$$$$New AmericanCenter City
Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia is Chad and Hanna Williams's narrow Rittenhouse townhouse, James Beard Best New Restaurant 2019 and the city's most.
OrderThe mushroom soup, with foie gras toast on the side. The dish that anchored their James Beard year.
TipThe upstairs bar takes walk-ups. The wine list runs natural and the pours arrive faster than reservations.
$$$$Southern ThaiFishtown
Kalaya in Philadelphia is Chutatip 'Nok' Suntaranon's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2022 Southern Thai room in Fishtown, on Palmer Street since the move.
OrderThe khua kling dry-fried pork with rice; the massaman curry; Nok's mother's coconut soup.
TipBook a week out on Resy. The 5pm seating clears quickest if you want a table without a wait.
$$$$Pizza, ItalianFishtown
Pizzeria Beddia in Philadelphia is Joe Beddia's Fishtown reincarnation of the Bon Appetit 2015 America's Best Pizza, with a margherita pie and a separate.
OrderMargherita with sungold tomatoes; a salad of every herb in the kitchen.
TipThe hoagie room books separately. Reserve it for groups of four to six who want lunch sandwiches.
$$$$Cocktail bar
Hop Sing Laundromat in Philadelphia is the unmarked Chinatown speakeasy on Race Street since 2012, with 1,000-plus rare spirits, strict house rules.
$$$$IsraeliKensington
Laser Wolf in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's Israeli skewer-grill at Howard and Master in Olde Kensington, the casual sibling to Zahav.
OrderThe mixed grill plate with beef shipudim and lamb merguez; the salatim spread to start.
TipWalk in at the bar before 18:00 on a weeknight. Reservations stretch out 2 weeks on the Resy calendar.
$$$$Pizza, ItalianFishtown
Pizzeria Beddia in Philadelphia is Joe Beddia's Fishtown reincarnation of the Bon Appetit America's Best Pizza of 2015, with a hoagie room behind the dining.
OrderThe margherita with sungold cherry tomatoes; a salad of every herb in the kitchen.
TipThe hoagie room books separately. Reserve it for groups of four to six who want lunch sandwiches.
$$$$Cocktail bar
Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia is the Rittenhouse 16th Street Belgian beer bar since 1997 from Tom Peters and Fergus Carey, with 200-plus Belgian and craft.
$$$$Wine bar
Bloomsday in Philadelphia is the Headhouse Square natural wine bar, cafe and bottle shop at 414 S 2nd, run by Zach Morris and chef Kelsey Bush since 2019.
$$$$Wine bar
Friday Saturday Sunday Bar in Philadelphia is the upstairs walk-up bar of the Rittenhouse townhouse, with the natural-wine list run by Hanna Williams.
$$$$LebaneseFishtown
Suraya in Philadelphia is the Fishtown Lebanese market, garden and restaurant on Frankford Avenue from Greg Root, Nicholas Kennedy and chef Roland Kassis.
OrderWhole roasted fish for the table, lamb shawarma platter, the labneh with shrak bread.
TipBrunch on the back garden patio in summer is the room's best seat. Saturday 10am books out the fastest.
$$$$Cocktail bar
McGillin's Olde Ale House in Philadelphia is the 1860 Drury Street Irish tavern between 13th and Juniper, the city's oldest continuously operating bar.
$$$$Wine bar
Vernick Wine in Philadelphia is Greg Vernick's bottle-shop wine bar next door to the flagship on Walnut, with a tight 18-seat counter and a selected.
$$$$Modern AmericanOld City
Fork in Philadelphia is Ellen Yin's 1997 Old City flagship on Market Street, a James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur 2022 anchor of the Philadelphia dining.
OrderWhichever hand-cut pasta is on the seasonal menu; the roast duck if it appears.
TipThe bar runs a separate menu and a half-price oyster happy hour weekday afternoons. Walk in for it.
$$$$Modern FrenchOld City
Forsythia in Philadelphia is Christopher Kearse's modern French bistro on Chestnut Street in Old City, a 2025 Michelin Guide selection with rabbit porchetta.
OrderThe escargot with parsley and shallots; the duck if it appears on that night's tasting menu.
TipHappy hour from 16:30 weekdays runs half-price oysters and a French 75. Walk in for it.
$$$$Cocktail bar
Bok Bar in Philadelphia is the seasonal South Philly rooftop atop the former Bok High School on Mifflin Street, with skyline views and rotating food partners.
$$$$French BrasserieCenter City
Parc in Philadelphia is Stephen Starr's Rittenhouse Square French brasserie on 18th Street, a Parisian-cafe room that runs croissants by 08:00 and onion soup.
OrderSteak frites with bearnaise; the croque madame at brunch; a half-bottle of Sancerre.
TipThe outdoor sidewalk seats on 18th Street face Rittenhouse Square. Book them specifically in summer.
$$$$MediterraneanCenter City
Barbuzzo in Philadelphia is Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's 13th Street Mediterranean kitchen, open since 2010, anchored by wood-fired pizzas.
OrderThe wood-fired pizza of the week; salted caramel budino for dessert, the dish that built its reputation.
TipThe bar counter overlooking the open kitchen takes walk-ups. It is the room's quietest table on a Friday.
$$$$Wine bar
a.kitchen + bar in Philadelphia is the AKA Rittenhouse hotel restaurant on 18th Street, with sommelier Eric Walker's award-winning list and a daily.
$$$$Wine bar
Good King Tavern in Philadelphia is the Bella Vista French wine bar and bistro on 7th near Bainbridge from Bernard and Chloe Grigri, a Parisian-style room.
$$$$MediterraneanCenter City
Barbuzzo in Philadelphia is Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's 13th Street Mediterranean room since 2010, with wood-fired pizzas and the salted caramel.
OrderWood-fired pizza of the week; salted caramel budino, the dish locals order by name.
TipThe bar counter overlooking the open kitchen takes walk-ups. Quietest table on a Friday night.
$$$$Cocktail bar
Ranstead Room in Philadelphia is the unmarked Sansom Street speakeasy behind El Rey, a 30-seat cocktail counter from the Stephen Starr team with a curated.
$$$$Wine bar
Tria Cafe Rittenhouse in Philadelphia is the 18th Street corner wine bar since 2004, with a focus on by-the-glass pours, artisan cheese boards and a weekly.
$$$$Wine bar
Panorama Wine Bar in Philadelphia is the Penn's View Hotel Italian wine bar on Front Street in Old City, with 120 wines on a Cruvinet preservation system.
$$$$Wine bar
Alpen Rose in Philadelphia is the Schulson Collective Alpine wine bar on 13th Street, with mountain wines, cheese fondue and raclette as the centrepiece.
$$$$Cocktail bar
The Franklin Bar in Philadelphia is the speakeasy under the South 18th Street townhouse near Rittenhouse, a low-lit cocktail room with a serious.
$$$$Cocktail bar
Tattooed Mom in Philadelphia is the 28-year South Street arts dive at 530 South, with vegan pierogi, drag shows, poetry readings and the city's most loyal.
$$$$Cocktail bar
The Twisted Tail in Philadelphia is the Society Hill bourbon bar at 509 S 2nd, with 150-plus bourbons and ryes, live blues nights and a Southern-American.