Plan a visit to Philadelphia and enjoy great food, super sights, museums and a great welcoming hospitality. It’s only a short distance from your flight to New York (JFK airport).
Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love. The home of the Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Eagles football team, where Rocky (in the movie of the same name in 1976) dramatically ran up the steps at the Art Museum, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States was signed by the Founding Fathers in Independence Hall and so much more – oh, and did I mention the home of the famous cheese steak sandwich?
But what might come as a delicious surprise for many is this vibrant city is also home to great eating options. You need a little help so you don’t miss anything, so plan your next visit to include one of the best food tours easily reflecting the diversity and charm of this city.
The most popular food tour 13 years in a row – StrEats of Philly Tour is fantastic, and you will never forget this delicious experience.
People often use the words authentic, unique, special and memorable too easily when describing a shared food adventure or experience, but in this case – The StrEats of Philly Food Tour with chef Jacquie Peccina-Kelly is such a gem.
It alone is worth the flight direct from Auckland to JFK and then Amtrak (just over 75 mins) to Philadelphia.
The warmth, hospitality, genuine authenticity and uniqueness of this food tour – I enjoyed with Jacquie was unforgettable – informative and fun.Here is a fully trained chef with oodles of spirit taking you around her old neighbourhood in South Philadelphia meeting her friends and long associates and you get a taste and flavour that’s not to be missed – it’s like travelling to Italy or being on the set of “Sopranos”.
The smiles, the laughter, the invitations to come home to “meet the family over a shared meal” the generosity of spirit and samples was humbling.
Meeting at the Italian Market Visitors centre Jacquie answered all my questions over coffee and explained how she grew up in this area when the Italian immigrants had street side stalls and every day the community would purchase their fruit, vegetables and go to the butcher shop. Now these vendors are in brick and tile, but just down the road recent Mexican immigrants have similar roadside stalls. Also, the once predominantly Italian neighbourhood has Vietnamese eateries to add to the mix. You have so many dining options.
My Top Ten Philadelphia Eats
Before you start eating all this good food take time to explore the city by foot and check out the amazing artwork, mosaics and murals on the buildings – you will now be ready for some serious good food.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a non-profit organization, folk art environment, and gallery space on South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To date, it is the largest work created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. The Magic Gardens spans three city lots, and includes indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth.
1. Paesano’s at 943 S 9TH ST This award-winning eatery is famous for their incredible tender and full favoured pork sandwich and there is a cult following for their Bolognese sandwich - a sub filled with crispy lasagna in the centre. Chef and owner Peter McAndrews has many years of experience in restaurants, but he is known as the Sandwich King of Philly and will love to tell you with a huge smile how he beat TV celebrity chef Bobby Flay in a cooking competition, His son Aidan is busy serving but is always smiling. Pasta and salads as well as sandwiches available here.
2. South Philly Barbacoa at 1140 S 9th St
James Beard 2022 award winning chef Cristina Martinez serves outstanding Mexican food and it’s affordable – she has appeared on TV shows as well as her personal story rising in the local food environment is inspirational. It’s affordable – great tasting taco $5(USD)
3. Cucina Maria restaurant at 768 S 8th St Serves up superb home-made pasta – the angel soft ricotta gnocchi served with a creamy tomato “blush
sauce” makes you weep they are so good – all expertly crafted by Juana Franco. She said it took her years to master the lightness of touch need to create these pillow-like gnocchi. She worked for more than 20 years starting as a dishwasher up to running the kitchen for the previous owner Maria Forte and bought the business during Covid. They have a very affordable lunch menu $10 (USD) for great pasta.
4. Claudio’s Cheese Shop 924 S.9th St location.
Try the amazing cheese and cold cuts.
5. Di Bruno Bros at 930 S 9th St Great food emporium with an impressive history – don’t leave the store until you sample the aged Gouda. Most popular cheese and so incredibly good.
6. Isgro’s at 1009 Christian St Outstanding Italian bakery and the best cannoli I’ve ever sampled.
Try some of the other treats as well and enjoy later www.bestcannoli.com
Isgro's Fruit Tarts Di Bruno Brothers Cheese's Cucina Maria Gnocchi
7. Antonio’s 1014 Federal St
To see the new popular sub sandwich craze - full of roasted Italian vegetables with a very generous filling.
8. Ricci’s 1165 S 11th St
Famous for their hoagies since 1920 (made to order) where Jacquie my guide would go and get a more modest -much smaller amount of ham and cheese sandwich that was the norm in the 60’s. The latest craze is over-stuffed sub sandwiches – in her youth it was a more modest affair.
9. Vernick Fish One N 19th ST
This American oyster bar and seafood eatery has a relaxed and welcoming vibe. The staff are amazing and Erica my server, guided me as to what is best to order. The NZ King Salmon on the menu pared up with a Marlborough SB is a popular choice – but hands down the sea bream crudo with Asian pear and brown butter tarragon sauce/dressing was outstanding and not to be missed.
