Phileo
For years, New York and L.A. had Pinkberry and Red Mango and Yolato, while we had, well, Rita's custard. Then last summer came Phileo, the shiny green-and-pink fro-yo mecca on South Street, with 16 creamy and often tangy pay-by-the-ounce flavors, and a do-it-yourself toppings bar that houses everything from Cap'n Crunch and Oreo pieces to fresh-cut kiwi and mango. Take that, L.A. 416 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, .
The International
Because why play shuffleboard on a regular old straight shuffleboard table when you can play it on the one-of-a-kind, custom-made L-shaped shuffleboard table at a weird Kensington bar? 1624 North Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, theintlbar.com.
Tyler R. Tynes
“Norf Philly’s” own Tyler R. Tynes, who grew up trekking into Center City with his grandpa to buy the Sunday Inquirer and Daily News, was named sports culture critic for the L.A. Times — and was named to the Forbes 2023 30 Under 30 list. Baller!
Police and Fire Federal Credit Union
We may be a PNC town, but those l-ooking for more parochial (in a good way!) and small-town-feeling service head to Police and Fire. Not only do they have more s-urcharge-free ATMs than their larger bank competitors; even the most peripheral of police and fire relations are eligible for membership. Biggest bonus: Call and you get a live person. Like, right away. See website for locations, 00000, pffcu.org.
Juliet Hope Wayne
You wouldn't know it to look at her petite frame and cute smile, but this neurotic 35-year-old Havertown native is funny as hell-and also a masterful storyteller, which gives her the edge over her (mostly male) competition. Catch her at various stand-up spots around town or as a frequent guest storyteller at the First Person Arts StorySlams at World Cafe Live and L'Etage. 00000, twitter.com/juliethopewayne.
Baked
Finding a new bathing suit can be its own circle of doomscrolling hell now that most swimwear is sold online. Adrienne Volpetti, owner of sunless tanning studio Baked, has been steadily growing her in-store selection of stylish swim labels since 2020. This season, Devon Windsor swim joins L*Space, Wave Babe and SOAH, along with Eleventh Hour sunnies and Bogg Bag beach totes. 740 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, bakedtanning.com.
Blue Bell Inn
Chichi enough that you can bring your mother-in-law, but casual enough that you can wear shorts: This (massively renovated!) Montco standby is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Your M-I-L will love the crab-topped Benedict, but we're big fans of the chicken and waffles and the $15 Taylor Pork Roll-topped brunch burger. Oh, and instead of a Bloody, try the michelada. 601 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, bluebellinn.com.
Lolita
Every woman of style has her little secrets: This hot pink boutique in Greenville, Delaware, should be yours. Michelle Carini and Jill Berger the women of style who opened the place have fostered an easy L.A. vibe, with tees and tanks and flirty dresses galore, from labels you can't find just anywhere: Wildfox, LnA, Daftbird, Tucker and Parker. Cool jewelry and shoes, too. 4021 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE 19807, boutiquelolita.com.
Jennifer Higdon
The Curtis Institute's Higdon won a Pulitzer this spring for her Violin Concerto just two months after she snagged a 2010 Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for her Percussion Concerto. She also holds the Rock Chair in Composition at Curtis, which sounds very Jack Black but is actually named for donor Milton L. Rock, alas. 00000, jenniferhigdon.com.
Bistrot La Minette
Vive la charming private back room big enough for you and 19 of your closest friends! The $45-per-person family-style French meal is perfect for those who've finally come to appreciate the classy charms of wine over Jager, leather over vinyl and gteau l'opra over Fudgie the Whale. 623 South 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, bistrotlaminette.com.
Bistrot La Minette
This is not the place for abstaining from a final course; chef/owner Peter Woolsey is a classically trained pastry chef who studied at Paris's Le Cordon Bleu. You'll want to try his tarte au citron served with house-made cassis sorbet; his gteau l'opra with 11 immaculate layers of almond sponge cake, chocolate ganache and coffee buttercream; and his traditional raspberry mille feuille that's better than versions we've had in France. 623 South 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, bistrotlaminette.com.
Eaves Boutique
If you think Main Line fashion is all Lilly Pulitzer and J.Crew, you havent been to former Urban exec Susan Ahns one-year-old whitewashed Wayne boutique, where Rag & Bone shares rack space with A.L.C. and Clover Canyon. Her beachier picks from Antik Batik and Ace & Jig will make you want to beeline your newfound badass-ery all the way to Avalon. 105 North Aberdeen Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, shopeaves.com.
Sip City Mixer
Each month, 80 or so members of Philly’s LGBTQIA scene gather for refreshingly low-key happy hours at spots like the Ritz-Carlton and L’Etage. Check out the group’s Facebook page for dates and locations of the next sip-and-schmooze – and don’t be shy. Their tagline: “If you identify as a woman and queer, you belong here.” Cheers! facebook.com/sipcitymixer.
Upstairs at Vetri
What was once a storage room where chefs used to nap is now a Napa-esque private space with a giant wooden table, a beautiful demo kitchen, and glass cases that show off the wine collection. If you see it firsthand, that means you're partaking in an intimate and enviable experience: one of the regular small-group demos, classes or dinners with the region's top tastemakers. A recent lineup on the calendar? A cocktail class with L� from Hop Sing, a BYOB dinner with Vetri's sommelier, and a pasta-making class with Marc himself, which cost $300 but was sold out in mere minutes. 1312 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, vetriristorante.com.
Amy’s Pastelillos
After years of pop-ups and collaboration dinners, Amaryllis Rivera-Nassar finally has a brick-and-mortar takeout spot, where you can get her flaky Puerto Rican-style turnovers in flavors like beef picadillo and guava pulled pork. You could go out on your lunch break and bring a half-dozen of Amy’s pastelillos back to the office. Or go to a park, sit in the sun, and eat them all yourself. We promise you won’t regret it. 2001 Memphis Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, amyspastelillos.com.