My beloved Philly has got something for everyone. Whether your idea of the perfect vacation is stuffing your face, bar hopping, shopping like crazy, sightseeing at historic landmarks, or taking in the scenery, Philadelphia is the perfect place for you. Best of all, Philly is remarkably affordable, so you won’t spend a fortune on your trip.
Bru did such a fantabulous job with her profile of Philly last year that I’m not even going to try to compare. Check out her post for hotel info, shopping, sightseeing and more. I’m going to expand upon my favorite thing about my city and about any city: the food and drink.
Get ready to drool!
Noms:
In my opinion, Philly is a foodie’s paradise. I could easily write ten blog posts full of my restaurant recommendations, so narrowing it down to just a few will be difficult.
Iron Chef Jose Garces owns several restaurants in Philly, and they are all fantastic. I especially recommend Amada and Tinto for tapas, and Distrito for the mouthwatering Mexican.
If you like mussels and/or beer, you absolutely have to check out Monk’s Cafe, a casual Belgian bistro that specializes in both. Get a pot or two of their tasty mussels (with a side of the best frites you’ll ever eat), and marvel at their beer list, which is the size of a phone book.
For a trendy night out, check out the Continental Midtown. The decor alone is worth the trip but the food, Asian-inspired small plates, is delish as well (I recommend the lobster grilled cheese). People always say that this place looks like something out of Sex and the City.
Philly also has a great selection of gastropubs. If you’re looking for some high-end pub food and a frosty brew, check out Standard Tap, Johnny Brenda’s, the Sidecar Bar, the Royal Tavern, or Devil’s Alley.
I’m a huge sushi fan, and the best sushi I’ve ever eaten is actually outside of the city. About 10 minutes away, over the river. Sagami in Collingswood, N.J. is out of the way, in a strange area, and doesn’t have any ambiance, but the food is spectacular. If you don’t feel like heading into Jersey, or you want something much more upscale, I recommend Morimoto (owned by the Iron Chef). For something less expensive than Morimoto but still both yummy and trendy, try Haru.
I could go on forever, but instead, I’ll just give you a list of some of my other favorite places to eat:
Drinks:
If you’re the type of person who likes to dance till dawn or hang out in luxurious lounges with bottle service, well, I’m not going to be much help. I’m a dive bar girl through and through. And I don’t feel comfortable giving the Official Sloth Endorsement to places I’ve never been. Sorry, guys.
But. If, like me, you enjoy dark little places with cheap booze and good jukeboxes, I’ve got you covered.
Mere words can’t describe how rad Bob and Barbara’s is. They’ve got the $3 Philly Special (a can of PBR and a shot of Jim Beam). They have weekly porn bingo, drag shows, ping pong and, on the weekends, a jazz band comprised of men in their 80s and 90s.
Sugar Mom and Tattooed Mom are both great little places with a lot of character. Both offer silly little toys and crayons to play with and cozy couches to chill on. Tattooed Mom is definitely the grittier of the two, but it’s a worthy experience.
More of my favorite divey dives:
Shop ‘Til You Drop:
If you like to cook, definitely check out the Italian Market and Reading Terminal Market, where you can grab lunch or pick up cheap produce, pasta, spices, and basically any other culinary treat you can think of.
And it wouldn’t be a Philly food post without Cheesesteaks:
But if you ask any Philly native, they’ll tell you that there are three top cheesesteak competitors: Pat’s, Geno’s and Jim’s. I’m no connoisseur, but I think that I prefer Jim’s the most. But, if you want the full cheesesteak experience, you need to go to Pat’s or Geno’s, across the street from each other down in South Philly, just so that you can wait in line surrounded by tacky neon signs and tourists. Order a “cheesesteak whiz wit” which means with cheese whiz and “wit” onions.
I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface here, but I think this is enough to give you a mouthwatering culinary adventure here in Philly.
Philly bees – what are your favorite restaurants in the city? Are there any biggies that I missed?
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See all the posts in the Honeymoon in my Hometown Series here!
Holy crap, I would have had my wedding at Morimoto just for the spectacular decor. That place looks AWESOME!
Amada is my fav too!! Waht about the one on a ship…I forget how to spell it, starts with an M. I did the all you can eat steak place too but felt a little ill after…..
Wow Sloth! Great post, you really covered some of the best places in the city. I had my bachelorette at Continental and I’ve been to many of the places you’ve listed. My top spot though has to be McGillin’s – the oldest bar in the city hidden away in an alley across from El Vez. Maybe I’m partial b/c Hubs used to bounce there and we still know everyone there, But still and awesome place with great food, cheap drinks and karaoke on Friday nights. Plus the walls literally tell the history of the city and the bar from the revolution on.
M’kay, great synopsis! I love Amada! Devil’s alley is literally one of my favorite spots in the city, I was sooo happy you included it!! I won’t insult by giving my personal opinions on cheesesteaks, because it does get heated, let’s leave it there 
Bob and Barbara’s is hysterical, I’ve been there for dirty bingo AND the drag show, but you have to warn your out-of-town friends before heading over there… it can be a bit of a surprise! For a yuppier crowd, the young working professionals, might I recommend Public House?? They have good drinks and really decent food. I’m also a HUGE fan of Philly BYOBs. My favorites being Sonata (you must go there!!), Pesto, Hinge cafe, Gnocchi (that’s right, a restaurant named after my favorite food!!), Mercato… the list would go on for too long!!! I do love this city’s food!! And consequently loooooved your entry title!
