Il Pittore
Screw you and your vegan, fair-trade, farm-to-table almond milk. There are some things we'll always do better on the East Coast, and Italian food is one of them. The ironic thing? Il Pittore looks like every taste-of-Tuscany dining room scattered across the Left Coast, but the food is so much richer, smarter and more soulful than virtually anything you'd find at any of those "lighter is better" places. 2025 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, ilpittore.com.
Pure Barre
There's a reason all your mommy friends are obsessed with Pure Barre: The workout, done on the ballet barre and mat, entails a series of tiny, almost imperceptible movements that pack a serious total-body-toning punch. Since the power and stability come from your core (it's why you're told to "tuck" here), the 55-minute classes are especially good for getting postpartum bodies back up and running in no time. Multiple locations | , purebarre.com.
Boxbar
The newly renovated space from the Chick Invitations team is a bride-to-be’s dream come true: There’s a bright retail shop in the front and an assembly bar in the back, and you can rent out the entire thing for your shower. You’ll spend the morning with your BFFs, picking out chic pearl clutches and getting-ready attire (like satin robes and pom-pom slippers). Afterward, fill gift boxes with a personalized selection of monogrammed luggage tags, eye pillows, and other special somethings. 241 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, boxbarphilly.com.
Letters From South Philly
Send an email to lettersfromsouthphilly@gmail.com with your street address and a bit about yourself, and South Philly retiree Jean Merritt will handwrite and mail you a letter — like, in an envelope — usually along with some artwork or other paper trinket. Next step: You write back. Instant pen pals. A great way to connect while at the same time disconnecting.
<i>Studio 2</i>
When WHYY and Marty Moss-Coane decided to end the long-running Radio Times last year, we wondered what would fill the microphone-sized hole in our midday hearts. In stepped station stalwarts Cherri Gregg and Avi Wolfman-Arent with a new idea, Studio 2, which is as much a news program as it is an introspective dive into the Delaware Valley’s collective psyche on any given day. The co-hosts’ easy rapport suggests they’ve been running this playbook for years, not just a few months.
El Chingon
Juan Carlos Aparicio spent nearly three decades honing his baking skills in professional kitchens, including creating the bread program at Parc. This will be no surprise when you taste his sourdough tortillas or homemade cemitas layered with adobo-marinated pork or herby mushrooms. Or, for dessert, get the soft concha rellena piped with fluffy Nutella-infused pastry cream and fresh strawberries — and, on special, churros that he proofs overnight to ensure the soft, sugary disks have just the right texture. 1524 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, elchingonphilly.com.
Groomed by True Beauty Marks
There was an era in which men would golf to kill time before the wedding. These days, who has time to play 18 holes when you’ve got a shape-up booked? Yes, Doylestown-based Gina Kay Osborne’s popular beauty collective has relaunched its on-site grooming service. She’s partnered with Mark Shilling — the barber behind Make Your Mark in Ardmore and Willow Grove — to provide cuts, straight-razor shaves and beard trims. Talk about a first look. truebeautymarks.com/groomed.
Avalon Bistro
There are lots and lots of bars on the Main Line, but it’s surprising how few serve a proper cocktail. That’s not the case at Avalon. Whether you’re in the mood for a boulevardier, an old-fashioned, or a Hendrick’s three-to-one martini, extra-cold, served up with three olives and made with Dolin vermouth (one of our staffers is very particular), they always seem to come out perfect here, and both the stemware and the vibe are impeccable. 818 Lancaster Avenue , Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, avalonrestaurant.net.
Cartesian Brewing
For years, we’d walk by this garage just south of Pat’s, press our faces to the windows, and look for signs of progress. Years of thirsty waiting finally paid off last fall when Cartesian rolled up its doors and started pouring pints of tart saisons and malty ambers. We’re partial to the Concrete Picnic, a spring ale that comes in at a this-beer-still-has-flavor-but-won’t-put-you-on-your-ass 5.8 percent ABV. 1326 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147, cartesianbrewing.com.
Devon Lanes
Though the arcade games and bowling tech have been upgraded since this suburban gem opened in 1959, the place still retains the charm of another era. That may be due in part to the pricing: On some nights, you can play as many games as you want for just $10, including shoe rental. Plus it’s BYO, making this one of the cheapest nights out on the Main Line. 300 West Lancaster Avenue, Devon, PA 19333, devonlanes.com.
Habitat for Humanity Restore
Would you be surprised if we told you that some well-known Philadelphians can be found scavenging for cast-off decor treasures at the new Warminster warehouse? Whether you’re intent on saving the planet or your wallet, ReStore’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it selection of new and gently used furnishings is diverse and eclectic. A single shopping haul could yield a low-slung velvet couch, a Sub-Zero stainless steel refrigerator, and enough decorative baskets to populate Pinterest. 539 Jacksonville Road, Warminster, PA 18974, habitatbucks.org.
Royal Tavern
In mid-2019, the beloved Royal Tavern closed its doors for some long-overdue renovations. The grand reopening of Royal lasted only a few months before the pandemic shut the whole thing down. While most restaurants reopened as soon as they could, this spot took its time, unlocking the doors only late last year. It was worth the wait. Yes, you can still get the famous Royal Burger. But now you can lead it off with chef Nic Macri’s housemade charcuterie and wash it down with a tipple off the revamped cocktail menu. We’ll drink to that. 937 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 10147, royaltavern.com.
Cantina Los Caballitos
Not everything on the menu at the Cantina is cheap, but many of the best basics are, like the giant bowl of citrus-tinged guacamole ($7), the massive, overstuffed Tex-Mex-style burritos ($8 to $11), and the real-deal tacos ($8 to $11), all of which come with a healthy dusting of cilantro and a lime wedge for squeezing. After one bite of the menu stars the crunchy-soft fried plantains with melted cheese ($6), and the tamarind barbecued pork ribs paired with pickled jalapeos ($12) you'll forgive this hipster hang in South Philly for its long waits and too-cool-for-school crowds, and just order another $6 frozen blood-orange margarita. 1651 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, cantinaloscaballitos.com/main.html.
Austrian Village
With its wizened waitresses and circa-1955 decor and heaping helpings of satisfying and delicious schnitzel, spaetzle, knockwurst, and tangy, tart, famous potato salad, the only thing missing at this 37-year-old biergrten are the von Trapp kids singing as you eat. Though the AV does come alive with the sound of music: an oom-pah-pah band plays Saturdays, sending spry polka dancers revolving on the tiny dance floor like dolls on a music box. And the prices dinners around $12, draft beers for $2.50 will have you loath to say Auf wiedersehen. 321 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046, austrianvillage.com.
The Triyo Fitness Triplets
The enthusiasm and joyfulness of 24-year-old Black identical triplet brothers Malik, Ahmad and Khalil Jones is infectious — they just love working out and helping you work out. (They’re also steeped in Philly’s boutique workout scene: In addition to running their own fledgling fitness company, Malik teaches at Unite Fitness, Ahmad teaches at Barry’s, and Khalil is an instructor at Rumble.) Their classes are some of the hardest in the city, and in the wake of Philly’s Black Lives Matter protests, the three seamlessly shifted their Instagram feed from playful synchronized dance videos to serious snippets on practicing meaningful allyship and becoming anti-racist. triyofitness.com.