The Best Restaurants in Philadelphia

Award-winning chef Douglas Rodriguez paired with restaurateur Stephen Starr to open this bold restaurant in 2001 at the Center City neighborhood. Since its debut, the restaurant has been serving re-invented meals blended with Cuban food's rich flavors. The dishes are inspired by Rodriguez's childhood in Miami, expertise, adventure, and working experience, creating some of the best delicacies in the city. Alma de Cuba's balcony-style seating and elegant furnishings guarantee a relaxed and classy atmosphere, ideal for a memorable dining experience. Trademark entrees at this restaurant include elaborate ceviche and inventive adaptations of classic dishes, such as lechón asado and vaca frita.

Since its debut in 2005 at Old City, this stunning restaurant has incorporated unique Spanish culinary traditions. The décor of Amada evokes the charm of classic Spanish tapas blended with a contemporary and stylish atmosphere. Helmed by celebrity, award-winning chef Jose Garces, the restaurant features a diverse menu, serving inventive dishes that match Spanish tapas restaurants. Some of the specialties at this restaurant include tortilla Española, Spanish octopus, garlic shrimp, and seasonal sangría. Diners dig into their preferred dishes while flamenco-influenced electronic music plays in the background.

Nestled in Filter Square, Ambrosia BYOB is a casual Italian restaurant serving brunch, lunch, and dinner. Opened by Fredi Loka and George Profi in 2017, the restaurant features a welcoming atmosphere with fine décor and quality service. Ambrosia BYOB specializes in handmade pasta and traditional Italian meals prepared with locally sourced fresh and seasonal ingredients. Popular dishes at this restaurant include its crispy gnocchi, risotto, and chicken Milanese.

Since opening Apricot Stone in 2016, chef Fimy Ishkhanian has been serving a selection of traditional Armenian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern flavors inspired by her childhood in Syria. Apricot Stone, tucked in the Fishtown Neighborhood, has a lively atmosphere, with additional outdoor seats offering scenic views. The restaurant's vast menu features salads, appetizers, and entrees paired with rice or wheat pita. Diners can try out the crispy Mediterranean grilled cheese layered inside a pita at this candle-lit restaurant.

Bar Polet, opened in 2021 at Rittenhouse Square, is a chic establishment serving comfort food and Champagne in an upscale setting, evoking a French vibe. The restaurant blends sophisticated dining with pleasure, combining the traditional fried chicken bucket with a glass of elegant French sparkling wine. The chicken is served with a selection of French-inspired sauces, such as Dijonnaise, truffle velouté, and Roquefort. Also, the bar offers options for vegetarians, including maitake mushrooms and fried portobello. Bar Poulet's menu features side dishes, appetizers, and desserts, too.

Barclay Price is restaurateur Stephen Starr's unique steakhouse concept, located in Rittenhouse Square. Since opening its doors in 2004, the award-winning restaurant has been serving world-class cuisine. The dining room offers a stylish yet friendly atmosphere, drawing inspiration from a library — ideal for a relaxing dining experience. Spearheaded by chef Jeffery Froehler, the restaurant's menu offers a unique fusion of classic signature steaks with inventive and enjoyable specialties, including tater tots and Kobe beef sliders.

Burrata is an Italian BYOB concept from Dejvi Furxhi and Albi Furxhiu, nestled in the heart of Passyunk. Since opening in 2018, led by chef Amarildo Bojko, this restaurant offers Italian classics with a contemporary touch on a small but diverse menu. Burrata's menu offers something for every diner, from its signature burrata appetizer to house-made pasta, fresh seafood selections, vegetarian fare, nightly specials, and creative desserts. Diners can dig into favorite entrees on the restaurant's menu, such as artichokes served with anchovies and complemented with white wine.

Since its debut in 2008 at Center City, restaurateur Stephen Starr's iconic steakhouse concept has offered a sophisticated dining experience, featuring an intimate clubhouse atmosphere, timeless specialties, and friendly, personalized service. Butcher and Singer travels back in time, capturing the finest elements of a golden era. The restaurant's award-winning menu is centered on a variety of expertly grilled chops and sizzling steak, as well as fresh, inventive seafood paired with a fine selection of classic cocktails.

