24 HOURS IN PHILADELPHIA’S HISTORIC DISTRICT: WHERE TO EAT
American history buffs, buses full of students on school trips, and an international array of tourists flock to Old City’s Colonial sites year-round. With attractions like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Benjamin Franklin Museum, it’s easy to spend hours exploring this historical hotspot. Luckily, visitors to the tourist-favorite neighborhood don’t have to fall prey to middling dining options. While no visit to Old City is complete without a stop at City Tavern, where servers in period costumes serve 18th-century fare, there are excellent options for eating a modern meal in Old City, all in close proximity to plenty of history.
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8 a.m. Coffee at Menagerie
Start the day at this tiny cafe for a bit of calm before entering the sea of tourists. Here oat milk lattes and iced matchas can be sipped quietly in the company of succulents, exposed brick, and minimalist Mid-Century furnishings.
9 a.m. Breakfast at Philly Style Bagels
The beauty of Philly Style Bagels is that it allows visitors to get a standard breakfast sandwich without having to go down an offal-heavy breakfast meat rabbit hole. For a taste of the city, one can’t go wrong with their classic lox sandwich that’s made with the finest cream cheese, cured salmon, cucumber, tomato and red onion — simple, yet tasty.
12 p.m. Lunch at The Bourse
The ground floor of this historic building has been home to a visitor-friendly food court for years. The only problem is that the mediocre food served here never came to close to accurately representing Philadelphia’s vibrant dining scene. After a dramatic rebrand, the Bourse is back with a roster of vendors that deal in everything from Bricco’s Roman-style pizza al taglio to Hawaiian comfort fare at Abunai Poke, where you can taste their spicy salmon, tofu, and garlic ahi tuna bowls. For those who can’t imagine paying a visit to the Liberty Bell without sampling a cheesesteak, Marino Brothers will satisfy the whiz craving.
3 p.m. Snacks at Vista Peru
The usual move for Old City visitors it to stop at old-timey scoop shop Franklin Fountain for a sundae or banana split, and if a sweet respite is in order, the ice cream shop does the trick. But if a bright and bracing mid-afternoon pick-me-up appeals, swap that sugar rush for a couple of plates at Vista Peru. Choose from a range of ceviches and chilled causas (neat little stacks of mashed potatoes layered with various fillings) best enjoyed with a round of pisco sours.
5 p.m. Happy Hour at the Olde Bar
At this point during a long day in Old City, taking on any more historic sights could be enough to make even the most patriotic folks think about turning one’s coat. But stepping foot into one more piece of Philadelphia history is a whole lot more palatable when dollar oysters are involved. Located in the Old Original Bookbinder’s, a seafood restaurant dating back to 1893, Olde Bar preserves plenty of vintage charm and boasts a formidable happy hour with buck-a-shuck oysters, discounted beer and wine, and Fish House Punch, a rum cocktail with strong Philly roots.
8 p.m. Dinner at Forsythia
Even a founding father would have a hard time scoring a table at Zahav since the restaurant was named best in the country at the national James Beard Awards. Happily, there are plenty of other standout restaurants in the historic district. Chef Christopher Kearse’s stylish Forsythia introduces diners to playful takes on French classics like Wagyu beef tartare, bone marrow crusted short rib, and a honey pot de creme for dessert.
10 p.m. After-Dinner Drinks at 48 Record Bar
There is no shortage of places to grab a beer and a shot in Old City, but if well-crafted cocktails and good music are in order, this audiophile bar (located upstairs at Sassafras) is the place to be. The bar here is open until 2 a.m., nightly, pouring glasses of rosé from Spain and mixing tequila-spiked jalapeño ginger cocktails.
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