Reading Terminal Market
Readers' Choice: A smorgasbord of everything from Bassett's ice ceam to DiNic's roast pork to Lancaster County produce, all under one roof? Most of us think this is the best impression Philly could make on visitors. 12th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107, readingterminalmarket.org.
Triangle Tavern
Water ice is good no matter how old you are. But one of the special advantages of being a grown-up is getting to have the dangerously boozy adult water ice at Triangle Tavern. 1338 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, triangletavernphilly.com.
Cantina Feliz
Emerald kiwi slices lend this jalapeo-strewn amberjack just the right hint of fruit sugar, but it's the palate-cleansing scoop of lime sorbet that makes this plate worthy of being called the best. 424 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, PA 19034, cantinafeliz.com.
Chicken Italiano at Chickie's Italian Deli
Chickies is rightfully known for its veggie and Italian hoagies. But they also serve up a dying Philadelphia tradition: a mean chicken cutlet loaded with sharp provolone that deserves a permanent spot in the pantheon of Great Philadelphia Sandwiches. 1014 Federal Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, chickiesdeli.com.
Angelo’s Pizzeria
There are always crowds outside of Angelo’s, a surefire sign that whatever’s being handed over the counter is worth a wait. If you’re smart, you’ll order a sandwich, the eggplant rollantini, and the monster square pies. 736 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, angelospizzeriasouthphiladelphia.com.
White Dog Cafe
Besides being just a darn pretty place to spend time in, White Dog has everything you need when corralling a group: flexible seating, many (but not too many) menu options, good drinks and patient servers. 200 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, whitedog.com/wayne.html.
Aunt Tot
Tierra Whack wearing Aunt Tot. Photograph by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images Tatyanna Nance of Germantown’s Aunt Tot morphs colorful materials into funky two-piece (matching crop top and flared pants) and three-piece (matching socks and bags) ensembles that Whack and her DJ regularly don onstage. Instagram.com/aunt.tot. booktatyannanance.acuityscheduling.com.
Liberty Urgent Care
The place is spotless, with a coffee bar for adults and a coloring station for kids; wait times generally run less than 15 minutes; and every doctor and nurse here is so warm and nice that being sick suddenly doesn’t suck so much. 401 Horsham Road, Horsham, PA 19044, Libertyucc.com.
The Trolley Trail
Even if you’ve run through Fairmount Park a thousand times, you may have missed the still-being-built-out Trolley Trail, which follows the route of the old Fairmount Park Trolley and features gorgeous 19th-century bridges and tunnels. Start at Chaminoux Hostel. 3250 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131, Myphillypark.org.
Sa Va
When, last year, clothing designer Sarah van Aken opened a boutique filled with pretty shifts and smart suits and frilly skirts conceived, sewn and finished in her studio next door, by real people it felt like these pretty things were being made just for us. Well, us ladies. 1700 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, savafashion.com.
South 13th Street from Walnut to Lombard
"I'll have the carciofi alla giudia from Amis, orange-ginger carnitas from Lolita, a Corpse Reviver #2 from the Corner and a scoop of Lancaster-sourced fior di latte gelato from Capogiro." We wish there were a street in Philadelphia where we could say that. Oh, wait ... 00000,
Ranstead Room
Walk up the dark street, go through the unmarked door, enter this den of grown-up amusements, admire the nudes on the wall, and knock back artful cocktails while reveling in the kid-free atmosphere. (We mean Penn kids, too.) 2013 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, .
Barre Burn at City Fitness Studio and Training
This infrared-heated barre class will make you feel a range of emotions, from wanting to die when the heat reaches its peak and you're asked to do yet another round of leg lifts, to warrior-princess-proud when you walk out of the classroom alive and very much feeling the burn. 400 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, cityfitstudios.com.
Kelce and Harper
Kelce & Harper, the Philadelphia Zoo's new sloth bear cubs / Photograph by Jeff Fusco Also known as the Zoo’s adorable new sloth bear cubs, born in January. They just came out of their den for the first time in May, after which the public named them for two Philly sports heroes. See them before they lose their baby cuteness. 3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, philadelphiazoo.org.
Herman’s Coffee
Now that Herman’s exists – roasting its own beans in-house (that “house” being a converted auto repair shop), serving carefully crafted espresso tonics, hosting all sorts of events and food trucks – every other coffee spot in Philly is going to have to try just a little bit harder to stay cool. 1313-17 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia , PA 19147, hermanscoffee.com.