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$$ | Rittenhouse Square |
Pub & Kitchen has been a favorite since it opened in 2009 with a daily selection of oysters and a menu that includes everything from a sweet-and-savory fried-chicken sandwich to a kick-ass cheeseburger. But even if the food menu wasn't a star, locals would flock to this energetic saloon to unwind with friends or catch the game. In what used to be a dive bar, P&K is an unpretentious, attractive hangout with hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, tables fashioned from reclaimed floor joists, and familiar rock music playing from the speakers.
1946 Lombard St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19146, USA
Known For
- Draft old-fashioned
- Weekend brunch
- Solid beer list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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$$ | South Philadelphia |
Championing craft beer well before it was cool, this laid-back Newbold tavern set the bar for Philly’s gastropub boom way back in 2003. SPTR’s ever-rotating 14 tap selections, plus cask ales and a nice bottle selection, hit local, national, and international notes that nicely accompany a menu that reaches well beyond the expected pub grub with creative snacks, sandwiches, and seasonal specials conceived to celebrate local and organic products and produce. The kitchen pays ample mind to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free guests, too; it’s this accommodating spirit that makes a neighborhood bar.
1509 Mifflin St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145, USA
Known For
- Smart craft-beer program
- Local and seasonal menu items
- Relaxed atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Rittenhouse Square |
Having successfully turned the country into Israeli-food addicts, Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook have now turned their attention to the cuisines of the Ashkenazi Jews in Eastern Europe. Chef Yehuda Sichel is at the helm, creating incognito thrillers like matzo ball tamale, smoked salmon tartare, and veal schnitzel tacos. Reserve ahead for the beloved Montreal-style short rib dinner or opt for the prix-fixe tasting menu.
1623 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
Known For
- Montreal-style smoked short ribs
- Happy hour
- Retro-inspired digs
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Center City East |
The opening of this hip, industrial-chic trattoria by chef Marc Vetri rendered his talents more accessible to those who don't have the foresight to make reservations months in advance at his celebrated eponymous restaurant nearby. The small plates of Roman comfort food by longtime chef Brad Spence feature interesting elevated takes on Roman classics like tonarelli cacio e pepe, trippa alla Romana, and rigatoni all'amatriciana. Try to grab one of the six first-come, first-served stools at the chef's counter to watch the James Beard–award-winning action.
412 S. 13th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$ | Center City East |
This buzzing Mediterranean tapas joint has inspired an almost religious devotion among nearly every demographic of Philadelphian. Diners happily stuff themselves into the cramped tables at this long, narrow eatery for a fix of the cheese boards, the egg-and-truffle pizza, and the house-made charcuterie. But above all, the salted caramel budino (a classic Italian pudding)—with so much demand, chef Marcie Turney figured out how to sell it online in a six-pack and turn it into ice-cream pops in the summer—is heavenly. If you don't have a reservation, try and snag the bar and chef's counter, which are first come, first served.
110 S. 13th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Known For
- Creative pizzas
- Caramel budino
- Lively crowd
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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$$ | East Passyunk |
Funky, unorthodox dim sum gets all the cool kids in the door at Bing Bing, which proudly bills itself as inauthentic. But beyond the high-low appeal of cheesesteak bao buns and corned beef ribs with beet barbecue sauce, there’s real finesse from chef Ben Puchowitz’s kitchen here. Bonus points for large-format cocktail pitchers and comfy booths modeled after Chinese wedding beds.
1648 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19148, USA
Known For
- Creative dim sum variations
- Shareable cocktails
- Young lively crowd
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs.
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$$ | Rittenhouse Square |
Converted from a private club with blacked-out windows, this Dublin-style pub has been packing them in for rivers of Irish draft and kitchen specialties. Guinness-battered fish-and-chips could have been produced on the "auld sod," and the malt vinegar to sprinkle over it all does little to dampen the crisp crust. The first-floor bar is noisy and spirited—show up before happy hour to snag a seat—but the mood gets a bit quieter as you climb the steps to the dining room or walk downstairs to the basement bar.
247 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
Known For
- Traditional pub fare
- Casual atmosphere
- Vast beer selection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Manayunk |
Known for the varieties of pad Thai—from crispy duck to peanut-crusted scallop—and delicious soups, this Thai bistro is a nice, calming escape from the noisy restaurant scene of Main Street. Enjoy authentic Thai flavors in your lime-infused Thai sausage, po tek (a spicy seafood hot pot with basil and lemongrass) portioned for two, or the various face-flushing curries.
4371 Main St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19127, USA
Known For
- Numerous versions of pad Thai
- Crazy noodles (stir-fried wide rice noodles with colorful veggies)
- Consistently good Thai food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Fri., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Center City West |
You're not sure what decade you're in once you enter the vast, retro playground that shares a name with the Old City martini lounge, also from blockbuster restaurateur Stephen Starr. The cognoscenti have moved on, but others still line up for a spot on the popular rooftop lounge or sit inside, in a swinging wicker basket chair, a sunken banquette, or a baby-blue vinyl booth. The global tapas menu includes Korean tacos, French onion soup dumplings, and lobster mac 'n' cheese.
