192 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The altogether unexpected restaurant set aboard the Moshulu, the oldest and biggest still-floating rigged-sail vessel in the world, offers one of the city's more unique atmospheres. The 359-foot ship, built in 1904, once transported coal and other natural resources all over the world, but today it focuses on serving high-end (and often pricey) new American cuisine, with attention paid to seafood and local, seasonal produce. Their beautiful bar is also a great place to stop for a drink while on the waterfront. Its name, a Seneca Indian term meaning “one who fears nothing,” was applied by First Lady Edith Wilson, the influential wife of 28th president Woodrow Wilson.

On a residential street in Fairmount, this small, bright small corner café with white-painted walls and large windows makes a good stop for coffee drinks (or tea) and pastries or for tartines, sandwiches, and salads that rise a notch above the usual. Musette has a pleasant neighborhood vibe, but it can get busy on weekends.

Competition is fierce in South Philly’s “Little Saigon,” but Nam Phuong has managed to keep fans of Vietnamese cuisine happy for years with its wide-spanning menu. Far more spacious than some of the spartan pho parlors around the neighborhood, the dining room is equipped with round tables that can fit the whole crew—and all your food, too. Customizable vermicelli bowls and broken rice platters are a good starting point to warm you up for house specialties like salt-and-pepper squid, clay pot fish, or crispy roasted quail; for an especially large group, prix-fixe “family dinners” feed an army for a flat price.

North Third was one of the first restaurants to settle in Northern Liberties at the infancy of the neighborhood's transformation. The menu hasn't changed much, mostly because locals love hits like the thick burger, crisp fried chicken, and house-made pierogies. Weekend brunch here—breakfast burrito, berry-topped French toast—is one of the best in the area.

It's largely locals eating at this smallish banquet space on the edge of Chinatown, and things can get a bit hectic, with big-screen TVs hanging from every corner, gaudy chandeliers overhead, and dim sum carts racing through the aisles. Snag a seat next to the kitchen to flag down the carts as they emerge—the dim sum is excellent and well priced.

Serving Stumptown coffee in a bi-level space, One Shot Coffee is a hidden spot for solid beverages and snacks, set a few blocks back from the hustle and bustle of the Piazza. The menu features café staples like cold brew, drip coffee, flavored lattes, hot tea, and more, in addition to brunch-focused fare like breakfast burritos, egg sandwiches, and croissants. Plus, with an upstairs library, the café is the perfect spot for lounging with a hot beverage.

Under the careful direction of acclaimed chef-owner Jeff Michaud, Osteria has flourished, with a seasonally changing menu that offers everything from amazing brick-oven pizzas to delicate house-made pastas to a strip steak. With its rustic wooden tables, soaring ceilings, and decor that blends loft and countryside, industry and art, this place helped establish the restaurant scene in 2007 in the redeveloping North Broad neighborhood.

Just steps from the heart of the historic Italian Market, Paffuto is a new-school Italian-American bakery and sandwich shop. Go for their maritozzo, a whipped cream-filled bun that's perfect for dipping in coffee. They also serve dinner Thursday, Friday, and Saturday—reservations are a must.

The name refers to a lovely mural rather than a window view from this lively spot inside the Penn's View Hotel. The restaurant has the largest wine cruvinet (storage system) in the country. Besides more than 120 wines by the glass, there's a huge selection of well-chosen bottles. You can sip them in Il Bar or in the main dining room. The food is authentic Italian—simple and hearty. The ambience is either noisy or animated, depending on your tolerance level.

New cheesesteak restaurants come and go, but two of the oldest—Pat's and Geno's, at 9th and Passyunk—have a long-standing feud worth weighing in on. It comes down to a matter of taste, as both serve equally generous portions of rib-eye steak, grilled onions, and melted provolone, American, or Cheez Whiz on freshly baked Italian rolls. The main differences, as far as we can tell: Pat's meat is chopped, and its shop’s exterior is a bit more understated than Geno's neon extravaganza.

It's rare for Philadelphians to take to outsiders, but Paulie Gee's, an import from New York, has been happily embraced. That's partly because it's one of the very few great pizza shops that offer slices, and partly because it stays open until 2 am on the weekends. There's a full bar, a pool table, and a playlist of '60s and '70s rock, which contributes to the nostalgic, social vibe. 

The raw bar is the star of the show at Pearl & Mary, where platters of oysters, clusters of crab claws, and bright lobster tails are tough to resist. Build your perfect seafood order, paired with a sparkling wine cocktail, and then round out the meal with a crudo (raw fish or seafood with citrus juice), a platter of fish-and-chips, or a whole grilled snapper. Happy hour is popular here, as are the late-night hours when the dining room starts to feel more like a bar.

Chef-owner Lou Boquila brings his modern interpretations of Philippine cuisine to South Philly with this romantic BYOB. Wednesday to Sunday, Boquila creates the popular kamayan dinner (a Filipino style of communal eating without plates or utensils), which features loads of delicious food presented to the table on banana-leaf placemats. You’re not only allowed, but encouraged, to eat with your hands.

This is the place to get the best coffee in Manayunk, and the inside is a chill spot to read and take a breather while nibbling on a pastry. The location, right at the edge of the action, makes it a favorite stop for bicyclists.

Restaurateur Stephen Starr logged countless hours researching how to make the very best pizza, laboring over the dough, oven type, ideal temperature, and every other conceivable variable. The resulting artisanal 12-inch rounds, with ingredients like black truffle, fresh prosciutto, and earthy chanterelles, keep this snug 80-seater overflowing with neighborhood duos and families; the no-reservations policy necessitates getting here early or late if you don’t want to wait. All tables are good tables—each has a view of the red-and-white-tiled Neapolitan pizza oven and Headhouse Square through plenty of tall café windows.

