Dinner and a Show: Where to Eat Near Philly Theaters

The epicenter of big time theater in Philly, the stages along Broad Street’s Avenue of the Arts — the Academy of Music, the Kimmel Center, the Miller Theater, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre and The Wilma Theater — showcase Broadway productions, musicals, concerts and more. And up and down the city’s main drag, there’s an abundance of choices for food and drink before the lights go up for your evening’s show.

Casual cafe by day, lively cocktail bar by night, the Curtain Call cafe and lounge at the Kimmel Center brings an assortment of tasty eats to the Avenue of the Arts. Offering the perfect pre-show pick-me-up — or post-show nightcap —  the menu is heavy on the small plates of elevated bites, as well as beer, wine and specialty cocktails.

Right across from The Wilma, luxurious Steak 48 is an upscale spot to spoil your inner carnivore. Along Spruce Street, fine dining Vetri Cucina is consistently recognized as one of Philadelphia’s top restaurants. And around the corner on Locust, options include elegant Estia for high-end Greek cuisine, popular and intimate Little Nonna’s serving up Italian-American classics, and the lively comfort food and drink at Bud & Marilyn’s.

Hitting up a matinee? Grab brunch and a specialty coffee (or a mimosa, if you wish) at the Midtown Village location of beloved Green Eggs Cafe.

Located a block further south at the edge of Rittenhouse Row, the two theaters inside The Drake building serve as home to several organizations — including InterAct Theatre Company — operating under the “At The Drake” performance banner. And within a few yards of each other around the intersection of Spruce and 16th streets are a foursome of pre-show options.

A longtime Philly favorite, Monk’s Café is known for its extensive beer selection alongside legendary mussels and crispy Belgian frites. Across the street is intimate classic Italian BYOB La Viola, with chic Samurai Japanese Restaurant’s well-regarded sushi and sashimi up the street inside Academy House and bustling Thai locale Jasmine Rice Rittenhouse south along 16th Street.

One of the oldest continuously running theaters in the nation dating back to 1913, Plays & Players Theatre (and its primary tenant, 1812 Productions) is located on Rittenhouse Square’s quiet residential Delancey Place, near several of the city’s most elegant dining spots.

Among the city’s top restaurants by any measure, Parisian-style brasserie Parc from Stephen Starr is a special place to kick off an evening of dinner and a show, as is Starr’s luxury steakhouse Barclay Prime, home to the $140 wagyu and black truffle cheesesteak. More for beef lovers is Rittenhouse Grill, which offers a traditional steakhouse experience, and for those seeking out vegan and gluten-free options, plant-based cafe P.S. & Co. serves organic dishes, healthier desserts and more.

Arden Theatre has been presenting world premieres and popular works while garnering dozens of Barrymore Awards during its four-decade existence. And within its historic Old City neighborhood lies a selection of fun eateries and pubs matching Arden’s intimate aesthetic.

Vibrant Cuba Libre is a well-known destination for small plates of creative Cuban cuisine and its spirited rum bar. For more drink options, pop into National Mechanics (housed in a circa-1837 former bank building) for upscale cocktails, or — for a very different experience — famous Mac’s Tavern, co-owned by couple Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia fame. And around the corner on Market Street, James Beard Award-winning Ellen Yin’s fantastic Fork serves a chic contemporary American menu.

One of two Shubert Organization venues outside New York City, century-old Forrest Theatre hosts big-name touring productions and right-from-Broadway shows. Close by are several showstopping spots for dinner and drinks in the surrounding Gayborhood.

Among the city’s buzziest establishments, Charlie was a sinner. is a cozy yet glam vegan tapas lounge with plant-based plates and crafted cocktails. Next door, El Vez is a Mexican favorite offering a modern take on classics (and a great tequila selection). Asian flavors are on display both across the street at Michael Schulson’s Sampan — one of Philly’s most-booked restaurants — and with sizzling twists on traditional dishes at Xiandu Thai. And down at 12th and Locust streets is stylish LGBTQ+-owned Knock upscale American restaurant and bar.

The 220-seat FringeArts — inside a century-old former riverside pumping station — hosts contemporary out-of-the-mainstream performances, experimental concerts and the annual Fringe Festival. And its Delaware River waterfront location is convenient to full-night-out spots with a similar vibe, including its own Fringe Bar, offering pub cuisine, eclectic beverages, and more live music and entertainment.

A short walk along the riverfront takes you to spring-to-fall outdoor destination Morgan’s Pier, an oasis of craft beer, casual dishes, and live music and DJs for a casual warm-weather night out. And a bit west into Old City are across-the-street establishments Tuna Bar, an upscale-yet-relaxing Japanese raw bar and grill known for their sushi, and low-key rustic bistro Race Street Cafe, with its popular eponymous burger and classic tavern eats.

