Bob and Barbara's
There's rarely a cover at this Philly dive bar, where a shot and a beer still cost just $3.50. And the talent lineup is always intriguing, from a twice-monthly country music hoedown and a funky Saturday-night guitar trio to the lounge-y sounds of Dena Miranda and the Mellowtones. 1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, bobandbarbaras.com.
Boyds Philadelphia
Boyds is a boys’ club no more! With a $10 million renovation very much under way, Rittenhouse’s tony temple of fashion now caters to the ladies more than ever, with a first floor dedicated entirely to separates and dresses and a revamped women’s shoe section on the mezzanine. 1818 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, boydsphila.com.
Downerss
Think of Rivka Yank’s dreamy Fishtown shop as a cooler, more authentic version of Urban Outfitters, with a well-priced mix of bohemian (healing mists, beaded necklaces), artsy (reconstructed denim, locally made jewelry) and trendy (bodysuits, swingy off-the-shoulder dresses). 2026 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, downerss.com.
Franklin & Poe
For the stylish and the wannabe-stylish, this men’s (and women’s!) shop stocks wares both hipster (Fishtown t-shirts) and rugged (jeans from Swedish brand Indigo-fera Prima and Iron Heart jackets). The overall look: quietly – but completely – cool. 1817 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, franklinandpoe.com.
A. Brandt + Son
People all over the world shop A. Brandt online, but we’re lucky enough to get to browse its extensive collection of museum-quality jewelry – an antique Tiffany zodiac pendant, a $19,000 pair of Victorian teardrop earrings – in person. 223 Haverford Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072, abrandtandson.com.
Marks Jewelers
There’s a custom jewelry lab inside this two-year-old shop, so you can work alongside a designer/gemologist to create your dream ring or repurpose a family heirloom. You’ll get to slip on a 3-D preview of your new creation, too. 975 Bethlehem Pike, Montgomeryville, PA 18936, marks-jewelers.com.
ReDecor Home Consignment
If all of the Main Line got together and had a communal yard sale, it’d look something like this shop, where very gently used French marble sideboards, antique claw-foot dressers and rich leather love seats find fresh life in new – equally fabulous – homes. 880 West Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, redecorhome.com.
2nd Swing
Those worn-down grips, that scuffed driver, the irons that need grinding down and cleaning up ... this new shop has experts on hand to give your clubs a tune-up (even while you wait), because they know that at all costs, you don’t want to toss a lucky set. 3626 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803, 2ndswing.com.
Pizza Gutt
Young pizzaiolo Dan Gutter is just out there slinging dope square pepperoni-and-onion pizzas out of the back of a coffee shop, and people who know what’s up are reserving their pies ahead of time via Instagram. We live in a world where this is possible, and that’s a wonderful thing. 931 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, pizzawhat.com.
Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream
There’s a reason the best ice-cream shops are always located on farms. Peak strawberry season? Mix ’em into ice cream. Blueberries are plump and ripe? Blueberry ice cream it is. Pumpkins ready to be picked? Well, in Bucks County, the entire month of October is basically dedicated to Uncle Dave’s pumpkin ice cream. 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA 19067, uncledavesicecream.com.
Kristel Closets
Sorry, Stitch Fix. This Conshy-based service is refreshingly old-school in that clients get a closet critique from a real-life style expert, followed by one-on-one shopping trips to fill holes. Stylists are also available via Skype for quick consults. kristelclosets.com.
PucciManuli
This shop feels like the set of The Nutcracker, where items like heirloom rocking horses, model boats and life-size stuffed animals (some of which cost thousands of dollars) share space with sweet wooden puzzles, floppy teddies, and goods made by old-school crafters. 35 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, puccimanuli.com.
Occasionette
When Sara Villari recently expanded her shop just so she could stock more paper goods, we let out a squeal, because an email will never pack the gravitas of a hand-scrawled greeting atop weighty cardstock. 1825 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, occasionette.com.
UBIQ
A sneakerhead's heaven looks a whole lot like this modern, industrial shop, where kicks are mounted in gold-and-glass cases like works of art, elevated street wear hangs at the ready, and cult-followed sneaker launches see crowds lining up around the block. 1509 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, ubiqlife.com.
Gorshin Trading Post & Supplies
This two-year-old shop is a venerable retail anchor for Haddonfield's sleepy main street, with a mix of gear and goods he'll love from brands like Filson, Topo Designs, Dubarry and Shinola. Want something out of the box? Starting this fall, Mitch will lead trips to outdoorsy spots like Steamboat, Colorado. 125 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, gorshin.com.