Opened in 2014 by Nicole Marquis, Charlie Was a Sinner is a chic restaurant and bar offering a unique combination of fresh vegan dishes with complex craft cocktails. This restaurant is in Midtown Village and features Prohibition-era flair, with dark-themed walls, black and white photos, and vintage scenes, offering an intimate and inviting vibe. Diners can enjoy savoring chef Michael Santoro's unique menu, featuring vegan specialties such as “Our Ricotta” with grilled sourdough bread or potato croquettes with chipotle aioli.

Opened in 2004, Stephen Starr's Continental Midtown is a three-story restaurant with something for every diner. The first level includes diner-style seating, whereas the vast dining area on the second story contains suspended wicker basket seats. Its airy rooftop terrace is a nightlife hotspot, ideal for digging into the restaurant's specialties while enjoying scenic views. Located at Midtown Village, the restaurant boasts a vast, diverse menu featuring bold, inventive flavors, including the trademark jumbo lump crab pad Thai and Szechuan fries and fun twists such as cheesesteak eggrolls and French onion soup dumplings.

El Rey embodies the spirit of Mexican home cooking, delivering a distinct south-of-the-border dining experience to Philadelphia. Since opening in 2010 at Chestnut Hill, the kitschy restaurant has been serving Mexican food influenced by the inventive dishes of Puebla and Veracruz and helmed by chef Dionico Jimenez. El Rey's menu is full of Mexican classics, including tacos, enchiladas, and tortas, integrated with a fine assortment of drinks. The restaurant's atmosphere is lively and welcoming, featuring vintage movie posters and folk art embellishing the walls, Ideal for a memorable dining experience.

Nestled on the corner of 13th and Sansom streets is a chic, award-winning restaurant that elicits the south-of-the-border vibe with its inventive dishes. Since 2003, the contemporary Mexican restaurant El Vez has offered a diverse menu, which includes unique twists of Mexican staples combined with traditional cooking, and is complemented with fine guacamole, margaritas, and a vast selection of tequilas. The restaurant's vibrant Latin design, including high-backed velvet Hollywood booths and an eye-catching bike suspended above the dining area, offers the best environment for unforgettable dining.

Since opening in 1997, Sandro Frusone's Gnocchi has been serving creative Italian comfort food blended with a touch of US taste. This BYOB restaurant, located at Queen Village, features a lively and welcoming atmosphere, with high-quality personalized service, ideal for a memorable dining experience. Diners can enjoy rich Italian flavors, from classics to contemporary fusions. Like the restaurant's name, gnocchi is its trademark dish, featuring potato and spinach gnocchi dishes, usually served with marinara sauce. Diners can bring their preferred drinks to complement the fine dishes at this restaurant.

Located in the Italian landmark Gran Caffe LÁquila at Center City, the restaurant helmed by award-winning Culinary and Wine Director Riccardo Longo and International Gelato Champion Stefano Biasini offers inventive Italian signature classics fused with contemporary techniques. The restaurant boasts a culinary and wine menu focused on all regions of Italy, featuring wine, beer, and cocktail options carefully curated by Riccardo Longo. Gran Caffe LÁquila’s lively atmosphere brings Italian culture into the city, featuring artwork and décor imported from Italy. The menu for group occasions in this restaurant is customized to meet diners' needs.

Since its debut on the 59th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia in 2019, this restaurant, helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, has offered a unique blend of signature dishes from Jean-Georges' collection with inventive creations exclusive to Philadelphia. The menu focuses on fresh seasonal ingredients crafted using classic French techniques and international influences. Diners can savor breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Jean-Georges, located at the Center City neighborhood, while enjoying panoramic views of the city through the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling

JG SkyHigh, located at Center City’s highest point on Four Seasons Hotel's 60th floor, offers a sophisticated and inviting rooftop lounge focusing on casual Jean-Georges food. Must-try specialties at this restaurant include local favorite Wagyu cheesesteak spring roll, ginger margarita, and JG classics like black truffle and fontina pizza. Diners can gather at the restaurant for a premium cocktail hour experience in the evening, featuring appetizers and small dishes that blend perfectly with drink options, and admire unobstructed spectacular views of Philadelphia's glittering cityscape while enjoying live music.

