
There’s no place like home, as Dorothy Gale once said, especially when home is Doylestown.
Doylestown is the kind of place no one wants to leave; those who live in the borough often joke that there’s no reason to leave town other than to go to work or go on vacation. But there’s a rather large grain of truth behind the joke, because D-town truly has everything: a charming and walkable town center; exceptional restaurants and bars; buildings of rich historical significance; some of the Philadelphia area’s most popular festivals, museums, and special events; and plenty of green spaces.
Add in the destinations featured on the following pages, and Doylestown offers a quality of life that’s nearly impossible to duplicate.
During the recent Doylestown Arts Festival and Bucks County Classic bike race, which basically takes over the entire town, one of the biggest crowds could be seen in and around Artifact Brewing on West Court Street. We’re not surprised. Artifact turns out some seriously inspired brews. No matter which style of adult libation you prefer – hazy IPA, porter, pale ale, hard cider – you’ll find a favorite here and at Artifact’s Montgomery County location, about 10 miles away in Hatboro. artifactales.com
With the Christmas season quickly approaching, families will soon begin looking for festive activities to get in the spirit and stock up on holiday goodies. Suggestion: Make a beeline to Bucks Country Gardens on North Easton Road to bask in the wintertime magic. The sprawling garden center and boutique plans a year in advance for the winter holidays in order to create a memorable experience for local families. Expect signature Christmas trees, one-of-a-kind decorations, and gifts galore, among other surprises. More good news: No matter what time of year you decide to visit, Bucks Country Gardens has something special to help you beautify your home and garden, or otherwise add value to your life, and have plenty of fun in the process. buckscountrygardens.com
Kendall Bajek developed an appetite for Latin American culture during her time in Miami and Argentina. She learned how to make empanadas while in Buenos Aires, and in 2014 brought her expertise back to Bucks County to found Empanada Mama. Her then-fledgling business caught on quickly, necessitating its own storefront to cater to a huge fan base. Bajek’s ever-changing menu of sweet and savory hand-pies – Indian beef, Mediterranean eggplant, Thai coconut curry chicken, etc. – are so good, they’re almost addictive. She has since expanded her culinary empire with a plant-based restaurant called Nourish By Mama and, most recently, Lula Doylestown, which serves small plates and custom specialty cocktails. yoemama.com | nourishbymama.com
Every Main Street needs a decent bookstore, and Doylestown has one of the best. Led by owners Lauren and Damian Ford, The Doylestown Bookshop has become a Bucks County institution (along with its sister store at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska), not only peddling the finest literature one might want, but also supporting literacy and enlightenment through in-store readings, signings, and events. More than a year has passed since the Fords took over the operation, and they have not disappointed. In fact, they seem to have ramped up their in-store events schedule as a way to foster community among authors and readers… and sell a few books in the process. doylestownbookshop.com
After wandering the aisles of the bookshop or taking in a matinee at The County, Nonno’s Italian Coffee Parlor on East State Street – just a few doors down from the theater – is a natural next stop. Step up to the counter for coffee and a cannoli, gelato, or a sweet treat from the well-stocked pastry case. In a world that’s full of obligations, stressors, and distractions, Nonno’s offers a back-in-time kind of experience designed to let you steal a few precious moments for yourself. nonnoscafe.com
Nat’s Pizza has been a Doylestown staple since the Carter Administration. Locals swear by it, but it’s also the kind of place that nets its share of business from outside the borough. The menu features an array of Italian specialties – the Neapolitan pizza never disappoints – as well as a few surprises. Meat lovers will adore the cheesesteak pizza, while vegetarians will appreciate Nat’s copious meatless options, including a veggie meatball sub and vegetarian wings. natspizzadoylestown.com
If you’ve worked up an appetite after a fun day at Bucks Country Gardens, make a right out of the parking lot and head a few miles down Route 611 toward The Salt Box for the ultimate savory treat: the South Philly staple known as the noble soft pretzel. The Salt Box boasts having a “passion for pretzels,” and it shows. These are no ordinary pretzels. Whether you like your pretzels salty, sweet, or stuffed, The Salt Box has a pronounced creative streak. Speaking of sweet, you can always pair your pretzel with a serving of Sweet Pea homemade ice cream; inspired flavors include boozy banana, toasted coconut, and salty pecan bourbon. saltboxplumsteadville.com
Spuntino took the No. 1 spot on a list of restaurants serving Neapolitan-style pizzas in Pennsylvania, according to a Washington Post story. Spuntino turns out some truly incredible 10-inch pies, each with a chewy and crispy crust made perfect by a well-tended wood-fired oven. Favorite “rossa” (made with San Marzano tomato sauce) iterations include the Margherita and Fradiavolo, while can’t-miss “bianco” (no sauce) varieties include the Crudo and Filetti. spuntinowoodfiredpizzeria.com
With the Fonthill, Mercer, and Michener museums front and center, Doylestown has earned its rep as a bastion of culture. It also has a lesser-known museum called VAMPA, located on the same grounds as one of the area’s most unique roadside antiques shops. VAMPA’s claim to fame: artifacts pertaining to vampires and the paranormal. Opened in 2023, right along the 202 corridor between Doylestown and Buckingham, VAMPA features vampire-killing kits, occult-ish sculptures, and an authentic exorcism chair, among other eerie attractions. The museum doesn’t indulge in spectacle or jump scares; rather, it strives to explore the meaty middle ground between folklore and faith. vampamuseum.com
Considering the likes of Genevieve’s, The Hattery, Honey, Omiza, and Vela – we could very easily keep going – D-town has one of the best culinary scenes in all of Bucks County. With the relatively new addition of Water’s Edge Winery & Bistro, right at the intersection of Main and Court, it’s even grander. The food menu is mostly casual yet elevated – think tapas, flatbreads, and signature sandwiches – and the wine menu …well, the wine menu is exceptional, with many of the reds and whites made in house. wewdoylestown.com
The following Bucks County professionals contribute to the sky-high quality of life enjoyed by those who live, work, and play in Doylestown: Bucks County Orthodontics (buckscountyorthodontics.com), Bucks County Orthopedic Specialists (bucksortho.com), Chad Blankenbiller of CB Real Estate Group (buxmontliving.kw.com), COMPASS Realtor Deana Corrigan (deanacorrigan.com), Susan M. Gibson of Gibson Family Law (gibsonfamilylaw.com), Stacy Hilman of Keller Williams Real Estate (stacyhilman.kw.com), and Karen Ulmer of Karen Ann Ulmer P.C. (ulmerlaw.com).
Did we miss one of your favorites? If you have a suggestion for a can’t-miss restaurant, shop, cultural icon, or other “must” destination (in Doylestown or elsewhere), let us know. Email us at editor@suburbanlifemagazine.com.
Photo by B. Krist
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, September 2024.