Don’t be afraid, Stephen King fans: That’s rūm as in “room.” One of Philly’s newest theaters, Red Rūm Theater offers immersive interactive theater shows a block from Independence National Historical Park inside The Curtis Building. And for a dinner-and-a-show experience, the stage’s Historic District location offers a bevy of options, both pleasantly touristy and intimate.

Joining the theater inside The Curtis is P.J. Clarke’s (an offshoot of the Broadway-adjacent original), a spacious spot for classic American fare. Past Independence Hall is elevated comfort food served streetside at cozy Red Owl Tavern within Kimpton Hotel Monaco. And just down Chestnut Street is Stephen Starr’s world-famous Buddakan, offering modern Asian fusion in a dramatic and stylish setting.

The intimate 150-seat St. Stephen’s Theater, a performing arts center owned by St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, hosts engaging classic, modern and original works from not-for-profit Lantern Theater Company in busy Market East between City Hall and Independence Hall.

Top of the list of pre- or post-show spots is another of Ellen Yin’s award-winning establishments, modern-American High Street Philadelphia inside the historic Franklin Building, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients and artisanal preparations (and killer sourdough pizzas). The Wayward, within Canopy by Hilton, is an American brasserie featuring an impressive gin list. And for laid-back experiences, wander over to the Center City location of popular gastropub chain Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant or explore the memorabilia while you dine at Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia.

Dating back to 1808, Philly’s Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest continuously operating theater in the entire English-speaking world, with Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette in attendance on opening night. A number of nearby eateries and pubs offer pre-show dining just as elegant.

Go big at Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s self-titled Japanese spot, one of Philly’s major culinary destinations, or with farm-to-table American cuisine at nature-inspired Talula’s Garden across from the park. If comfort food is your desire, find a relaxed, casual vibe (and hearty milkshakes) at Craftsman Row Saloon or the cozy fare and inventive menu (like rabbit pot pie and Welsh rarebit) at The Morris Restaurant.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Live Arts is one of the nation’s top urban collegiate performing arts centers, presenting music, dance and touring plays across three theater spaces. Its University City locale offers a varied collection of dinner options with a younger aesthetic.

Within the busy area amid the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University campuses are trendy White Dog Cafe, known for sustainable farm-to-table contemporary American, as well as lively French-inspired bistro Louie Louie, part of the The Inn at Penn, a Hilton Hotel. The West Philly neighborhood is also a hotbed for great Asian cuisine, led by Chinese staple Sang Kee Noodle House and futuristic Pod’s modern fusion cuisine. And for a quick pre-show bite, grab-and-go at the Philly location of “healthy fast casual” chain Dig Inn.

Northwest Philly’s most prominent playhouse, the Sedgwick Theater in Mt. Airy is a nearly 100-year-old Art Deco former movie palace that’s home to Quintessence Theatre Group. And in addition to a short drive to Manayunk and Roxborough, there are fantastic choices within walking distance along Germantown Avenue.

Next door is Italian BYOB favorite La Trattoria, while Töska Restaurant & Brewery, an Albanian-inspired spot featuring wood-fired pizzas and a selection of house-brewed craft beer, sits just across the street. Further down the cobblestoned avenue are cozy Bar Lizette, specializing in Alsace region cuisine fusing French and German (everything from schnitzel to moules frites), and traditional South Asian eatery Jyoti Indian Bistro. (You may know them from their natural foods brand sold at Trader Joe’s and elsewhere.)

South Philly nonprofit Theatre Exile focuses on contemporary works and new plays featuring local talent in an intimate setting, along with an opportunity for theatergoers to have a most-Philly-ever experience for dinner-and-a-show night.

Just a block south, diners (and film buffs) enjoy Old World Italian spot Victor Café — the real-life stand-in for Adrian’s Restaurant from the Rocky franchise — with classic red-sauce dishes served by an opera-singing waitstaff. Or take a short half-mile walk to the world-famous Italian Market corner featuring twin cheesesteak icons Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks for a pre-show whiz wit.

And if it’s a matinee day, comfort brunches and an impressive selection of champagne cocktails and bloody’s are waiting at Green Eggs Cafe’s South Philly location.

Award-winning regional theater ACT II Playhouse in Ambler offers a broad range of performances, including comedies, dramas, musicals and original works, with a myriad of dining choices up and down Butler Avenue, the borough’s main street.