In 2013, award-winning chef Nicholas Elmi opened Laurel, a contemporary French-inspired BYOB restaurant in East Passyunk. The restaurant features intimate modest seating, hosting about 22 diners, allowing the talented chef and owner to showcase his creativity on a carefully edited seasonal tasting menu. Diners can enjoy personalized service at this simple yet elegant restaurant. Also, optional premium menu supplements, customized beverage pairings, a comprehensive wine selection, and specialty cocktails are available to enhance the dining experience at Laurel.

Morimoto, Stephen Starr and Masaharu Morimoto's unique Japanese restaurant, has received national and worldwide acclaim since its debut in 2001. Located a few strides from Independence Hall on Chestnut Street, it features a stunning and tranquil atmosphere, with interiors drenched in glass and colors for an exceptional dining experience. Morimoto is a magnificent display of the celebrated chef's inventive native dishes, uncovering hidden flavors on every serving, from perfect slices of sashimi to creative twists with international influences. The restaurant's menu accommodates all dining styles, combining Japanese tradition and cutting-edge culinary expertise, tailored to accommodate every diner's taste.

Since opening in 2008 at Rittenhouse Square, Stephen Starr's chic award-winning restaurant has provided a classic French bistro experience, complete with a stylish Parisian ambiance and stunning sidewalk seating, offering unobstructed views of the Square. Diners are transported across the Atlantic, with the restaurant's interiors featuring European décor. Parc's menu, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, promotes a pleasant dining experience, with diners enjoying café au lait and fresh-baked croissants, brasserie staples like escargots, steak frites, and champagne, and conversations in equal proportion.

Pumpkin — named after husband-and-wife co-owners Ian Moroney and Hillary Bor's pet name — debuted in 2003, providing a daily changing three-course menu of inventive cuisine. This modest 28-seat casually elegant restaurant is conveniently nestled in Philadelphia's Graduate Hospital neighborhood and boasts an intimate, relaxed appeal, graced with candlelight, small tables, and personal service. Some of Pumpkin’s signature favorites include cardon, snails, and homemade banana gelato.

Stepping into the Saloon, a family-owned restaurant since 1967 in South Philly, is like going back in time. The restaurant has a cozy, inviting, and relaxed setting, featuring dark wood paneling, gleaming brass, and unique local antiques. This restaurant's longevity is attributed to its inventive Italian food and its attention to detail for each meal. Whether it's a large gathering or a romantic night out for two, the Saloon provides a unique eating experience with customized meals and service for each diner.

Scarpetta – coined from an Italian phrase fare la scarpetta, which means to dig into a meal until the very last bite — is an Italian restaurant serving inventive flavors since 2016. The restaurant's unique, bold menu includes all Scarpetta signature favorites, such as homemade pasta served with tomato and basil, polenta with truffled mushrooms and braised short ribs, as well as an Italian-focused wine collection and craft cocktails. Scarpetta nestled in Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, boasts an inviting, lively, and unique setting, offering a stunning entrance into the elegant neighborhood.

Serpico is a sophisticated yet friendly homage to inventive US food, brilliantly bridging a dependable neighborhood restaurant with a unique setting. The award-winning restaurant, which opened in 2013, collaborates with chef Peter Serpico and restaurateur Stephen Starr and is conveniently located on the iconic South Street. The 60-seater restaurant depicts the chef's ingredient-oriented technique, featuring a Japanese-influenced menu and a carefully curated food-friendly wine selection, as well as cocktails and spirits.

Steak 48 is an exquisite modern steakhouse in the Atlantic Building on the Avenue of the Arts. Since its debut in 2020, the steakhouse has been providing diners with a chic contemporary setting and timeless yet inventive cuisine. This restaurant's menu features classic prime steaks, a vast selection of fresh seafood, unique appetizers, and intriguing side dishes, complemented by an award-winning wine selection and signature cocktails.

As the sun goes down in Philadelphia, Talula's Daily turns into Talula's Daily Supper Club, which serves inventive dinner specialties in an ambient atmosphere, featuring farm tables in its modest 30-seat setting. This décor-inspired dinner-only restaurant, owned by Aimee Olexy in collaboration with Stephen Starr, is located on Washington Square. Since it launched in 2013 at Washington Square, the restaurant has been dedicated to treating diners with locally-inspired dishes, including Aimee's signature cheese service and fine deserts. The restaurant provides a monthly pre-fixe menu featuring five courses and an extra beverage pairing. Also, Talula's Daily Secret Super Club boasts a complete, curated beverage list.

