Best of Philadelphia
We celebrate some of the finest restaurants, shops, and other attractions our gritty yet glamorous city brings to the table.
I grew up in the far Northeast corner of Philadelphia—and it’s never left me, even when I wanted to leave it. There’s just something about the city and its people that gets in your blood. Even though I don’t much care for football, I was thrilled when the Birds won the big game last year, because I knew what it meant to the city and the people who live and die there.
The Philadelphia of 2025 is far different than the Philadelphia I knew as a kid. It now has just about everything a person could possibly want—fantastic restaurants, amazing museums and other cultural destinations, vibrant nightlife, a nonstop calendar of events. And, of course, there are the cheesesteaks, hoagies, and other touchstones that Philly has become known for around the globe.
In the following pages we celebrate all things Philadelphia with some of our favorite ways to spend time in the city. We could devote the whole magazine to Philly’s riches, and even then we’d surely have to leave a few things on the cutting-room floor.
For anyone who considers breakfast and brunch their favorite meals of the day, Café La Maude in Northern Liberties is difficult to top. The menu of French- and Lebanese-inspired cuisine includes savory and sweet options aplenty—pancakes, parfait, omelets and Benedicts, etc.—including an inventive take on huevos rancheros. Apart from the food, Café La Maude gives off strong Parisian-street-cafe vibes. In other words, it’s the kind of place that can easily become a habit. cafelamaude.com
Ozzy Osbourne’s recent passing underscored America’s decades-long love affair with heavy metal. At the appropriately named Doom on North 7th Street, indulge in handcrafted cocktails and spirits, as well as “rituals” (another name for the victuals found on the well-curated menu, everything from smoked pork nachos to the barbecue jackfruit sandwich). Of course, expect healthy doses of your favorite bang-your-head, horns-in-the-air music to lighten the mood. doom.bar
Head to Evil Genius Brewing Co.’s taproom in Fishtown for some seriously inventive, and inventively named, beers. Whether you opt for the Purple Monkey Dishwasher (a chocolate peanut butter porter) or a There’s No Crying in Baseball (a hazy mango IPA) or a 6 Degrees of Fermentation (a dry-hopped Kölsch), Evil Genius’s brews do not disappoint. Its beers make fine bedfellows with selections from its menu of starters, sandwiches, and other casual fare. evilgeniusbeer.com
Everybody loves Geno’s, Pat’s, Steve’s, and Tony Luke’s—we do, too—but our go-to has always been Jim’s on South Street. After a fire that kept the doors shuttered for far too long, Jim’s has risen from the ashes and returned to slinging some of the city’s finest whiz-wit cheesesteaks, pepper steaks, and other treasures from the griddle. jimssouthstreet.com
It’s one of Philadelphia’s most distinctive and historic cemeteries, but Laurel Hill is so much more than a place where locals come to mourn and remember loved ones who have passed. Its two campuses—Laurel Hill East in the city’s Paradise neighborhood, and Laurel Hill West in Bala Cynwyd—bloom with approximately 6,000 specimen trees and shrubs, including several state-champion trees. The scenic grounds are open to visitors every day of the year; they come for exercise, to immerse themselves in history, and to explore an environment prized for its quietude and natural beauty. In addition, Laurel Hill offers tours, distinctive concerts, and year-round educational programming. laurelhillphl.com
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens on South Street is unlike any other museum in the Philadelphia area. An open-air gem brought to life by the hands and imagination of the artist Isaiah Zagar, the Magic Gardens comprises a seemingly unending canvas of urban mosaics. It’s an astounding achievement that deserves to be experienced at least once. phillymagicgardens.org
Nothing melts away stress like a walk among the trees. You’ll have plenty to choose from at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania in Chestnut Hill. A stone’s throw from the dividing line separating city from suburbs, Morris Arboretum offers a picturesque escape for city dwellers and suburbanites alike. Acres upon acres of trees, rolling hills, and wetlands, among other natural wonders, are a feast for the senses. morrisarboretum.org
