Do you think about spring break or your next adventuring destination? Might I suggest a most wonderful, historic city: Philly! I recently came back to the Bay Area after spending a year and a half in the City of Brotherly Love, and I’m here to introduce you to some of the wonderful things about the city. First, take a few minutes to peruse their tourist website. It’s helpful with its various guides on what to eat/drink, what to see and where to go (think short neighborhood videos). I my opinion, it’s one of the more thoughtfully constructed tourist sites.

Now, onto my very personal guide for you!

One thing to know about Philly is that each neighborhood has a unique character and attitude. In University City, for example, you have the bustling student/academic life with both the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. In Rittenhouse Square/downtown, you have some of the fancier cafes and restaurants (and the nice apartments), and you see a lot more people in business attire. Go down to South Philly, though, and you’ll find an entirely different vibe with a mix of Italian and Southeast Asian communities and businesses that are sure to appeal to all of your senses. And while I loved the entire city, my favorite neighborhoods are probably Old City and Fishtown.

Old City

In Old City, you can find the charm of old architecture and historical monuments from the early years of the nation. Located in the area is the oldest continually inhabited street (Elfreth’s Alley) and the oldest continually operated candy shop in America! One thing I will note about Elfreth’s Alley is that they do Christmas tours of some of the historic houses. I missed it both Decembers, but if any of you go during the holiday season, go for me! And if you have a sweet tooth, I highly recommend taking a trip to Shane Confectionery – I was never disappointed with their selection of marvelous butter creams, caramels, chocolates and candies. My favorites were their beautiful bonbons (gorgeously crafted, and not alcohol-filled so acceptable for all ages!), the earl gray caramel chocolates and the pretty lollipops with dried fruits.

The interior is beautifully restored to reflect its original early 20th-century decor. They also do tours! B
onus: if you buy something at the candy store, you get a small discount (I think it was 10 or 15%) with your receipt when you go next door to Franklin Fountain, an ice creamery owned by the same brothers. It’s good for a whole 24 hours, and it can become a vicious cycle since you also get a discount with your ice cream receipt 😉 P.S. they also have homemade soda syrups.

The neighborhood is also home to some charming gardens and courtyards as well as some lovely cafés. Go to Menagerie Coffee (for its cold brew + Canadian bacon breakfast sandwich) and Old City Coffee (for their selection of coffees and quaint café vibe). Get a cup of coffee to go and walk around the neighborhood!

Finally, in both the summer and wintertime, you can take a stroll around the nearby Delaware Riverfront where they have pop-up shops, movies, and outdoor antique/flea markets. Go rollerblading or ice skating (depending on the season), and then walk along the river with an ice cream or hot cider in hand – perfect for relaxing and people watching!

Fishtown/Northern Liberties

Fishtown and Northern Liberties, on the other hand, are some of the “hot neighborhoods” of the moment, with hipster bars, cafes and restaurants popping up all over the place. Industrial chic seems to be the design-du-jour for new businesses. It’s a fun area to grab some coffee or a meal, alone or with friends, and walk around. If you like taking pictures (hello, Instagram), it can also be a good place to explore.

Need to get some work done? Or just need your caffeine fix for the day? Philly has a bunch of really nice cafés with varying degrees of hipster and third-wave cafe culture, and La Colombe’s flagship location in Fishtown is one of my favorites. With its spacious interior, hits-the-spot chive and cheddar scones and fantastic coffee, it has the right vibe to get work done (FYI- there is no wifi, so this is only good for when you can do work offline). Their coffee beans are available for purchase (along with t-shirts and other goods) – a great gift for folks back home! A bit pricey ($12-18 per box), but hey, it’ll be cheaper than going out for a cuppa joe every morning 😉

Originally, I was going to keep this section devoted to Fishtown, but then I remembered the eccentric café in Northern Liberties: The Random Tea Room and Curiosity Shop. True to its name, it’s very random with a nice selection of teas (I had the Moroccan Mint), comfy chairs, gifts and David Bowie art on the walls.

If you’re the brunching type, there are some popular places like Green Eggs Café, Cafe La Maude, and Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat. Also, like the Fishtown area, Northern Liberties has cool graffiti, murals, and street art (to be fair, the entire city of Philadelphia is full of murals). It’s a great neighborhood to walk around on the weekend or any day!

That’s it for now; but, because I have so much to say about this wonderful city…stay tuned for Best of Philly: Part II! Look forward to learning about Reading Terminal Market (one of the largest indoor markets in the US), the Italian Market in South Philly and some of my other favorite eateries!