Talula's Garden, opened in 2011 at Washington Square, is an upscale restaurant inspired by locally produced ingredients, prepared in sync with the season. The award-winning restaurant's unique dining style is a collaboration between celebrated restaurateur Stephen Starr and Aimee Olexy. Diners can enjoy gathering at this restaurant, boasting a warm, upbeat charm featuring detailed décor and stunning patio space.

Since its debut in 2018 at Center City, Thanal Indian Tavern has been committed to providing inventive culinary delights. The restaurant features an exceptional vast food and drinks menu intended to bring out the explorer in every dinner, offering a unique Indian experience. The menu is inspired by co-owner brothers Mohan Raj Devarajulu and Hari Haran Karmegam’s childhood in Southern India, specializing in homemade yogurt and coconut milk and perfectly complementing Indian spices. Diners can savor Indian specialties like never before, fused with a touch of modern aesthetic in their classic flavor.

Stephen Star's The Dandelion debuted in 2010, a British-inspired pub depicting the revolution of London's culinary scene. Located only a few strides from the bustling Rittenhouse Square, this award-winning restaurant features a flurry of unique sitting spaces and an inviting Victorian-style dining room with exquisitely crafted interiors. The restaurant's menu includes popular staples such as Welsh rarebit, shepherd's pie, and fish and chips, as well as intriguing seasonal surprises.

The Love, Stephen Starr and Aimee Olexy's restaurant launched in 2017, is a 150-seat bi-level establishment featuring an upper-level loft, a tranquil dining room, and a scenic outdoor seating space along 18th street. The restaurant's menu, helmed by chef Joshua Tomaszewski, offers a world of diverse, inventive flavors, from their curry pumpkin soup starter to US-inspired seasonal entrées and creative desserts complimented with a curated selection of beverages.

Over a hundred years ago, John DiStefano, a young Italian immigrated to the United States and opened a gramophone shop in 1918 at South Philly, which later converted to The Victor Café in 1933. Since its inception, the restaurant has strived to preserve Italian traditions while incorporating inventive creations with contemporary flair. This combination has created a unique, friendly atmosphere, where diners can relive history while savoring world-class Italian dishes, complimented with memorable live music.

Tomo Sushi and Ramen is a 2018 BYOB restaurant nestled within Old City. The restaurant features a Japanese-inspired menu, spearheaded by chef Andy Kho, offering Japanese classics with a modern twist. The restaurant, founded by two friends, sushi chef Andy, and ramen chef Steven, serves vast different varieties of ramen, featuring vegan alternatives and a selection of rolls, mochi, and sashimi.

Trattoria Carina is an Italian-inspired restaurant co-owned by Dan Clark and Ed Hackett since 2017. Tucked in the corner of 22nd and Spruce at Center City, the restaurant focuses on delivering inventive dishes in a tranquil yet friendly atmosphere. The restaurant's menu changes seasonally, and also features staples, including a selection of house-made pasta and classic Italian specialties created with the best ingredients, paired with a fine collection of Italian wine, seasonal beers, and cocktails.

Tuna Bar, Chef Kenneth Sze's Japanese Raw Bar and Grill has been operating since 2018. Tucked within Bridge on Race Apartments at Old City, the Japanese-inspired restaurant offers a chic, inviting atmosphere, ideal for a remarkable dining adventure. Unlike other sushi spots in the city, this restaurant offers a large selection of fresh raw seafood and other inventive shareable entrees, such as soba noodles. The vast menu is completed with a fully-stocked bar, offering unique cocktails, wine, and beer.

Since its debut in 2012, Vernick's restaurant has been showcasing Philadelphia's native chef Greg Vernick's ingredient-inspired cooking style. Located in Comcast Technology Center, the restaurant offers an overwhelming selection of fresh seafood specialties, special alternatives, including rib-eye steaks and chicken, and vegetable preparation. The dinner-only restaurant also features a carefully curated seafood-friendly wine list and cocktails to complement its unique dishes.