We found a lot to eat in Philadelphia—not just cheesesteaks! From fine dining to quirky spots, we ate our way through the City of Brotherly Love and had lots of leftovers (which proved extra handy when we were stranded at PHL for six hours due to flight delays). I also have a bunch of spots bookmarked for next time!
Finding the Best Philadelphia Cheesesteaks
If you’re looking for cheesesteaks, head to Market Street, where you’ll find multiple spots, including Sonny’s (great service and still delicious as leftovers two days later), Campo’s, and Oh Brother Philly. My favorite was from Jim’s South Street. The open kitchen lets you watch every step as they cook the meat, layer on the cheese, and toast the bread. I saved my sandwich for almost 18 hours so I could enjoy it at home with Kenny, and it was still AMAZING.
Historic Dining and Sweet Treats
Franklin Fountain was the perfect spot to cool down on a hot day,, and since Philly was in the middle of a heat wave, ice cream was just the thing to keep us from melting. Franklin Fountain is also home to America’s first ice cream soda! The space is beautifully preserved, and the staff is wonderful. The ice cream? DELICIOUS. I got the Cherry Bomb, which is made with a house cherry soda and chocolate ice cream.
One of the coolest dining experiences we had was on our first evening at Moshulu. This historic tall ship has a past that’s completely different from the rest of the city—it was built in Scotland in 1904 and weathered both World Wars I and II. Now, it’s been beautifully restored as a fine dining establishment with a fantastic menu. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, brunch, and happy hour in the bar. We enjoyed the sunset from one of the portholes and walked around the ship between courses. Make sure to walk around! There is so much to see! This ship is an iconic part of the waterfront skyline and one visit makes it so easy to see why.
Another spot we really enjoyed was the White Dog Cafe. It has multiple locations, but the one in University City is housed in a set of historic brownstone buildings with its own history. The Victorian buildings house one of the cutest dog-themed restaurants, with canine-themed artwork throughout. From dapper gentlemen to furry-friend hardware pieces, it is the perfect spot for any dog lover. The restaurant also partners with Alpha Bravo Canine, a local nonprofit that donates service dogs to veterans. The owner also told me that much of the art was commissioned by a local artist, and White Dog Cafe also works with various foundations around Philly that help care for dogs in various situations. The food is also pretty outstanding!
Bakeries, Markets, and Upscale Rooftop Bites
We also found a couple of delightful bakeries in Philadelphia—each with a completely different look and feel. The Bread Room by Ellen Yin is close to Independence Mall,, and it’s the perfect spot for a quick pastry and coffee to recharge for sightseeing! We loved the miso tahini cookies and the iced miso latte! We also hit up Loretta’s, a super cute and colorful spot with delicious pastries and specialty drinks.
Reading Terminal Market is an absolute must for any foodie. We visited on our last day so we could bring some goodies home like the cheesesteak pretzel from Miller’s Twist, sticky buns from Beiler’s Bakery, and pork sandwiches from DiNic’s. Most of these carried really well over the nearly 24 hours it took us to get home! If I’d known we would be stranded for so long, I would have bought more food.
On our final night, we had dinner at Skyhigh, a rooftop lounge atop Four Seasons Philadelphia. While the view and the atmosphere were both absolutely stunning, the real star of the show is the food. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten helms Skyhigh’s kitchen, so everything on the menu is delicious. Don’t miss out on the wagyu cheesesteak spring rolls and the crispy sea trout sushi. Even the hot chocolate was pretty outstanding and the perfect way to end our last evening in Philadelphia.
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