Best of Montgomery County 2025
Celebrating the many riches of Montco.
I have spent exactly half my life so far residing in Montgomery County, and you don’t stay somewhere for that long unless you love it. The area where my wife and I live now, right on the border with Bucks County, has everything we could possibly want. Acres upon acres of open farmland surround us, as do spacious parks with more trees than one person could count in a lifetime. As a counterbalance, we’re also a 15-minute drive from all the trappings of civilization—excellent restaurants, top-tier schools, quality health care, and so much more.
We’re sorry to say we could not highlight all the special things unique to this part of the world. Rather, let the establishments featured here serve as a celebration of the many riches that make Montco such a great place to call home.
Head to downtown Ambler and take a seat at Act II Playhouse for a performance to remember. Helmed by Artistic Director Tony Brathwaite, the 130-seat theater stages a host of classic and contemporary plays and musicals. Its most recent: Misery, adapted from Stephen King’s haunting novel of the same name—perfect fodder for the spooky season surrounding Halloween. Each production is a masterpiece, yet Act II serves theater lovers in multiple ways, including educational workshops designed to help performers fine tune the fundamentals of what it takes to hold the stage. act2.org
The Philadelphia area has no shortage of interesting museums and one-of-a-kind curiosities. Among them is the American Treasure Tour Museum, a sprawling pop culture playground in Oaks. The museum blends nostalgia with the joy of discovery. Ride a tram through a panoply of vintage cars, music machines, toys, and oddities from before the digital age. For younger visitors, it’s a wild introduction to a world that defies explanation. For older folks, it’s a sigh-inducing journey into the not-too-distant past. americantreasuretour.com
At Branch Creek Taphouse, enjoy craft beer from a self pour tap wall, a comfortable indoor/outdoor space, and the satisfaction that comes from supporting an establishment with kindness in its heart. Its mission, as cheeky as it sounds, is not to make money, but to use its proceeds to help children and teens in need. Founded in 2023 by local owners with deep community roots, the taphouse has become a gathering place for all seasons—especially during the kinder, gentler months—to partake in fine food, excellent beer, and good vibes. branchcreektaps.com
The Philadelphia suburbs are blessed to have a surfeit of fine independent bookstores: The Doylestown Bookshop and its sister location in Lahaska, The Next Chapter in Sellersville, Main Point Books in Wayne, Baldwin’s Book Barn in West Chester, Swarthmore’s newly opened Celia Bookshop. One of our favorites is Capricorn Books, a woman-owned shop in Jenkintown overflowing with new and used books, vinyl, and art of local provenance. It’s also a hub for bookish events—author signings, boozy book fairs, discussion groups, etc.—thereby adding to the region’s status as a literary linchpin. capricornbookshop.com
Harleysville’s Curry Leaf Nepali and Indian Cuisine serves authentic South Asian dishes renowned for their rich spices and intense flavors—from classic curries to a host of vegetarian specialties. The restaurant’s fantastic menu include the best iteration of mutter paneer a certain Suburban Life editor has ever had the opportunity to taste. It’s also unafraid to ramp up the heat level, when requested. Curry Leaf does a vibrant takeout business, and the dining room welcomes guests to take a seat in its relaxed dining room seven days a week. curryleafharleysvillepa.com
Bryn Mawr’s stylish il Fiore elevates Italian dining on the Main Line with modern twists on southern Italian classics of the hand-rolled pastas and dry-aged steaks sort. Besides its seasonal menu, il Fiore is also known for its handcrafted cocktails and seemingly endless wine cellar—more than 1,000 bottles from around the world. Ideal for special occasions or “just because,” il Fiore delivers an experience that is deliciously high end. ilfioremainline.com
Not all pizza places are created equal. Take Olcé Pizza Grille, a cozy spot in Cedars, as an example. Olcé does a lot more than just pizza, but the pies here are, in a word, inspired. Whether you prefer your pies simple (the classic or margherita) or surprising (the “Autumn,” featuring Brussels sprouts, mozzarella, gruyere, pecorino, and prosciutto), you’ll be quite happy with the proposed lineup. Bonus: Olcé is a stone’s throw from ridiculously charming Skippack Village, making it an ideal stop before or after strolling through the village and its eclectic shops. olcepizza.com
A visit to Ott’s Exotic Plants can easily become a tradition. Both historic and expansive, Ott’s features a lush greenhouse teeming with plants both rare and commonplace, though all quite impressive. It also boasts a dramatic indoor waterfall, a walk-through cave, and, perhaps its most Instagram-worthy feature, a towering hill abloom with thousands of chrysanthemums. Ott’s offers an experience worth returning to, whether you’re a phytophile or just someone who enjoys a day trip to see something neat. instagram.com/ottsexoticplants64
Hidden away on the second floor of a building off Collegeville’s Main Street, Trouble’s End Brewing is the kind of place that could be overlooked unless you went looking for it. To be clear, it’s definitely the kind of place to seek out. Aptly named, Trouble’s End serves up a breed of hospitality that makes all the world’s problems seem to fade away at least for a little while: ample taps for house-made craft beers and “guest” brews; an excellent food menu (pretzel buns!); and a festive vibe that will make you want to stick around for a while. troublesendbrewing.com
Whether you choose to sit in the dining room or at the well-appointed bar, Schwenksville’s Versante Italian Restaurant & Bar offers refined Italian cuisine in a setting to match. Snapshot of a recent meal enjoyed at an intimate table for two: arugula salad, shared; followed by the eggplant rollantini, also shared; two entrées, the sweet pea ravioli and the penne vodka, sans pancetta; a glass of chianti to tie everything together. Note to self: Next time save room for dessert. The editors are quite eager to try Versante’s two sister restaurants, Antica in Chadds Ford, and Il Granaio in Phoenixville. versantepa.com
"Misery" photo by Mark Garvin for Act II Playhouse
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, September 2025.
