Italian Market (1255 E Palmer Street), Liberty Kitchen (1244 N Front), and Martha (2113 E York).
Condé Nast Traveler says this is one of the 12 best new restaurants in the world in 2021. GQ said the same thing in 2020. All I can say is that we took home leftover pita, hummus, babaganoush, ajvar, peas with rhubarb, cabbage with pickled raisins, mushrooms with sour cherries—and two weeks later they were still delicious and we served them to friends. A sign of how far this food has to fall before it becomes anything close to bad.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Laser Wolf
1301 North Howard Street
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Condé Nast Traveler says this is one of the 12 best new restaurants in the world in 2021. GQ said the same thing in 2020. All I can say is that we took home leftover pita, hummus, babaganoush, ajvar, peas with rhubarb, cabbage with pickled raisins, mushrooms with sour cherries—and two weeks later they were still delicious and we served them to friends. A sign of how far this food has to fall before it becomes anything close to bad.
Fried chicken even for people who don’t like fried chicken. The Golden Soy fry is my favorite. https://www.facebook.com/Andys-Chicken-875647709192679/menu/
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Andy's Chicken
2001 Memphis St
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fried chicken even for people who don’t like fried chicken. The Golden Soy fry is my favorite. https://www.facebook.com/Andys-Chicken-875647709192679/menu/
Informal, inventive, and high quality comfort food and drink—delivered with genuine kindness. Seems too good to be true, right? But we have only had one thing there that didn’t love, and okay, we hated it: the sickeningly sweet and bizarre Cookie Jar Milk Punch.
Middle Child Clubhouse
Informal, inventive, and high quality comfort food and drink—delivered with genuine kindness. Seems too good to be true, right? But we have only had one thing there that didn’t love, and okay, we hated it: the sickeningly sweet and bizarre Cookie Jar Milk Punch.
Located in a kind of strip-mall-for-creatives alongside a maker space, industrial salvage yard, and museum of neon signs, Sor Ynez is an underrated hero of the local food scene. The birria is exquisite. The drink program is strong. When we buy people gift certificates, we buy them here.
Sor Ynez
Located in a kind of strip-mall-for-creatives alongside a maker space, industrial salvage yard, and museum of neon signs, Sor Ynez is an underrated hero of the local food scene. The birria is exquisite. The drink program is strong. When we buy people gift certificates, we buy them here.