Another delight the chocolate sorbet was one of the best chocolate desserts I have ever eaten. Rich, creamy, full-flavoured with this incredible texture- the name chocolate sorbet does not do this stellar dessert any favours – it should be renamed “died-and-gone to heaven chocolate supreme!” they sell it for only $3 USD a scoop. The cooking team that night headed by sous chef Joe Rota (been at the eatery since 2010) is an expert oyster shucker will answer your questions and even gave me more insight into the use of brown butter to enhance everything.
10. Kalaya 4 W Palmer St
You will have seen this on Netflix or read about in food magazines, but this restaurant established in November 2022 was included in the New York Times 2023 list of the 50 best restaurants in the US and won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
This Southern Thai kitchen owned by Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon is a bustling full flavoured treat to savour and enjoy – fresh, great depth of flavour and a harmonious use of spices and ingredients that enhance and brighten the palate – from the steamed dumplings so carefully crafted and prepared they look like art pieces to the most deliciously moist and full flavoured curries we sampled. The dumplings had sweet texture, delicate kiss of spice and multiple layers of flavour and looked amazing.
Again, the server will guide you as the menu has new tastes and it’s hard to choose. Everything is so good. Make an early booking – we went at 5pm and meeting Nok I had to ask the secret to her delicious offerings for you and she said – good ingredients – and two of her favourites?
Mega Chef Fish sauce and Kikkoman Gluten Free Soy Sauce.
Other treats not to be missed
Looking for a classic American diner for breakfast?
735 S 10th St
Closes 2 pm
Great gelato? Gran Caffe L’Aquila right in the heart of the shipping district and walk over the road to the John F Collins park to enjoy your treat – a little oasis of green calmness in the heart of the city
Also, another park to savour is Rittenhouse Square and grab a Tehina Shake ($7.50 USD) at Goldie (1911 Sansom St) a vegan Israeli falafel shop. One shake is plenty for two, but this mixture of tahini, soy and almond milk, sugar, salt and thickened with Xanthan gum is the invention of local restaurant star Michael Solomonov. This shake is worth the detour. Nutty, sweet and great depth of flavour.
1136 Arch St
Open daily 8am-6pm
Dating back to 1893 and housed in a National Historic Landmark building Reading Terminal Market is one of the largest and oldest public markets in the US and consistently voted one of the best public markets by USA Today 10 Best.
An overwhelming choice of great food options – from the Dutch Eating Place which is an Amish counter breakfast through to ribs and pork sections – everything is there and tables/bathroom facilities.
The apple fritters at the Beiler’s bakery are very popular. You are spoilt for choice.
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Run up the steps like Rocky Balboa in the 1976 movie “Rocky” and enjoy the majestic view down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the centre of town – but go around the side of the building to enter one of the oldest art museums in the US that has over 200,000 objects reflecting the passions of Philadelphia collectors and curators. It’s an open and large space so if you go early, you can often have a whole gallery to yourself. Don’t miss the immersion into NYC Gilded Age with the Eleanore Rice French classical drawing room from her NYC 5th Ave apartment given to the museum in1939. It’s like a step into Paris in the late 1800’s.
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
This charming art collection just a short walk from my hotel has one of the world’s greatest collections of Impressionist, post-Impressionist and early modern paintings with especially deep holdings in Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso. Assembled by Dr Albert C Barnes between 1912 and 1951, the collection also includes important examples of African art, Native American pottery and jewellery, Pennsylvania German furniture, American avant-garde painting and wrought-iron metalwork.
The building and setting is delightfully “intimate” – like walking into a friend’s large house with amazing artworks in each room – it’s not over-whelming.
Not to be missed.
This newly gentrified area is the home to the Kalaya restaurant but go early for your dinner date as the neighbourhood has innovative art works and an incredible food store specializing in local produce from the Pennsylvania state. The staff are so friendly and helpful with information and even provide samples so you can try amazing new beets or super spinach.
Where to stay:
1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The advantage here is that the large rooms have their own kitchens so you can purchase cheese, fresh pasta, amazing olives and prosciutto and go back to your room at the end of the day and enjoy your purchases. Don’t miss visiting the pool deck for a great view of the city with fire pits and when booking ask for a room at the back of the hotel its quieter there. Friendly and helpful staff.
Philadelphia exceeded my expectations and left me with a warm glow of hospitality and kindness – Uber drivers who chatted quietly about personal energies, busy chefs who wanted you to try their dishes and explain how to make it at home. Hotel staff that offered to show you the way to a nearby eatery as it was getting late.
My two guides Jacquie and Irene Levy Baker (author of 100 things to do in Philadelphia) who consistently answered all the questions and never tired in their appreciation of their city. Yes, “brotherly love” on steroids.
#discover PHL
@discover_PHL
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