Places to Eat and Visit
Philadelphia is a wonderful city with amazing things to see and places to go. Josh and Laura spent five incredible years there, and have lots of recommendations for attractions, sites, and restaurants. Because they are both dorky history majors, many of their recommendations involve old pieces of paper and cracked bells. You have been warned.
Places to Eat
Farmacia
2nd Street between Market Street and Chestnut Street
$$
A great little restaurant that lets you BYO or order from the bar. New American and in a cute neighborhood.
Eulogy
2nd and Chestnut
$
A Belgian beer hall that serves great burgers and moules frites. The beer list is endless.
SoHo Pizza
2nd and Market
$
A great pizza place near the Hyatt. It’s right in the heart of Old City, so grab a slice while you are exploring.
Matyson
19th between Market and Chestnut
$$$
Josh and Laura’s favorite BYO. This New American style restaurant is one of the best in the city. For those not familiar with Philadelphia dining, obsolete-but-still-in-effect Quaker liquor laws make it nigh-impossible for a restaurant to get a liquor license. Thus, they let you bring your own. Pick up a nice bottle of wine at any wine store in the city, and expect a delicious dinner.
Pat's and Gino's (but obviously go to Pat's)
10th and Passyunk
$
These are the famous dueling cheesesteak establishments directly across the street from each other. If you want to know why Philly is one of the most overweight cities in America, check it out. Make sure you study the menu board for instructions on how to order while you wait in line, otherwise you’ll look like a tourist and the cashier will yell at you. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Moriarty's
Walnut between 11th and 12th
$
This pub serves the best buffalo wings in Philadelphia.
Reading Terminal Market
12th and Arch
$-$$
This enormous market is filled with stalls serving everything from handmade Amish cheese to Italian sandwiches to Thai food. Really, you can get any kind of food imaginable, so it’s a great place to go with a big group. Find a table in the back, send everyone off to the stall of their choice, and be prepared for a quintessential Philly experience.
Koch's
42nd and Spruce
$$
The best deli in Philadelphia by a significant margin. Be prepared to wait a long time for your sandwich, even if you are the only person in line. Don’t despair though, because Mr. Koch will constantly supply you with sliced treats of the meat and cheese variety while you wait. No tables, so it’s best to get something to go.
Cart Food!
various locations around Penn's campus
If you get into Philly early and have the chance on Friday (trucks aren’t there on the weekends, except Bui’s), go up to Penn’s campus and explore the food trucks. Seriously, trust us – you can eat the food from the trucks. It’s cheap, delicious, and perfectly safe. Josh would have starved to death without the trucks. Some favorites:
Bui’s – 38th and Spruce. If you go here, order a egg and cheese sandwich (plus bacon if that’s your thing). You probably want salt and pepper, but decline the invitation for ketchup.
MexiCali – 37th and Spruce. Excellent Mexican burritos.
Magic Carpet – 34th and Walnut. Ask for magic meatballs, they are vegetarian. Trust us.
Hemo’s – 37th and Spruce. Sandwiches, hot dogs, and cheesesteaks. Don’t forget the Hemo’s sauce.
Indian Food Truck Guy – 37th and Walnut (behind Pottruck Gym). Josh spent all of college convincing this guy that he wanted it spicier. The guy happily obliged. Also comes in non-spicy.
Kim’s – 37th and Walnut (behind Pottruck Gym). Chinese food, and just about everything is good.
Places to Visit
National Constitution Center
Arch Street between 5th and 6th.
This is the most interactive history museum in the country. The exhibits focus on the Constitution, the Founding, and early American history. It’s very close to the Independence Hall and Liberty Bell museum if you want to make a whole afternoon of historical tourism.
Independence Hall
Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th
These historic structures are where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Articles of Confederation were written. Guided tours through the collection of buildings run throughout the day.
Liberty Bell
Market Street between 5th and 6th
A fun, short museum about the most famous cracked metal in history. Much more emotionally impactful than you’d expect.
Old City
The area generally bounded by Arch Street on the north, Walnut Street on the south, 2nd Street on the east and 8th Street on the west, Old City is full of historic buildings and sites, as well as great shopping and restaurants.
Penn’s Landing
Walnut Street, east of 2nd Street
Just a few blocks north of the Hyatt, this walkway looks out over the Delaware River. It’s a nice spot to stop and snap a picture if you are walking around Old City.
South Street
South Street between Front and 10th Streets
A great, off-beat shopping street. It’s a fun place to check out galleries, used CD stores, and funky murals on every corner. Definitely do not miss the magic garden filled with mosaics and art made of trash.
Rittenhouse Square
Walnut and 18th Street
A beautiful urban square filled with fountains, lawns, and benches. Rittenhouse Square also has great shopping nearby, especially along Walnut Street to the east of the square.
University of Pennsylvania campus
Where Laura and Josh first met! The campus is a rectangle between 34th and 40th Streets and Walnut and Spruce Streets. The main drag – Locust Walk – is a beautiful tree-lined boulevard that definitely deserves a stroll if you are in the area.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Ben Franklin Parkway and 26th Street
Sitting on top of the famous “Rocky Steps” at the end of the Ben Franklin Parkway, this amazing museum has an extensive collection. Famous Van Goghs, Picassos, and Impressionist works stand beside an extensive collection of Marcel Duchamp and a wide variety of Asian art. It’s definitely worth a few hours.
The Hyatt Indoor Pool
If you are a guest at the Hyatt, don’t forget to bring your bathing suit! The hotel features a heated, indoor swimming pool overlooking the Delaware River.
