16 splurge rooms in Philadelphia, editor-picked. tasting menus and the full big-night-out treatment in Philadelphia. All Philadelphia food.
Zahav ★ 4.9
old-city · 237 Saint James Place, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Zahav in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov's modern Israeli room near Society Hill, James Beard's Outstanding Restaurant in America in 2019 and one.
Tip: Book 30 days out on Resy at 10am Eastern. The Mesibah feast lands at the family table.
Vetri Cucina ★ 4.8
center-city · 1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia is Marc Vetri's 1998 Spruce Street townhouse tasting menu, a Michelin-recognised Italian room with the spinach gnocchi.
Tip: Book 60 days out on the venue's own site. The eight-seat counter is the room's quiet best seat.
Royal Sushi & Izakaya ★ 4.8
queen-village · 780-782 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Philadelphia is the eight-seat Queen Village omakase counter behind the front-room izakaya, ranked among North America's 50 Best.
Tip: The omakase books out 30 days at midnight on Resy. The izakaya front room takes walk-ups most weeknights.
Zahav ★ 4.8
237 Saint James Place, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Zahav in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov's modern Israeli room, James Beard's Outstanding Restaurant in America 2019 and the city's most-booked tasting.
Tip: Resy opens 30 days out at 10am. The Mesibah books fastest. The salatim spread is what to order if you want a la carte.
Vernick Food & Drink ★ 4.7
center-city · 2031 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Vernick Food & Drink in Philadelphia is Greg Vernick's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2017 Rittenhouse bi-level brownstone, with the avocado toast.
Tip: The chef's counter on the second floor watches the open kitchen. Book it specifically when reserving.
Ambra ★ 4.7
queen-village · 705 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Ambra in Philadelphia is Chris D'Ambro and Marina de Oliveira's 16-seat Italian tasting menu on South 4th in Queen Village, the city's most personal.
Tip: Book at exactly 30 days out at 10am on the venue's site. Saturday seatings fill in the first 90 seconds.
Royal Sushi & Izakaya (omakase) ★ 4.7
780-782 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Royal Sushi omakase in Philadelphia is Jesse Ito's eight-seat Queen Village sushi counter behind the front izakaya, on North America's 50 Best 2025.
Tip: Resy opens at midnight 30 days out. Saturday seatings book in the first 60 seconds.
Vetri Cucina ★ 4.6
1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia is Marc Vetri's 1998 Spruce Street Italian townhouse tasting menu, the city's defining hand-cut-pasta fine-dining room.
Tip: Eight-seat counter at the back is the room's quiet best. Specify when booking on the venue site.
Friday Saturday Sunday ★ 4.6
261 S 21st St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia is Chad and Hanna Williams's narrow Rittenhouse townhouse, James Beard Best New Restaurant 2019, with the mushroom.
Tip: The upstairs bar takes walk-ups. The natural-wine list runs deeper than the cellar list.
Kalaya ★ 4.5
4 W Palmer St, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Kalaya in Philadelphia is Chutatip 'Nok' Suntaranon's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2022 Southern Thai room in Fishtown, on Palmer Street.
Tip: Book a week out on Resy. The 5pm seating clears quickest if you want a table without a wait.
Vernick Food & Drink ★ 4.4
2031 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Vernick Food & Drink in Philadelphia is Greg Vernick's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic Rittenhouse bi-level brownstone, with the avocado toast.
Tip: The chef's counter on the second floor watches the open kitchen. Book it specifically when reserving.
Ambra ★ 4.3
705 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Ambra in Philadelphia is Chris D'Ambro and Marina de Oliveira's 16-seat Italian tasting menu on South 4th in Queen Village, the city's most personal.
Tip: Book at exactly 30 days out, 10am on the venue site. Wednesday and Thursday clear faster than Saturday.
Laser Wolf ★ 4.2
1301 N Howard St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Laser Wolf in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's Israeli skewer-grill in Olde Kensington at Howard and Master, the casual sibling to Zahav.
Tip: Walk in at the bar before 18:00 on a weeknight. Reservations stretch 2 weeks on Resy.
Suraya ★ 4.2
1528 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Suraya in Philadelphia is the Fishtown Lebanese market, garden and restaurant on Frankford Avenue, the modern Levantine showroom Michael Solomonov's team.
Tip: Brunch on the back garden patio in summer is the room's best seat. Saturday 10am books out fastest.
Fork ★ 4.1
306 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Fork in Philadelphia is Ellen Yin's 1997 Old City flagship on Market Street, James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur 2022, a cornerstone of the city's modern.
Tip: The bar runs a separate menu and a half-price oyster happy hour weekday afternoons. Walk in for it.
Forsythia ★ 4.0
233 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Forsythia in Philadelphia is Christopher Kearse's modern French bistro on Chestnut in Old City, a 2025 Michelin Guide pick with rabbit porchetta.
Tip: Happy hour from 16:30 weekdays runs half-price oysters and a French 75. Walk in for it.