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Good To Know, Good To Go

Sometimes it the simple things that help you get the most out of a weekend. Where to get the morning paper, the best breakfast spot, where to have cocktails before dinner, what to do after dinner? We ask ourselves “what do you need to know? And then we go out and find the answers for you. "Good To Know" helps you experience the destination like a local.

Food & Drink

Breakfast

All of our Featured Properties have good breakfast fare, but if you want some local color, here’s some ideas; Little Pete’s, 219 S. 17th. Always a wait, but worth it at this 24hr.diner. Cash only. Sit at the circular counter. Open all night if you need some fortification after a night on the town.  Sabrina’s
Café 910 Christian (9th/10th) in the Italian Market. Good choice for a Sunday, when you can stroll the Market after breakfast and take home some great food.  Reading Terminal, with all  its food booths is an adventure and there are lots of choices from fresh fruit smoothies to just out of the oven cinnamon buns to unusual coffees.

Lunch

Of our Featured Restaurants, Le Bec Fin, Amada, Susanna Foo, Oceanaire, Waterworks and Estia are open for lunch during the week, including Friday. Our Featured hotel restaurant, Fountain is also
open for lunch every day. Lunch is a great way to "fit in" another top restaurant during your stay.


Other favorites; Fork, on Market Street, has won all kinds of awards in the "Best of Philly" competition including "Best Lunch". The food is delicious, I like the outdoor dining or the little nook facing the street and they have a wonderful wine list. Tria, 18th and Sansom is another favorite, but not open for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Small plates, wonderful cheeses, killer wine list and outdoor dining as well.  If you are in South Philly (and even if you are not, it's worth the trip), Paradiso is a delightful Italian with wonderful service, excellent food and a great mostly Italian wine list. The place that I keep returning to, however, is Rouge, on Rittenhouse Square. This wonderful bistro overlooks the park, opens its doors and windows when the weather is nice, has a great wine list and the roast chicken with white truffled mashed potatoes and their mouth watering burger are to die for. When the weather forces you inside, The Swann Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel has delicious food and a warming fireplace. Ristorante
Panorama on Front and Market at the Penn's View Hotel is a charming room with handpainted murals, featuring excellent Italian food and probably the best wine list in the City. Continental, on Market Street, is an edgy and unique spot with an Asian theme and wonderful food.

Brunch

Not a big brunch fan, it's served too late, there's too much food and it generally costs too much money, but if you are, the brunch at Fountain and Lacroix, at the Four Seasons and Rittenhouse hotels, are the best traditional brunches. Less elaborate, but equally as good and priced a la carte is Fork on Market Street and Continental, also on Market. Fork, Sunday only from 11:00am. Continental serves both Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am.

Sushi

Morimoto, 723 Chestnut, namesake of the original "Iron Chef", sets the standard for sushi and "dinner as theatre" in Philadelphia. Fresh, creative and exciting. The dining room is spectacular. Sushi lovers will not be disappointed.

Picnic Fixins

Di Bruno Brothers, in the Italian Market and at 1730 Chestnut Street in the Rittenhouse Square area is one of those great specialty markets with everything a foodie could want; wonderful cheeses, pates, fois gras, sandwiches, smoked fish, pizza, salads, pastas, coffees, oils and charcuterie. They have kitchenware, gifts, a snack bar and sponsor a "First Friday" beer and cheese tasting each month. Worth the trip even if you are not planning a picnic.

Burger

My mouth is watering just at the thought of the juicy, delicious burger at Rouge on Rittenhouse Square. Served on a soft and toasted brioche bun, covered with Gruyere cheese and smothered with carmelized onions.

Steak

There are good steakhouse choices in Philadelphia; Mortons, Capital Grille and Barclay Prime, but for the overall experience; food, ambiance and service my choice is The Prime Rib, 1701 Locust Street. They serve wonderful grain fed aged beef, in an unbelievably cozy and warm atmosphere with intimate booths and piano music. Dining here evokes thoughts of the old supper clubs. Prime rib is as good as you'll ever taste it. Have the potato skins. Good wine list with a "30 bottles under $40" feature.

Cheesesteak

This is a debate that could last for hours. My son and I spent an afternoon sampling all the “top” cheesesteaks and our consensus was that Tony Luke’s, 39 East Oregon Ave.
was the best. Lots may disagree, but who else has tasted them all?

Ice Cream

Ice cream is serious stuff in Philly and there are two places I really like; Franklin
Fountain 116 Market is a throwback to the ice cream parlors I remember as a kid. This one looks like the one I went to with my grandparents and ohhh is the ice cream good. Scoop Deville, 3417 Spruce Street is the favorite of the City's college kids, probably because they deliver. But the homemade ice cream and related items are delicious.

Sweet Tooth

Shane's Handcrafted Candies, on Market Street between Front and 2nd claims to be the oldest candy store in America (founded in 1876) and given the city's history it just may be. At any rate, the chocolates are delicious and the store itself is a step back in time. Take a look at www.shanecandies.com.

Afternoon Delight.

Devon Seafood Grill, 225 S. 18th, excellent raw bar with lots of oyster varieties, good selection of wines by the glass. Try the chipotle grilled shrimp with corn black bean relish. Beau Monde, 6th and Bainbridge. Cheese or pate platter. Tria Wine Cheese Beer cafe, has great small plates, wonderful cheeses and great wines (Friday afternoon only). Sansom Street
Oyster Bar, great stop for fresh oysters and cold beer. When the weather is nice and all the doors and windows are open, there's no better place for a drink and something to munch on than Rouge on Rittenhouse Square.

Cocktails

Cocktails in a major city afford plenty of great choices. When the weather isn't great, head indoors to local favorite Buddakan for unusual cocktails, sake and delicious appetizers. Make sure you get your picture taken next to the Buddha. Continental on Market Street has terrific martinis, XIX Café at the Park Hyatt has an excellent raw bar to go with an extensive wine list and nice views of the City, Southwark, 701 S. 4th Street makes all the old "highballs" like Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Rob Roys, Martinis. Ask for something "frufru" and they'll tell you to go down the street. Rae, 2929 Arch Street (at 30th Street train station) has a great vibe and Fridays, the free hors d'oeuvres are amazing.


Outside, Rouge on Rittenhouse Square is one of my favorites, Moshulu, a "tall ship" anchored at Penn's Landing has great views and outside bars and Waterworks, 640 Water Works Drive has a delightful terrace, views of the River, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row.