Shoot, I forgot, possibly one of my favorites, and if you like Mexican, you must check it out! Taqueria La Veracruzana in the Italian Market… best mexican food I’ve ever eaten!
fab post! sagami is my fave restaurant anywhere. for sushi in the city, i have a soft spot for pod. love the color drinks and decor!
Jim’s is totally my favorite cheesesteak of the big three. Although if you’re on South Street and the line at Jim’s is too long, Steaks on South, a block or two down (maybe 2nd and South) does (or did, it’s been a while since I’ve indulged) a really good one too, if not the “classic”.
I’m going to have to disagree with Miss Kid though and say that the lesser known, poorly named Moctezuma (On 9th street, just south of Washington) has better fresher Mexican. Or El Jarocho on South 13th, but then you’re getting further from anything else worth seeing…
ChillyBear, one of my husband’s friends used to bounce at McGillans too (like five+ years ago – Larry, ring any bells, dark hair, beard, giant.)
What else, oh if you’re on South Street and in the mood for Middle Eastern, I LOVE Alyan’s on 4th (between the tattoo shops). Get the fries with the fried chilis and onions.
And I’ll give a shout out to Sidecar, since I live three blocks away and am there WAY too frequently. We’re in love with the mushroom dip. Indeed, I have a hard time going to brunch because all I want is the mushroom dip.
Great job Sloth!
@Christine: Such a small world Jon knows Larry i only met him once or twice and I’ve heard stories, but Big Mike, James, Adam, Moose and Amanda were all at our wedding. Jon worked there from 2004-2008 bouncing and as a bar back
New Deck is another favorite of the Penn/Drexel Crowd and their Quizzo is awesome.
This is making me hungry – when is the next restaurant week? Its better than christmas
So funny ChillyBear! Now I feel like we need to have another Philly meet up, since I missed the last one.
Oh man, the food in Philly is SO GOOD. Mr. Cardy and I are STILL drooling over the food at Ladder 15 from Mr. & Mrs. Socks’ wedding. AMAZING.
@Christine: @ChillyBear: We’re planning another Philly meetup! http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/philly-meetup-sunday-december-12th
I love Alyan’s as well. I get falafel cravings quite frequently and theirs is tasty.
@Miss Kid: Is Sonata the place in Liberties Walk? I used to live around the corner from there and went there right after it opened. It was fantastic. Chloe is another amazing BYOB – it’s in Olde City.
@BM Matty: The Moshulu is the ship. I’ve never been there
I love Fuji Mountain for sushi and their third floor karaoke bar is a lot of fun. I have been to a few birthday parties up there.
For some authentic Middle Eastern food, two recommendations:
Mama’s Falafel, the closest thing to real Israeli falafel in Philly, and some say in the entire US! Everything is fresh. They bake the pitas there even. Very casual. And Divan Turkish Kitchen in Grad Hospital. Amazing, authentic, and affordable food!
I love all the places you mentioned, Sloth!
I second McGillin’s and El Vez! I also used to love to go to Tequila’s, but I think they’re gone now 
(
I grew up outside Philly and Jim’s is my favorite and where I take everyone when they visit!
I met my husband at Dirty Frank’s. Yeah, for reals. We even mentioned the classy establishment in our wedding ceremony.
Sloth, you’ve highlighted some of the best here! It’s been forever since I had a Special! Philly also has so many great BYOs – try Audrey Claire and Matyson.
Finally, visitors should definitely check out Philly’s murals. There are tours or you’ll see tons just walking around the city. My favorite is at 22nd and Walnut.
@MadGrace: When got my first apartment in the city, it was three blocks from Dirty Frank’s, one block from McGlinchey’s, and one block from Bob and Barbara’s. LOVED living near those places.
@junebug12: Tequila’s is gone? NOOOOO. How did I not know about that?
Jims has the best steaks HANDS DOWN!!! Monks is the best as well.
Oh wow, I used to live in Philly and you just made me miss it so badly!! Sloth, I have to recommend a place to you (maybe you’ve already been) – it’s called Paloma (http://www.palomafinedining.com/) and I went when they were in a hole in the wall in wayyy North Philly (practically suburbs), but it looks like they’ve moved. The chef is Mexican but trained in French cooking, so it’s sort French fine dining with classy Mexican flavors and AMAZING. It’s a little expensive, but next time you have something to celebrate, you should bring the Mr. and check it out!
Ms. Sloth, Philadelphia Age and Occupation: 35, Account Manager and Fashion Blogger Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Design Admin Engagement Date: December 25, 2009 Wedding Date: May 2011 Venue: Bartram's Garden About Me: I'm an internet junkie and music snob with a good eye for a bargain. I couldn't live without thrift store shopping, cheeseburgers, sushi, Coke Zero, websites devoted to silly photos of baby animals, Photoshop, and Mr. Sloth. Speaking of which, he and I are a pair of goofball homebody nerds who love our beagle (the most ridiculously adorable dog EVER) to an embarrassing degree. We're planning a low-key and intimate yet festive and quirky outdoor wedding with DIY details and deeply personal touches, and it's all taking place in the city where we fell in love and call home: Philadelphia.
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