An independent bookstore is much more than a place to buy books; it serves as a gathering space, a meeting spot, and the pulse of a community. A Novel Idea in Passyunk hosts author events, does in-house tarot card readings, and even does story time for kids. Of course, it’s also a cozy spot to spend an hour or two in search of the next addition to the ever-growing TBR pile atop or next to your nightstand. anovelideaphilly.com
Make room for us on the Pizzeria Beddia bandwagon. This Fishtown favorite turns out some of the city’s best pizza, each starting with a base of 100 percent organic flour. While you can choose a few different pizza iterations and dress them up with premium add-ons if you wish, the “standard” pie—tomato, whole-milk mozzarella, and Royer Mountain cheese—is close to perfect. pizzeriabeddia.com
Not to take anything away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Barnes Foundation, but the Rodin Museum is our favorite place on the Parkway to soak up the city’s cultural largesse. The Rodin showcases the many sculptures of Auguste Rodin—The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, among them. The interior is fairly intimate as far as museums go, letting you take in all the items on display and leave plenty of time for the Barnes, the Art Museum, or any other cultural destination on the docket. rodinmuseum.org
Not to take anything away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Barnes Foundation, but the Rodin Museum is our favorite place on the Parkway to soak up the city’s cultural largesse. The Rodin showcases the many sculptures of Auguste Rodin—The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, among them. The interior is fairly intimate as far as museums go, letting you take in all the items on display and leave plenty of time for the Barnes, the Art Museum, or any other cultural destination on the docket. rodinmuseum.org
Duck into Shane Confectionery in Old City for a carnival of delights capable of satisfying any sweet tooth. Shane Confectionery, which owns the title of the country’s oldest continuously operating confection shop, makes handcrafted chocolates and other sweet treats that build on the city’s long history as a maker of exceptional confections. As a bonus, Shane Confectionery is only steps away from The Franklin Fountain, just in case you fancy a well-made milkshake, sundae, or ice cream cone. shanecandies.com
Suraya serves up inspired dishes rooted in the cuisine of the Levant, each one abounding with color, texture, and intense flavor. Think baba ghanoush, tabouleh, and some of the richest, smoothest hummus you’ll ever have—and there’s so much more. It’s easy to see why this Fishtown spot took home “restaurant of the year” honors just a few years ago. It remains one of our absolute favorites, and not only because of the food. A seat in Suraya’s dining room offers an experience that’s nothing short of thrilling, well worth every penny. surayaphilly.com
The wood-fired pizza at Toska Restaurant + Brewery on Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy is some of the best we’ve had in recent memory. But there’s a lot more to love here than just pizza. Toska’s fantastic food menu includes the likes of bacon-wrapped starters (shrimp or asparagus), Wagyu burgers and cheeseburger sliders, and some inventive pastas. The assortment of adult libations is pretty darned good, too, including the house-made brews on tap. toskabrewery.com
More to Love About Philly
These vibrant professionals, organizations, and destinations add to the exceptional quality of life for people who live, work, and play in Philadelphia: Accents By Michele (accentsbymichele.com); B. De Michele Inc. (demicheleinc.com); Camden Apothecary (camdenapothecary.com); G. Fedale (gfedale.com); Gale Nurseries (galenurseries.com); Groovy Hues (groovyhues.com/philadelphia-pa); Rosenello’s (rosenelloswindows.com); and Jon O’Shea of McCann Commercial/Keller Williams Main Line (mccannteamcommercial.com).
These vibrant professionals, organizations, and destinations add to the exceptional quality of life for people who live, work, and play in Philadelphia: Accents By Michele (accentsbymichele.com); B. De Michele Inc. (demicheleinc.com); Camden Apothecary (camdenapothecary.com); G. Fedale (gfedale.com); Gale Nurseries (galenurseries.com); Groovy Hues (groovyhues.com/philadelphia-pa); Rosenello’s (rosenelloswindows.com); and Jon O’Shea of McCann Commercial/Keller Williams Main Line (mccannteamcommercial.com).
Photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, July 2025
