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- See Philly like a Local
- Rocky’s Legendary Philadelphia Weekend
- National Geographic Traveler's "Next Great City"
Night 1
Spend the night in the century-old Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue hotel, which is both elegant and centrally located, making it a great base for exploration. Once you’re settled, take an evening walk across Broad Street to the emerging neighborhood known as Mid-town Village, largely developed by Tony Goldman, a key player in South Beach and SoHo real estate markets. Stop in for a scoop of artisanal gelato at Capogiro or a Jimaca Margarita at Stephen Starr’s Nuevo-Mexican restaurant El Vez.
Day 1
Sightseeing in Philadelphia begins in Old City. First get an espresso and muffin at Old City Coffee, then head over to the Independence Visitor Center to chart a course through the Historic District, which encompasses Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center and the multimedia National Constitution Center.
Spend the rest of the morning exploring this stylish neighborhood’s galleries and boutiques, which sell everything from doggie accessories (Bonejour) to furniture (Dane Decor) to locally made clothing (Smak Parlour).
Next up is a walk in Washington Square, originally commissioned by city founder William Penn. For a glamorous lunch, stop at Stephen Starr’s famous Buddakan restaurant or continue westward to Reading Terminal Market, a 19th-century train terminal, for a more casual meal at one of nearly 80 vendors.
From there, you can glimpse the bronze statue of William Penn atop City Hall and the John Wanamaker Building (made famous by the 1987 film Mannequin), now home to a Macy’s department store (Philadelphia does not charge tax on clothing and shoes!). Then, visit the nearby Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and its excellent collection of American art.
Night 2
Dinner is at one of Walnut Street’s posh eateries. Choose from European-inspired Chinese cuisine at Susanna Foo, five-star French elegance at Le Bec-Fin, stellar seafood at Striped Bass or creative Latin American fare at Alma de Cuba.
Then, its concert time at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the stunning glass-and-brick theater on Avenue of the Arts, where you’ll find choral, classical and jazz performances. Alternatively, visitChinatown for a rock show at the Trocadero. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, you might be able to catch one of the occasional indie acts at the Vox Populi arts collective on nearby Cherry Street.
Day 2
Stop by the Italian Market at its freshest, beginning with brunch at Morning Glory Diner. Market must-sees include Talluto’s homemade pastas, DiBruno Brothers’ enormous selection of cheese and Fante’s cookware. Of course, no visit to the city is complete without a stop at Pat’s or Geno’s, legendary cheesesteak shops facing off at 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue. Another option is the authentic roast pork sandwich at Chickie’s Italian Deli in South Philly.
A walk down bustling South Street reveals a blend of funky, punk, urban, vintage and designer goods. Spend the remainder of the day in Rittenhouse Square. There’s still some shopping to do, so stop at the neighborhood’s tiny shops—many of which are housed in converted mansions—like Adresse and Anthropologie.
And make sure to save time for an out-of-city excursion to The Barnes Foundation in Merion, where Impressionist paintings and artifacts from around the world are displayed in Dr. Albert Barnes’s family home. (Reservations required).
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