Here’s how I spent a quick weekend in Philadelphia
Remember that one time I went to Philadelphia?
Well, probably not because I was only there for 24 hours. Okay, maybe 26.
Which means I’m lying to you TWICE in the title of this post.
- Because I was there on a weekday.
- I wasn’t even there for a full weekend.
However, I will say that this hopefully does inspire you to spend a weekend in Philadelphia because you know what?
I LOVED IT.
Like, truly loved it. By the time I had spent a few hours exploring downtown, I was already looking up real estate in the area. HA. My husband has got to be SO tired of me house shopping in literally every city I visit.
Anyways, back to the crown jewel of Pennsylvania….Philadelphia.
On my way there, all I could think about was It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Which, for obvious reasons, did not once inspire me to visit.
But, as my luck would have it, it is SO different than what it seems on It’s Always Sunny. And, I’m thinking you might like it, too.
How to spend a weekend in Philadelphia
Day One in Philly
The Dandelion Pub
When I hear ‘pub’ in the name of somewhere, I immediately think dive bar-esque. The Dandelion Pub SO exceeded expectations. I’ve never been there, but it honestly felt like I was transported to England as soon as I happened upon the entrance.
It was great, I had the chance to catch up with a friend from college over tasty sandwiches while lounging around a cozy little table.
Rival Bros.
I will say, the vibe in Rival Bros. isn’t my go-to (super dark, not much natural light), but I loved this spot. I snagged a barstool at the window and powered through some work while sipping on, what else, an oat milk latte.
The Love
We only had time to grab drinks here, but I HIGHLY recommend making a reservation at The Love if you’re looking for a dinner spot. I think this was the most beautiful restaurant I had seen during my short stint in Philly and I will 100% be going back there next time I’m in town.
Explore these neighborhoods/areas, too:
Old City, Rittenhouse Square, Southwest Center City, and Society Hill
Day Two in Philly
Elixr coffee
Elixr is unassuming from the outside – it’s on a quiet little side street which makes it an easy spot to miss. But, I highly recommend stopping in for coffee and cozy vibes. It’s a sweet spot where I enjoyed reading in front a large window, occasionally peeking my head up to take a look at the passers-by. And, you can’t forget about that floral wall. It’s GORGEOUS.
Suraya
Y’all, Suraya is SO. DARN. GOOD. Suraya was basically the only spot on my list that I 100% knew I needed to visit before flying out of Philly. It’s a market/café/restaurant made of dreams. Oh yeah, and food. Food, too.
We ordered a few lunch items and split them, our favorites being:
- Slow-roasted lamb hummous
- Za’atar and cheese flatbread
- Strawberry yogurt (with pistachio granola, pine nut, and rose syrup)
- The spritz and mimosa (of course)
We then followed lunch up with pastries and coffee. So much yum in one place.
So, now I’m already wanting to go back to Philadelphia. Are you planning a trip there anytime soon? I’m realizing now that this is essentially a love letter to all the food and beverages I had while in town, and that I didn’t get around to much sightseeing! Oops.
Even though I was only there for 24 hours, I can already tell I love it. I’d highly recommend checking out some museums on your second weekend day in town but spend even more time just meandering the streets. It’s such a beautiful city, the architecture really reminded me of being back in Boston and I soaked it all up as much as possible.
Here’s what’s on my list for next time, and hopefully you can pull from this list for day 2 of your trip!
- The Library (of course!)
- Shakespeare & Co.
- Lokal Hotel
- Irwin’s
- Fond
- Trattoria Carina
And, if you’re making your way around the East Coast, I highly recommend also checking out Portland, Maine! It’s perfect year-round 😊
g.
