Water Works Restaurant and Lounge

More than 140 years after it closed for business, Fairmount Park’s famed Water Works — onetime home to the engine room for Philadelphia’s cutting-edge water department — recently reopened as a chic destination lounge and restaurant.

The setting is nothing short of spectacular. Sitting right below the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Water Works Restaurant and Lounge has an amazing view of the Schuylkill River and Boathouse Row and an atmosphere that belies its location minutes from downtown.

Dine beneath the high barrel-vaulted ceiling of the Engine House or the glass-enclosed Solarium. Relax with casual dining in the Breezeway or cocktails in the Caretaker’s Lounge; meanwhile the outdoor terrace offers cliff-side dining (relax — there’s a railing), as well as a Riverside Veranda.

With a setting like this, it would be easy to overlook the food. But the cuisine at the Water Works is too memorable for that. The classic American fare with subtle Mediterranean influences is sure to delight. A few menu higlights include grilled octopus with cilantro, duck risotto with porcini mushrooms and vanilla butter-poached lobster.

Insider’s Tip

The Water Works is an eminently majestic setting for a special occasion, like a wedding or anniversary party, and will only add to the memories of your big day.