MY FAV PHILLY RESTAURANTS
Philly has some of the best restaurants I have ever been to and I have done my fair share of eating throughout the U.S. & Europe! While I love to travel & eat my way through new cities, I love a good date night & girl dinner exploring new restaurants here in Philly. It’s hard for me to narrow it down to a short list because I have so many favorites & a few on my bucket list to cross off in 2024. In no order, because that would be even harder to do, here are some of my favs / bucket list:
K A L A Y A
I honestly love everything about this place. The energy of the space, every dish was packed with flavor & their drink menu pairs perfectly with the dishes. I truly cannot say enough great things about Kalaya.
V E T R I C U C I N A
Vetri is a great place for a special occasion. It’s a prix fixe dinner in an intimate townhouse setting. Each dish is carefully crafted and gets better & better as you go. One of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
S U R A Y A
Everything is fresh and delicious, the aesthetics of the space is beautiful & has awesome cocktails.
F I O R E L L A
First, go to Grace & Proper for some unique cocktails. Then walk to Fiorella for All. The. Pasta. + wine. In that order, because after Fiorella, you will be in a pasta coma.
D O U B L E K N O T
I recommend doing the chef’s tasting menu if you are open to trying new things. It’s a great way to try a bunch of different items on the menu that you would have never tried before. 10/10 recommend the edamame dumplings, even if it’s not served in the chef’s tasting.
G I U S E P P E & S O N S
Two words - happy hour. Guiseppe & Sons hands down has the best happy hour in the city. The prices are so cheap and the portions are decent. It’s a great place to meet with friends, drink great cocktails & eat good food without the expensive bill at the end. Believe it or not, one of my favorite dishes on the menu is the caesar salad.
B U T C H E R & S I N G E R
Trendy take on an Old Hollywood chophouse offering classic surf -n-turf + a raw bar and chic cocktails. I personally feel like you can’t go here without ordering a good steak.
P A R C
The best French onion soup in the city! I love going here in the fall / winter for a cozy bowl of French onion soup & apps with friends.
E N S W E L L
Coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night. This is a great place to go for incredible cocktails, elevated aesthetic and lite bites. The portions are small but filled with flavor, which makes this a great place to go before a night out because you won’t be too full / tired.
J G S K Y H I G H
Go for the views! If you have friends or family traveling into Philly, take them here! It’s a gorgeous view of the city! Even if you already have dinner reservations elsewhere, I love to have a nightcap here and soak in all of Philly’s beauty from above. Pro tip: go during sunset!
U M A I U M A I
Great for date night. Always candlelit, amazing sushi & it’s byob!
V I A L O C U S T A
Awesome pasta but with an experience. The way they serve their pasta in a unique form which makes eating pasta fun and elegant.
V E D G E
Vegan/ Vegetarian or not, there is something everyone will love! I usually order meat for dinner but Vedge has proven to me that eating veggies doesn’t have to be boring. There are so many layers of flavor on each dish, you don’t even think about it being vegan / vegetarian only.
T H E L O V E .
I’ve gone to The Love. a few times with both friends and my husband and it has never let me down. The food, ambiance, & drinks are always good!
W M . M U L E R I N ' S S O N S
Book a reservation for your next date night. It’s a moody, candlelit restaurant with great vibes. We enjoy the cocktails and we always get a double order of the char grilled calamari because it’s too good to share. Post dinner, I recommend walking down to R&D which is an innovative cocktail bar for a nightcap.
T A L U L A ' S G A R D E N
An awesome cheese selection! They have the most unique cheeses, so my friends and I will pick a bunch of random ones to take our time & enjoy, while we sip some wine & catch up before looking at the dinner menu.
L A C H I N E S C A
Reminds me of a lot of restaurants in LA. Classic Mexican dishes served in a cool, retro-chic eatery with delicious cocktails!
W I L D E R
I mainly love this restaurant for the vibes & cocktails. A great spot for catching up with girlfriends.
L M N O
Another awesome Mexican restaurant that is trendy, lively & very tasty. If you go closer to after hours, they have a cool speakeasy worth checking out - it’s as if you time traveled back into the 70s.
T U N A B A R
Tuna Bar is a place that I find myself always wanting to go back to. The ambiance, (the music in the bathroom IYKYK), cocktails, sushi, brussel sprouts, shishito peppers, tuna tartare - the list goes on. It’s an awesome Japanese restaurant that I highly recommend checking out with friends, family & even a date night.
Bucket List Philly Restaurants
Laser Wolf
Her Place
Kiddo
Lark
Zahav
Vernick
Alpen Rose
Friday Saturday Sunday
Prunella
I have to mention that I am no food critic - these are just some of my favorite restaurants in Philly that I personally love. Screenshot this blog post or add it to your favorites, so the next time you head into the city, you can book one of these incredible restaurants to try!