The flavors of Mexico permeate the menu at regional favorite Cantina Feliz with its bright and vibrant setting, while authentic tastes from a bit further south are on display at Geronimo’s Peruvian Cuisine. Drinks and cocktails take center stage aside tasty menu selections at Dettera Restaurant & Wine Bar and Gypsy Blu, along with the local waterway-borne craft beers at Tannery Run Brew Works. Down the street, highly regarded Bridgets Steakhouse carves up a half-dozen prime beef cuts in an upscale atmosphere.

Newly remodeled Bristol Riverside Theater, located inside a former moviehouse that overlooks the Delaware River, is known for its inclusivity and use of local talent, along with its proximity to the many dinner options in this part of Lower Bucks.

Any discussion of the Bristol dining scene must start with King George II Inn. Arguably the nation’s oldest continuously operating inn and tavern, the landmark — which dates back to 1681 — serves a mix of indulgent classics and modern takes. The borough’s riverside location gives rise to the ocean-to-table sustainable seafood offerings at BYOB Jules@Market, while more casual spots include the traditional Mexican entrees and flavorful margaritas at Mill Street Cantina (also recently remodeled) and the creative craft beers and rotating guest chef menus at Naked Brewing Bristol Taproom.

Residing inside a circa-1751 former gristmill, iconic Bucks County Playhouse in charming New Hope has seen the likes of Grace Kelly, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Redford and Liza Minnelli grace its stage. Those luminaries probably didn’t grab a bite at these waterfront restaurants before their shows, but you sure can.

Rising right behind the theater, the renamed non-profit Playhouse Deck features spectacular river and bridge views to enjoy with a menu of American cuisine, as does Martine’s RiverHouse Restaurant just up the river. Located next door inside Ghost Light Inn, barn-style gastropub Stella of New Hope brings farm-to-table sustainability to the riverside. And nearby, within historic Logan Inn, the rustic industrial Ferry + Main restaurant features an open kitchen serving contemporary American fare with a spacious bar.

“Long live the Hedgerow Theatre.” Nineteenth-century dramatist Seán O’Casey’s rallying cry still holds true at the 100-seat repertory theater, founded in 1923 and built out of a 19th-century gristmill. With its location in far southeastern Delaware County south of Media, walk-to dining options are limited, but there are fantastic spots for a pre-show meal within a short drive.

Beloved Fond BYOB, having shuttered its East Passyunk doors after two decades in 2021, reemerged in Wallingford three years later, serving the same French-infused American menu just a mile from the theater. Over by Swarthmore College (and inside The Inn at Swarthmore), Broad Table Tavern features twists on American favorites with a great bourbon selection. And before a show with the whole fam, Tom Jones Family Restaurant in Brookhaven is a 24-hour haven for diner lovers.

The Media Theatre is a 440-seat former vaudeville stagehouse, currently operating as the largest professional regional theater employing equity actors in Delaware County. And nearby the theater’s county seat town are a number of places for a before-show meal.

An offshoot of the popular Old City location, Media’s Spasso Italian Grill is likewise known for its authentic Italian cuisine in a chill locale. A true Delco original, The Towne House is a local institution with five distinct dining rooms, each with its own vibe and cuisine. And for a more relaxed experience, Brick & Brew gastropub offers housemade pizzas and craft beers, as does the Media location of the local Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant chain.

Regional professional People’s Light theater has been producing a mix of diverse shows since 1974 in Chester County. Before hitting up these eclectic shows, there are plenty of eclectic choices for dining before showtime around its Malvern location.

Pop next door to The Fern & Fable, a farm-to-table spot serving rotating seasonal classics in a restored 16th-century farmhouse. For more selections in a historic setting, General Warren is a traditional-yet-contemporary fine dining restaurant and inn which dates back to 1745. Laid-back pregaming is the aesthetic at Sly Fox Taphouse at the Grove — one of three locations of the local brewery chain — offering inventive pub grub, or choose contemporary sophistication at Fork & Bottle within The Desmond Hotel.

Celebrating two decades in 2025, Theatre Horizon is an American Theatre Wing National Theatre Company Award-winning professional theater company in Montgomery County with several choices for dinner-and-a-show near its Norristown stage.

In a town where one out of every 10 residents is Latino, fantastic Hispanic food abounds, including around the corner at Trejo Mexican Restaurant, with generous portions of south-of-the-border classics. August Moon is a cozy and unexpected Korean and Japanese fusion spot down Main Street plating outstanding food to kick off show night with traditional dishes like bibimbap, bulgogi and sushi. And if drinks are on your mind, Taphouse 23 is a modern gastropub serving up a bevy of local craft beers along with elevated tavern fare.