Philadelphia - By a Born & Raised Philly Local

Philly Philly - such a fun and vibrant city. Like all cities, there are areas I wouldn't go near and areas I wouldn't miss (Old City being one). I was born and raised in the Philly area so this is a bit of a jaded opinion - but Philly really has some of the BEST restaurants for foodies like me! There are a ton of restaurants, and great museums and the best part is Philadelphia is extremely walkable if you stay in the Center City/Old City region - you are in perfect walking distance of just about everything. This is a super quick top level guide to the city of brotherly love, here it goes...

WHERE TO STAY:

1. Bellevue

2. Kimpton

WHERE TO EAT:

1. Parc

2. Suraya

3. Cafe La Maude

WHERE TO GO OUT:

1. Ladder 15

2. McGillin's Olde Ale House

3. Bok Bar

4. Barstool

WHAT TO SEE: (For Fun & an Instagram Picture):

1. Magic Gardens

2. Elfreth's Alley

3. Rocky Steps @ the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Parc: This is truly my favorite restaurant in the city. The french food, the drinks, the ambiance, the staff - everything is perfect! It truly feels like you have been transported to Paris. I would recommend the shrimp salad - I daydream about this one!

Suraya: This restaurant is one of the top 5 best restaurants I have ever been to. I would absolutely do the tasting menu so you can get a true experience and taste everything. The food is so delicious!! ALSO highly recommend a cocktail here - all really unique and easy to drink.

Café La Maude: The only negative thing about this restaurant is that they don’t take reservations. The food is fresh and authentic with lots of healthy options. PRO TIP: this restaurant is BYOB and if you bring champagne, they will make you mimosas.

McGillin's Olde Ale House: This is a Philly classic for those under 30! Great music, great crowd and cheap drinks. Definitely dive bar energy.

Bok Bar: A cool location (converted high school) with great views. This casual rooftop is a perfect spot to meet your friends (day or night)!

Barstool: A new bar so it's clean and it is HUGE! Great place to go out at night; good vibes.

Magic Gardens: Magic gardens is a cute picture moment but also a really cool mosaic art display. FYI it is mainly outdoors so save this for a sunny day.

Elfreth's Alley: This is truly just a photo opportunity - but it's an iconic street in Old City and worth checking out if you're in need of an Instagram post.

Rocky Steps: An iconic moment for Philadelphia. These iconic stairs lead right to the Philadelphia Art Museum, a site also worth seeing. Currently they have a Harry Potter exhibit (as of 6/22/22).