1801 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
Known For
- Large portions
- Solid martinis
- Rooftop bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Fairmount |
A colorful mural of freewheeling Day of the Dead skeletons gives this cheerful Fairmount cantina its name, but the polished ceviches, tacos, and enchiladas from Jose Garces veteran Tim Spinner are what will really make you happy. A deep tequila library informs the bar and cocktail list; try a flight of añejos or margaritas in flavors like lychee and chili. Weekend brunch includes hearty options like huevos rancheros.
2321 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19130, USA
Known For
- Worthy happy hours
- Vegetarian options
- Patio dining in season
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Northern Liberties |
This authentically Mexican family-run place is an anomaly in sceney Northern Liberties. The colors, both inside and out, are warm and bright and the food is simple and rather gently spiced, apropos of the family's roots in the town of Puebla. Mexican sodas and fruity juices complement the restaurant's BYOB policy.
426–28 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123, USA
Known For
- Hearty weekend brunch
- BYOB margaritas
- Convenience for large groups
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Chinatown |
Literally translated as "good food for the mouth," this unprepossessing BYOB spot is now being run by a second generation of restaurateurs. They do an excellent job with the most straightforward fare, like General Tso's chicken, hot-and-sour soup, and steamed pork dumplings, but they are best known for their salt-baked seafood and their hot pots.
219 N. 11th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA
Known For
- Salt-baked seafood
- Hot pots
- Dumplings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Center City East |
Latin American and Caribbean cuisine mix in an airy, two-story space on historic Antique Row, a few blocks below Broad Street. The place feels like a well-loved neighborhood joint, with its friendly vibe, heaping portions of slightly greasy food, and Latin music that sets the mood for some of the city's best mojitos. Occasionally the food reaches new heights, as with their paella Valenciana and some solid brunch offerings, including a delicious Colombian frittata, made with plantains and chorizo.
1141 Pine St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA
Known For
- Mojitos
- Pan-Latin cuisine
- Music/dance scene
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No brunch Mon.--Thurs., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Rittenhouse Square |
If the rumors are true, and Philadelphians do drink more Belgian beer than Belgians do, then it's because of the owners of Monk's, the seminal café with a pipeline of sours, dubbels, and saisons straight from the motherland. Whether steamed in classic style with white wine and shallots or with cream, mussels are a high point at Monk's and the fries that accompany them draw raves from the regulars who crowd the place.
264 S. 16th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19146, USA
Known For
- Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale
- Mussels
- Burgers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Northern Liberties |
North Third is one of the first restaurants to settle in Northern Liberties at the infancy of the neighborhood's transformation. The menu hasn't changed much, mostly because locals love hits like the Moroccan-spiced lamb burger, mushroom flatbread, and house-made pierogies. Weekend brunch here—breakfast burrito, berry-topped French toast—is one of the best in the area.
801 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123, USA
Known For
- Late-night food
- Exciting craft-beer list
- Sought-after buffalo wings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Society Hill |
Restaurateur Stephen Starr logged countless hours researching how to make the very best pizza, agonizing over the dough, oven type, ideal temperature, and every other conceivable variable. The resulting artisanal, 12-inch rounds, with ingredients like black truffle, fresh prosciutto, and earthy chanterelles, keep this cozy 80-seater overflowing with neighborhood duos and families. (No-reservations policy necessitates getting here early or late if you don’t want to wait.) All tables are good tables—each has a view of the red-and-white-tiled Neapolitan pizza oven and Headhouse Square through plenty of tall café windows.
420 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Known For
- Neapolitan pizza
- Outdoor seating
- Charming location
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | University City |
For a pan-Asian fix, grab a stool at the sushi bar at the futuristic Pod, where you can select your favorite raw fish from a conveyor belt.
3636 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
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$$ | Chinatown |
Open since 1980, this Chinatown barbecue stalwart hasn’t missed a beat dishing up delicious plates based around its famously flavorful duck. Egg or rice noodles come in different styles and are simmered with duck, pork, or beef brisket; if you wish, you can customize your soup with both noodles, plus fat, tender wontons. Other traditional menu picks, besides the house specialty fowl, include scallion pancakes, dumplings, and hearty congees. There is a full liquor license.
238 N. 9th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA
Known For
- Peking duck
- Noodle soups
- Dumplings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards
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$$ | Northern Liberties |
Mark Bee, the local restaurateur behind favorite gastropub N. 3rd, bought the Silk City Diner in 2006, polished off its grease-coated, 1950s-era pink Formica counter, and started serving updated comfort food. Menu items include a fierce plate of buttermilk fried chicken, deep-fried veggie wings, the city's best bowl of mac and cheese (baked with a garlic-bread crust), and some lighter fare (salads and roasted veggies) should you want to go next door to the bar and lounge and dance 'til dawn beneath the disco ball.
435 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123, USA
Known For
- Brunch every day
- Brightly colored outdoor dining space
- Late-night dancing
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Rittenhouse Square |
This Stephen Starr–helmed pub is as close to an English pub as you'll get stateside—there's a snarling bear head mounted on one wall; an assortment of mismatched divans and armchairs; and toasties, fish-and-chips, and puddings on the menu. While the entrées are solid, the apps and desserts shine brightest at this sprawling, cozy venue. Anglophiles will rejoice over the afternoon tea service and locals love the after-work happy hour.
124 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
Known For
- Happy hour
- Weekend brunch
- Sunday roast