University City: Where Nature Meets Innovation

Six Can’t-Miss Experiences in University City

1. Dine Along Baltimore Avenue

The district’s bustling heart is Baltimore Avenue, which features a mix of boutiques, galleries, bookshops and restaurants — from casual to fine dining — such as Vientiane, Dahlak, Renata’s Kitchen and Vietnam Café.

Take a slight detour off of Baltimore Avenue to grab a drink at Two Locals Brewing — Pennsylvania’s first Black-owned brewery — on 37th Street (also home to a seasonal beer garden at The Lawn – uCity Square).

Vientiane Café   — Photo by A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia

2. Take a Selfie With the Sphinx at the Penn Museum

Campus proximity means the neighborhood is home to plenty of museums, galleries and theaters, including the 140-year-old Penn Museum and its more than 1 million relics.

Must-sees include the iconic 3,000-year-old Egyptian Sphinx — the largest in the Western Hemisphere.

  — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

3. Stroll the Campus or Catch a Game at the University of Pennsylvania

Explore the beautiful campus at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the country’s eight distinguished Ivy League universities.

Head down the leafy brick-paved Locust Walk or amble through James G. Kaskey Memorial Park botanical garden — aka the BioPond.

Or check out two of the nation’s most legendary college sports venues: the 130-year-old Franklin Field and The Palestra (circa 1927), impressive both on or off game day.

Locust Walk   — Photo by E. Sucar for University of Pennsylvania

4. Take in Spectacular Views from Cira Green

One of Philly’s most spectacular views can be experienced from the 31,000-square-foot Cira Green, a 12-story urban “Park in the Sky” atop Cira Centre South Garage.

The rooftop also features seasonal offerings like a beer garden, twilight movie screenings and the Sunset Social rooftop bar.

  — Photo by Elevated Angles for Visit Philadelphia

5. Kick Back at Clark Park

The nine-acre community green space Clark Park also plays host to the annual Shakespeare in Clark Park productions, the Movies in Clark Park series and the year-round Clark Park Farmers Market, featuring produce and specialty products from local vendors.

Movies in Clark Park   — Photo by B. Tran

6. Catch a Show at World Cafe Live

Located inside the home of indie radio station WXPN-FM, World Cafe Live music hall offers excellent acoustics and sightlines during performances from popular touring bands.

And each week, the venue hosts Free at Noon, a free-with-RSVP Friday show that is broadcast worldwide.

  — Photo courtesy World Cafe Live

More Can’t-Miss Experiences

All of that not enough? Take in gorgeous views on a walk through The Woodlands cemetery, discover ever-changing exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art, or join in the celebration during annual events like University City Dining Days, the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll and Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival.

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll   — Photo by L. Reehling

Where to Stay

The Study at University City   — Photo by D. Knoll for Visit Philadelphia

University City offers a plethora of hotels to match the vibe of your stay, including properties like AKA University City, The Inn at Penn, Sheraton University City or The Study.

Local Tips

Here are some tips to get you started on your University City visit:

• Arrive via a quick walk across the South Street Bridge, or grab SEPTA’s L line (formerly Market-Frankford “el”) shuttling riders along Market Street.
• Get around the bike-friendly district on two wheels, available from several Indego bikeshare stations.
• Or hop aboard SEPTA’s LUCY shuttle (Loop through University City), which circles the neighborhood every 30 minutes on weekdays.

For more information about University City, visit the University City District page by clicking the button below:

University District Website