Midtown Village & the Gayborhood: Philly Culture & Pride in Living Color

Can’t-Miss Experiences

1. Explore LGBTQ+ history

From rainbow crosswalks to skyward-bound murals (including Finally on 13th and Pride & Progress), LGBTQ+ history, culture and pride color the neighborhood.

Drop into the William Way LGBT Community Center — home of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ lending library — for art exhibits, events, social wellness programs and more.

Keep an eye out for tours, like Beyond the Bell’s Phily Gayborhood/LGBTQ History Tour.

And historic markers can also be found throughout the neighborhood honoring:

• important people, like Alain Lock and Barbara Gittings
• places, including the AIDS Library of Philadelphia, and
• events, from the Dewey’s restaurant sit-ins to the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement in Philly and beyond.

Rainbow Crosswalks   — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

2. Experience foodie heaven

One of the best dining scenes in this culinary city, Midtown Village is brimming with restaurants, ranging from Italian (Vetri Cucina) and Caribbean (Flambo) to casual brunch spots (Green Eggs Cafe) and special-occasion dinner staples (Alpen Rose).

Must-eat stops include Middle Child (sandwiches), Vedge (vegan), Double Knot (sushi), Grandma’s (Thai), Moriarity’s (pub grub), Miss Saigon (Vietnamese) and El Vez (Mexican).

And that doesn’t include Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran’s restaurant empire along 13th Street, which includes Darling Jack’s, Little Nonna’s, Bud & Marilyn’s and Barbuzzo.

Barbuzzo   — Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia

3. Attend the annual LGBTQ+ festivals

The Gayborhood throws Philly’s biggest and boldest LGBTQ+ celebrations, like the Philadelphia Pride March & Festival, a family-friendly weekend typically held the first full weekend of June, and OURfest, one of the nation’s largest National Coming Out Day fests.

Philadelphia Pride March & Festival   — Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia

4. Enjoy a night out with friends

The neighborhood’s hip bars, cozy pubs, lively beer gardens and nightclubs offer plenty of options for sippers and nightlife-lovers, too.

McGillin’s Olde Ale House has been a staple since 1860 (before the Civil War!). Other popular watering holes include Writer’s Block Rehab, Monster Vegan, Time, Vintage and Charlie was a sinner.

LGBTQ+ community members and allies can look forward to dancing, drag shows and more at awesome LGBTQ+ bars and clubs like Tavern on Camac, Franky Bradley’s, Voyeur and 254.

McGillin’s Olde Ale House   — Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia

5. Catch a show on the Avenue of the Arts

A gateway to live entertainment — theater, concerts, comedy and more — Midtown Village and the Gayborhood is located just steps from the Academy of Music, the Miller Theater, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Walnut Street Theatre.

Academy of Music   — Photo by R. Donnell

6. Shop trendy boutiques

A shoppers’ paradise, the area sports a diverse collection of indie boutiques, like America’s oldest LGBTQ+ and feminist bookstore Giovanni’s Room, gift shop Verde (get the handmade, artisanal chocolates!), and the flagship store for global sportswear brand Mitchell & Ness.

Where to Stay

In Midtown Village, you have your pick of luxury accommodations and familiar names, like the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, the Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City and the DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia; boutique hotels like the historic Guild House Hotel; and spots that double as dining destinations, like the Cambria Hotel Downtown Center City, where Attico Rooftop Lounge resides.

Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City   — Photo by D. Nicole for Visit Philadelphia

Local Tips

Ready to experience the neighborhood firsthand? Here are some tips to get you started:

• Getting to the area couldn’t be easier with SEPTA’s B (Broad Street) subway line.
• South 13th Street boasts a dedicated bike lane through Midtown Village, which makes the street a great jump-off point for cyclers. (Pro tip: Try Indego!)
• Street parking can be hard, but parking garages and lots can be found throughout the area.
• Stop and smell the roses with historic architecture and photo-worthy streets along strips like Latimer Street and Quince Street.