Fairhill & Hunting Park: Generations of Art, Culture & Tradition

Can’t-Miss Experiences

1. Walk the Golden Block

Highlighted by distinctive golden-road markings and dotted with 15-foot-tall steel palm trees, El Centro de Oro isn’t just the gateway to the neighborhood. It’s the beating heart of the community.

A hub of Latino — especially Puerto Rican — business and culture, this lively stretch of North Fifth Street is home to neighborhood-focused nonprofit organizations and long-standing businesses, like Centro Musical.

Nearby murals, like Héroes Latinx (Latinx Heroes) and Sanctuary City, Sanctuary Neighborhood, celebrate Puerto Rican and Afro-Caribbean identity.

Centro Musical   — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

2. Feast on Latin American & Caribbean flavors

Fairhill’s eateries — no-frills takeout spots, sit-down staples, beloved bakeries and more — showcase the breadth of Latino cuisine. Don’t know where to start? Here are some options:

• Puerto Rican mofongo and empanadas at Freddy & Tony’s
• Dominican mangú and morir soñando at El Principe
• Mexican tacos and house-made horchata at Taqueria La Raza
• Colombian fare at Tierra Colombiana
• Sandwiches and other classics at El Punto, and
• Pastelillos, quesitos and tres leches cake at Delicias Bakery & Delicatessen and Silvia’s Bakery.

3. Celebrate local artists and performers

The geographical start of El Centro de Oro, the HACE Business & Visitor’s Center is your go-to for info about cultural activities, events and businesses in the neighborhood.

You can browse bilingual literature or discover free and low-cost art exhibits, youth programming and more at Taller Puertorriqueño’s El Corazón Cultural Center.

Or catch live performances, films and music by Latino and international artists at  Esperanza Arts Center.

  — Photo by S. Lopez for Taller Puertorriqueño

4. Party at beloved festivals

Festivals large and small — like the Feria del Barrio (one of the city’s largest celebrations of Latino art and culture), the Festival de la Caña (Sugarcane Festival) and Summer of Salsa — fill the neighborhood with music, art and family fun.

Feria del Barrio   — Photo courtesy Taller Puertorriqueño

5. Visit Historic Fair Hill

A national historic site, Historic Fair Hill is the final resting place of notable abolitionists and women’s rights leaders like Robert Purvis and Lucretia Mott. The 18th-century Quaker burial ground also functions as a nature and education center with an active schedule of events.

(Pro-tip: The site often offers tours of its murals honoring America’s fight for social justice on the Second Saturday of the month.)

  — Photo courtesy Historic Fair Hill

Where to Stay

Hotel options are limited in the Fairhill and Hunting Park neighborhoods, but those looking to stay close by can find boutique accommodations in nearby Fishtown at hotels like the Archway Fishtown, Hotel Anna & Bel, and the Local Hotel Fishtown.

Archway Fishtown   — Photo by J. Varney for Archway

Local Tips

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

• Fairhill is accessible from Center City via SEPTA’s 47 bus line (immortalised in this short film), and Hunting Park is accessible via the B (Broad Street) subway line.
• Many businesses are cash-only, so it’s a good idea to have some available when visiting.
• Locals are proud of the neighborhood and often happy to share its culture. Don’t hesitate to pop into Caribbean mini-markets and Latin bodegas, hear stories from shopkeepers or artists, or grab empanadas and pinchos from picadera street vendors.
• The neighborhood is most active during the day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), with some shops closing early — especially on Sundays and Mondays.
• Street parking is usually available along Lehigh Avenue or side streets.