Philly Restaurant Recommendations... and must see places?

Date: 7/13/2008 9:12:15 PM
Author: LtlFirecracker
Have not lived there for a couple years but this is what I know...

The art museum with the Rocky steps is a must see tourist attraction, it is at the end of Fairmount Park which is beautiful with a bunch of row houses (philly has some big Crew races)
Also the liberty bell is there
Soicity hill - lots of old row houses and cobblestone streets
There is great shopping on Chestnut and Walnut st (with a Tiffany's)
South Street is fun, kind of the hip liberal place


As for restaurants my favorite was Continental, I think it was on 2nd and Market (?) but there are so many good ones

Date: 7/14/2008 12:17:40 AM
Author: diamondfan
Where are you staying?

Any Stephen Starr restaurant is great (Budakan, El Vez, Continental)...I also highly recommend Barclay Prime if you eat steak. It is awesome and the ambience is great. Alma and Asia de Cuba are not bad either. I think that there are awesome places to go. There is a great tapas place called Tinto in the city, and Rouge and Bleu on Rittenhouse Square are great too. La Croix is nice for a more formal dinner, and Marathon Grill is great for a quick salad.

Date: 7/14/2008 7:26:24 PM
Author: havernell
For something different and a lot of fun, check out Victor Cafe (an Italian place on Dickinson St in south Philly). All of the waitstaff are trained opera singers/opera students, and every 15 minutes a bell rings, everyone quiets down, and one of the waitstaff sings an aria! It's dinner and a concert all rolled into one. Everyone I've ever taken there has thought it was fabulous! The lounge on the second floor of the restaurant is also a nice place for a drink before or after dinner.

Matyson, just off Rittenhouse Square is also a good one to try- contemporary American cuisine, BYOB.

As for what to do in the city, I think the Penn Archaeology Museum is fascinating and not to be missed (lots of Egyptian artifacts and tons more). The Barnes Foundation is also worth a visit if you are an art fan, and the Mutter Museum (a museum of medical anomalies) is good for something different.

Have fun in Philadelphia!

Date: 7/14/2008 8:41:39 PM
Author: Octavia
There's also a pirate exhibit on at the Franklin Institute right now -- it's one of the special exhibits where you have to pay extra, but if your son is into pirates, it could be worth it (haven't been yet, so I don't know for sure). The Natural History Museum is right down the street from the Franklin Institute, too... For other fun stuff, check out Philly Fun Guide -- it has lots of info about the goings-on around town.

I live right near where you'll be staying, and it's so convenient to everything. The historic stuff is a bit of a walk (~10-15 blocks, so 20-25 minutes at a quick pace and probably 35-40 at a leisurely stroll) but a super quick cab ride. There are buses that run, as well, but I don't often take them so I'm no good on routes. I definitely wouldn't suggest driving, though, since parking is a nightmare most everywhere in Center City. Rittenhouse Square is an easy walk. You'd probably want to cab to the museums, or catch the Phlash Bus (bright purple...you can't miss it!).

If you wander a little north and east of the main historic area (up toward the Betsy Ross House and Elfreth's Alley), there are lots of trendy boutiques, art galleries, and other neat shops. And a FANTASTIC used book/record store right across the street from Christ Church.

Is your son a picky eater? I ask only because most of the restaurants I know aren't particularly kid-friendly (not in the sense that you couldn't bring a child there, but they might not have too much on the menu for little ones). La Viola and Sabrina's are probably good for that, though.

I hope you have fun!

Date: 7/14/2008 8:17:07 PM
Author: lovewhitediamonds

Thanks havernell! Victor Cafe sounds very cool -- is it kid friendly? Oooo... my 5 year old is really into 'mummies and Eygpt' right now -- he will LOVE the Penn Archaeology Museum! Thank you so much!

Date: 7/14/2008 10:29:03 PM
Author: diamondfan
You can also go to the Franklin Institute, the Please Touch Museum (newly relocated and I am certain it is yet open so check) and the Museum of Natural History,

You can also do a Duck Boat Tour along the river, and there are trolley tours of old city and historic sites. Philly is a city of firsts so it is interesting. The zoo is okay, and the Constitution Center cool but maybe not for a 5 year old.

Date: 7/15/2008 3:51:00 PM
Author: Madam Bijoux
Linde Meyer, which is a store in Libery Place, has outstanding estate jewelry. She has things that range from Victorian through the 1960's, and all of it is in excellent condition. Another good estate jeweler is A H Hadley at 123 S. Broad St.. Suite 1644, phone 215-545-0397. I believe you need an appointment for A H Hadley.