Charming and light-filled, the menu at PJ Clarke's—yes, of the New York PJ Clarke's—showcases American cuisine, from salads and sandwiches to an assortment of hearty entrées. The sprawling space inside the historic Curtis building features a large bar overlooking Independence Mall; be sure to have a glimpse of the famous Tiffany glass mosaic The Dream Garden before or after you dine. 

The warm and cheery first floor of this renovated bank feels like a genuine Irish pub. The eatery's long bar features over a dozen taps—invariably spouting several imported and a few local brews—and the menu includes good Irish smoked salmon on grainy bread as well as a panoply of worldly appetizers, salads, and main courses. In winter, patrons crowd around a blazing fireplace on stools set around small tables.

For a pan-Asian fix, grab a stool at the sushi bar at the futuristic Pod, where you can select your favorite raw fish from a conveyor belt.

This second-floor, Amalfi coast–inspired restaurant is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that offer guests a great view of Old City; the decor is inspired by the owner's seaside home in Italy. The menu includes something for everyone—there's an array of zesty homemade Italian specialties, including pastas; grilled octopus and shrimp scampi appetizers; a selection of fresh salads; and entrée favorites like zucchini crab cakes and a pan-seared pork chop. It's a fun, lively spot that transforms into an alfresco experience during the warmer months. Happy hour specials during the week are ideal for sipping some vino at the bar while nibbling on light bites. Weekend brunch features live DJ music.

Owned by a team of young Venezuelans, the vibrant Puyero offers a fun fast-casual take on their country’s cuisine. The main focus is crispy cornmeal arepas filled with a variety of meats, cheeses, and veggies; they also offer patacones (fried plantain sandwiches), cachacas (thinner cornmeal pancakes), and rotating specials.

Owned and operated by the fourth and fifth generation of the Dispigno/Rubino family, Ralph's is in the running for one of the country's oldest Italian restaurants. You can expect Italian-American favorites like sausage and peppers, osso buco, and braciole, as well as house specialties like lasagna and fettuccini Alfredo; just don't forget to bring cash.

Pouring specialty coffee decades before it was cool, Ray’s is renowned for its special syphon brewing system, a complex (and photogenic) technique that relies on the vacuum pressure to produce transcendent java. But this charming family-run café serves simple plates, too, like steamed or pan-fried dumplings, noodle soups, and rotating specials.

ReAnimator stands out in the Philadelphia coffee scene thanks to its sourcing of single-origin beans, dynamic roasting techniques, and smartly designed cafés. Tucked away in the tiny Garden Court area, this West Philadelphia outpost is a calming caffeinated oasis, a clean minimalist shop with a laid-back vibe. This is a great residential area to walk around and admire the houses, and hit ReAnimator to, um, reanimate and keep going. Open until 3 pm, the food selection is locally made breads, pastries, and snacks.

When the cheesesteaks and hoagies start to weigh you down, head to Reap Wellness for creative—and genuinely delicious—smoothies and salads. Former health journalist Adjua Fisher and her husband and chef Zach Rice started REAP as a meal delivery service, but its popularity quickly turned into a storefront that's brought nutritious, creative meals to Fishtown. Favorites include the Sneaky Greens smoothie made with spinach, purslane, mango, ginger, and hemp, or the savory Seaweed Caesar.

This modern corner restaurant is situated off the lobby of Hotel Monaco and features a rustic, contemporary design, with a long bar and a mezzanine with tables overlooking the main restaurant. Steps from all the major historical sites in Old City, Red Owl is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a menu that offers something for everyone and plenty of solid, tasty food choices.

Chef Randy Rucker does seasonal, elevated food inspired by many things, including his southern heritage, love of Philadelphia, and interest in Japanese cooking. Go here for modern dishes like swordfish with housemade yuzu kosho (a Japanese condiment made from fresh citrus), carrot tartare with black truffles, very fresh oysters, and the Mother Rucker, a burger that's available as an add-on to the tasting menu.

A collaboration between the owners of local favorites Royal Tavern and Khyber Pass Pub, Royal Boucherie is a polished operation set in a moody and intimate bi-level space. A classic brasserie in approach, it specializes in luscious raw-bar selections, house-made charcuterie, and rib-sticking plates like steak au poivre, pork schnitzel, and handwrought pastas. Seating is split between the boisterous, cocktail-slinging barroom, upper and lower dining rooms, and a charming semi-enclosed garden patio that’s one of the city’s lushest alfresco areas. Happy hour specials are offered at the bar during the week. 

Orange-painted walls, diner-style booths, and closely spaced tables add a cheerful, casual vibe to this longtime BYOB comfort-food local favorite near the Parkway museums, one of six locations around the Philadelphia area. The food rises above standard diner fare in lunch options such as creative burgers and a veggie Philly cheesesteak, and breakfast and brunch shine with stuffed brioche French toast, huevos rancheros, and assorted omelets. Some salads and soups offer lighter options, but this is a tough place to keep an eye on calories. The kids' menu lists some favorites at a lower price.   

Naturally leavened sourdough pizza is the star of the show at Sally, where crisp crusts carry an ever-changing selection of toppings, from classic cheese to bacon and sunchoke. Start your meal with a couple of vegetable-forward starters, a platter of oysters, and a glass of natural wine; if you find a wine you like, visit the wine store to take a bottle home with you.

One of the city's busiest happy hour spots, Sampan serves up delicious small plates like cheesesteak bao buns and crispy tuna rice crackers, Asian-inspired cocktails, and a clubby environment. Dinner service also sees a lot of action, so book ahead, especially on the weekend.