Food & Drink in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is undoubtedly one of the best dining and nightlife cities in America.

Don’t take our word. Just ask Eater. Or CN Traveler. Or Food & Wine, Forbes and Travel + Leisure. Maybe peruse the James Beard Foundation Awards, which has levied honors on nearly 50 Philadelphia restaurants and bars over the last half-dozen years alone.

And that’s not even to mention the cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, hoagies and citywides.

Both top chefs and Top Chefs have chosen Philadelphia as the place to set up shop for passion projects and experimentations, creating a restaurant scene rivaling any in the world. The city is a vibrant destination for restaurateurs to broaden horizons alongside an incredible roster of homegrown talent.

Philadelphia’s culinary landscape is as diverse as it is tasty. The city offers a bevy of international street food vendors, 300-plus BYOB restaurants, cozy sidewalk cafes and bustling streateries, taverns and bars offering upscale pub grub, some of the nation’s best pizzerias, vegetarian and vegan hotspots, and the historic Reading Terminal Market and Italian Market.

Not sure where to choose?

Dress up for fine dining at Jean-Georges Philadelphia or Parc, or enjoy an upscale casual meal at High Street Philly and Middle Child Clubhouse. Grab a slice at Angelo’s or Tacconelli’s, and finish up sweetly with John’s Water Ice or Franklin Fountain.

Find cheesesteak heaven at the iconic Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, or experience the best of the best with James Beard Award winners like Friday Saturday Sunday, Vetri Cucina and Zahav. Visit Ralph’s Italian Restaurant, the nation’s oldest Old World eatery, or sample Bon Appetit’s best pizza in America at Pizzeria Beddia.

And finish up your night at Andra Hem, Bloomsday, Post Haste or Poison Heart, all recently named among the best bars in the country.