Best of Bucks County
Where to dine, drink, shop, learn, and be inspired.
It’s easy to forget the vast riches found in Bucks County. Doylestown, Lahaska, New Hope, Newtown, Point Pleasant, Richboro, Solebury, Southampton, Yardley—the county has an abundance of amazing places to live and visit.
Bucks County is many things to many people: the lively atmosphere and culinary scenes of lively river towns, top-ranked schools, ample cultural and historical sites, fabulous parks, etc. If all these pluses were not enough, Bucks County is also proximate to the attractions of Philadelphia, Princeton, and New York City. In other words, there’s a heck of a lot to love about Bucks County, as proven by the following destinations for dining, shopping, culture, and more.
Buckingham Pizza in Buckingham Green proves the fact that not all pizzas are created equally. Buckingham Pizza’s Naples-style pies are in a class all by themselves; whether you prefer regular cheese, white, or something from the gourmet menu, Buckingham Pizza’s offerings are nothing short of revelatory. While the menu of this Bucks County establishment includes much more than pizza, we’re sorry/not sorry to admit that we’ve never felt the urge to order anything but its famously perfect pies. buckinghampizza.com
Thanks to some regrettable closures over the years, exceptional vegetarian restaurants have become an endangered species in Bucks County. New Hope’s Dharma Bums is a rare bright spot. Located in an historic stone building on River Road, Dharma Bums serves up what it calls “vegetarian bar fare.” It’s being modest. Some examples of what you’ll find: kimchi mac-n-cheese balls, hand-cut Thai street fries, and hot honey cauliflower and waffles. If that weren’t enough, Dharma Bums maintains a spirited events schedule, with live music, workshops, and other reasons to linger. dbums.com
Bucks County is awash in excellent breweries, so choosing a favorite is a tough task indeed. One of ours is Free Will Brewing, a Perkasie mainstay since 2012. Not only does Free Will brew some fantastic IPAs, lagers, and other ales, but it also builds community through live music and other events at its festive Perkasie taproom. You’ll also find Free Will’s wares at its location in Peddler’s Village. freewillbrewing.com
Quaint, cozy, and well worth returning to, Hart’s Tavern at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska is an idyllic place to enjoy some adult beverages and cuisine of the comfort-food sort: burgers and sandwiches, country-fried steak, and “Harty” chili. We’re happy to say we’ve bellied up to the bar at Hart’s after many an afternoon or early evening of wandering Peddler’s Village on bone-chilling days in January and February. Each time the experience has been not only memorable but also nourishing, for the body and the soul. peddlersvillage.com/harts
Ivory Tree Portraits’ Newtown studio arose from owner Lara Aman Mattey’s desire to make family photography seamless and easy for busy working parents in Bucks County. The images captured by Ivory Tree photographers are the kind that families will want to display for years to come, in part because they’re meant to capture a child’s true essence—a timeless reminder of what makes her or him unique. Readers who live closer to the Main Line can also visit Ivory Tree Portraits’ flagship location in Wayne. ivorytreeportraits.com
Its coordinates within a strip center on a busy stretch of Street Road in Warminster may not be anything special, but the menu at La Voglia Italian Restaurant certainly is. From the appetizers to the pizzas to the Italian entrées to the top-tier desserts, this BYOB never fails to impress. We’re tickled to learn that La Voglia has a sister restaurant across the county line in Huntingdon Valley. Although we haven’t taken a seat at the sister location just yet, it’s at the top of our short list of places to visit in the very near future. lavogliaitalianrestaurant.com
Among the many luminaries associated with Bucks County, perhaps none is more consequential than Pearl S. Buck. The late author of such pivotal novels as the Pulitzer-winning The Good Earth used her platform to advocate for human rights, particularly for people of color, people with disabilities, women, and immigrants. Learn more about her work and her philanthropy at the fabulous Pearl S. Buck House, a National Historic Landmark museum in Perkasie devoted to the literature, life, and legacy of an extraordinary human being. pearlsbuck.org
Who needs a homogenized coffeehouse experience when there are standouts like Pretty Bird Coffee on Yardley’s Main Street. Pretty Bird pours a fabulous cup, with the full spectrum of roasts. The food menu is rather good, too—scones, avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches, etc. If you’re in the mood for something a bit meatier, per se, we hear there’s a smashingly good burger joint nearby. prettybirdcoffee.com
A producer of “own make” confections since 1938, Stutz Candy Company specializes in boxed chocolates, fudge, and chocolate-covered pretzels, among other gems, that have been savored by generations of families. Stutz is in the business of manufacturing joy, not just sweet treats; walking the aisles of its store in Warrington (or, we imagine, its sister locations in Hatboro and LBI) is like stepping back in time, in the best possible way, and remembering to indulge in the little things that make us happy. stutzcandy.com
Pretty much everyone who came of age in Richboro, Southampton, and Warminster remembers making trips to Tanner Bros. Dairy in Ivyland. Many continue to go back, even after they’ve moved away, driven by memories of getting ice cream cones at the counter, smelling the overwhelming aromas of fresh produce, and mooing at the dairy cows in the field outback. More than 100 years after its founding, Tanner Bros. remains a vital community staple for produce, dairy, and other essentials. The packed parking lot proves that, in a landscape dominated by corporate giants, Tanner’s charm is tough to duplicate. facebook.com/tannerbrothersdairy
Besides the standouts already mentioned, the following institutions, professionals, and service providers add to the remarkable quality of life offered by Bucks County: Alliance Cancer Specialists, which has multiple area locations (alliancecancer.com), Bucks County Orthodontics in Doylestown (buckscountyorthodontics.com), Cherry Roofing & Siding in Bensalem (cherryroofingandsiding.com), Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol (lowerbuckshosp.com), Pets Furst Urgent Care in Langhorne (petsfursturgentcare.com), Rosenello’s Windows in Andalusia (rosenelloswindows.com), and St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne (trinityhealthma.org).
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 Bucks County or elsewhere), let us know. Email us at editor@suburbanlifemagazine.com.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, October 2024.
