How To Spend a Long Weekend in Philadelphia
My sister and her husband live in Philadelphia, and it’s been so fun visiting them over the years! Philadelphia is a historically rich, culturally diverse city with amazing things to do. Here are some of the things I like to do when we go there:
Where to Get Coffee
Machine Shop
One thing about Philly that’s really unique is their ability to repurpose buildings. Machine Shop is located in an old school building. We came in the back way, so we walked long halls of abandoned lockers, and found our way to the corner with boutique shops, coffee, and Machine Shop.
I ordered the Kouign Amann with orange. It was delicious!
Sister Cities Cafe and Park
Ok, so we didn’t end up getting coffee at Sister Cities Cafe because we had just eaten, but we came to the park around the cafe and had a blast! It was 90 degrees and there was a splash pad, so the kids LOVED it! It was also in a cool area with flags lining the street and an amazing fountain across the way.
Herman’s Coffee
Herman’s was inspired by a man who enjoyed starting his day by sipping coffee in a lawn chair. Now, it’s a cute shop with coffee and an offering of different food goods from around the world. In my experience, the service was not great… they had no signs regarding photography, but the baristas made some passive comments about me taking pictures, so I stopped as soon as I realized they were talking about me. And then my order was wrong… so if you go here and want to take pictures, order your coffee first, and then take your pictures, making sure that none of the staff’s face is pictured.
Old City Coffee
The charm of Old City Coffee is the location - a few steps away from Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest working alley in the United States. The coffee was pretty good, and perfect for a hot day of sight seeing.
Chestnut Hill Coffee
Chestnut Hill Coffee is my favorite coffee shop in all of Philadelphia. I’ve come back here on every single one of my trips (4 times total) because it’s so good! The coffee is delicious, it’s charming, and in such a cute area full of local shops.
Where to Eat
Reading Terminal
The Reading Terminal was my first “food hall” experience, and ever since, I’ve been finding food halls in every place I visit. This is by far superior. The options are endless, there’s a good vibe, and it’s a little gritty - all important things for a good food experience. I ended up ordering street nachos from Merkury. We went to a park and ate our food - it was so good. I only wished that I grabbed a fork because they were loaded.
The Reading Terminal also has candy shops and other little boutiques, which is fun to look around after you’re done eating.
Caphe Roasters
My sister and I chose Caphe Roasters after our first choice fell through, and we were so glad we came here! We ended up ordering off of their limited menu, but if their regular menu is anything like it, then it’s amazing. We ordered the spring rolls, fried chicken bhan mi, and corn fries. My sister and I kept looking at each other like “I can’t believe we’re eating such delicious food!” We also ordered egg coffee. Ever since eating at Nep in California, I’ve been craving it. It wasn’t as good as Nep, but it was still great!
Weckerly’s Ice Cream
Weckerly’s Ice Cream hit the spot during my 90 degree visit! It’s a small, charming shop located in Fishtown. I ordered the Cosmic Beet - beets, orange, and chocolate cake. It sounds a bit odd, but it was delicious! They also have a great selection of fruity popsicles, and are known for their ice cream sandwiches.
The Bourse Food Hall
During our trip to the Liberty Bell, we crossed the street and grabbed lunch at The Bourse Food Hall. The inside is very cool, with high skylights and very chic staircases lining the side walls. Options were more limited here - it looked newer, and not all of the stalls were filled. I ordered an ahi tuna bowl which was really good! I think this place has a lot of potential once more vendors get in!
Insomnia Cookies
On a previous trip, my sister took us to Insomnia Cookies. But it wasn’t a normal cookie stop. We gave them a password and the wall opened up to a dark, neon lit hallway that took us to a very cool milkshake speakeasy! We ordered fun shakes with cookies on top. Good vibes all around!
What to Do
Liberty Bell
You do not have to be a history buff to enjoy the Liberty Bell! I’m not huge on history, but I like to come to the Liberty Bell every chance I get. First, it’s free. Second, it’s super easy to walk and read, and you can’t spend more than 30 minutes there, so it won’t take up much time. And third, it’s in such a historic part of Philadelphia, so you can explore other historical sites! And if you’re into women’s rights, I promise you’ll shed a few tears.
Elfreth’s Alley
While you’re in the same area as the Liberty Bell, take a stroll down to Elfreth’s Alley. It’s America’s oldest active alley, now operating for over 300 years!
Magic Gardens
The Philadelphia Magic Gardens is a non-profit, outdoor immersive art experience. You can walk around in the “gardens” and all of the walls are mosaics. It’s beautiful and intricate, and most certainly worth the $15 admission price! Tickets are only sold online, so make sure to buy them before you go - and they do offer several discounts.
I hope this inspires you to take a trip to Philadelphia! You won’t regret it.
