Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Philadelphia

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Philadelphia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Mawn

5.0

5 (132)

$50 and over

Cambodian

Bella Vista

About the restaurant

Mawn is a noodle house with “no rules,” and the first restaurant for Chef Phila Lorn and his wife Rachel, who bring with them close to 20 years of experience in Philly’s restaurant scene. Phila, pronounced “Pee La,” broken English for Philadelphia, is a first-generation Cambodian-American chef. The first in his family to be born here, his parents and siblings came to Philadelphia as refugees in 1985 after surviving the war in Cambodia.

Mawn, which means “chicken” in Khmer, the Cambodian language, represents more than one thing. To Phila, chicken was at every meal growing up, and to his parents, chicken represented peacetime. During the war and genocide of the Cambodian people, there was mostly only what was found in nature to eat, including rice and salt. If there was chicken, it meant no war. At the end of that dark time, recipes were lost, and culture was wiped out, but through survival, a new authenticity was born.

Top review

Caroline

Dined 1 day ago

Worth all the hype! Banh chow salad and khao soi noodles were my favorites, but everything we had was delicious, including finishing the meal with a refreshing iced coffee and flower tea. Service was knowledgeable and really welcoming.

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Experience

Puck&See

The Victor Cafe - Philadelphia

4.8

4.8 (4907)

$30 and under

Italian

South Philly

About the restaurant

The Victor Café is an Italian restaurant that cultivates old traditions and seamlessly blends them with new ones. With classic Italian dishes and unforgettable live music, we invite you to join us for many enjoyable evenings for years to come.

PLEASE NOTE: Multiple reservations made for the same party cannot be seated together. To book large parties that are not available by default on OpenTable, please contact the restaurant directly.
When booking, party size should encompass total number of guests, including children. We try our best to accommodate special requests, however they are not guaranteed.

Top review

JamieVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always an amazing experience. Food is always delicious, service is always attentive and the singing — well that’s just something really special.

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Pizzata Pizzeria & Birreria

4.8

4.8 (6)

$30 and under

Italian

Philadelphia

About the restaurant

Pizza parlor & neighborhood bar featuring naturally-leavened pizza, a stellar happy hour, and more in South Philly

Top review

LisaVIP

Dined on May 8, 2025

We’ve dined here before, but had Pizza and it was delicious. I tried the pasta special this time which was crab sautéed with pasta. It was so dry, I could barely eat it. I should’ve sent it back, but I don’t ever do that. I think we’ll stick with the pizza from now on.

BŪCCANN

4.7

4.7 (90)

$30 and under

Latin / Spanish

Northeast Philly

About the restaurant

Latin Fusion Restaurant. Come enjoy traditional Latino dishes! We have it all. Come try our exclusive BUCCANN drinks. Best place to be and excellent customer service.

Top review

Nadia

Dined on Jun 7, 2025

The experience at Buccann was excellent. The food 10/10, service 10/10, ambiance 10/10. Everyone was very attentive and ensured we were good throughout the night. I will definitely be back.

Midnight & The Wicked

4.6

4.6 (95)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Center City

About the restaurant

Midnight & The Wicked offers four unique spaces. Experience live music and one-of-a-kind mixology as you lose yourself at the glamor and excitement of the 1920s at Midnight Lounge, The Vault, and The Crimson Theater. Or, Indulge in the forbidden pleasures of a bygone era at The Wicked Nightclub (open Friday & Saturday at 10pm).

PERMITTED: Clean jeans, sneakers, non-graphic sweaters.
NOT PERMITTED: Sweats, hoodies, sports jerseys, explicit clothing or large graphic t-shirts, crocs, work boots, flip flops, ball caps (Fedoras and other stylish hats are welcome)

We hope this update makes it easier for you to enjoy your evenings with us. Thank you for your continued patronage, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

KITCHEN IS CLOSED ON SUNDAY.

Top review

KaseyVIP

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

We had a great time Friday night - we stopped in for pre-dinner beverages and were not disappointed. We did not order any food, the food menu is rather small, and nothing jumped out at us, but the drinks were superb. We intended to grab A drink but stayed for a few before our dinner reservation because they were so good! We had a seasoned bartender who make great recommendations and did not miss the mark with any of his suggestions. We will definitely be back when we're in the area!

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Experience

Happy Hour

Newbolds Food & Libations

4.5

4.5 (170)

$31 to $50

American

Jenkintown

About the restaurant

American-style restaurant located in Jenkintown, PA offering satisfying, flavorful american cuisine. We take pride in our fresh, house-made American staples served alongside handcrafted libations.

Taking it's place among Jenkintown Restaurants, Newbolds Food and Libations is a premiere location in Montgomery County, PA. Newbolds is a retro bar specializing in hand-crafted American cuisine. Many Jenkintown restaurants can start to look and feel alike, but the same can not be said for Newbolds. With a unique and aesthetic interior, outdoor dining areas, and unforgettable cuisine, Newbolds has taken it's place as one of the best restaurants in Montgomery County, PA and in Jenkintown, PA. We look forward to serving you!

Top review

Canvas

Dined on May 29, 2025

Very impressive evening overall. Our waiter had several tables so we had to wait for a a few minutes but after he connected with us, it was non stop service. We agreed when we come back, we want him. The food was very good and authentic. Their pizza does not disappoint! We will be back. We had initially made outdoor reservations, but due to the rain, we had to move inside; and guess what? We were not disappointed at all.

SET NoLibs

4.5

4.5 (799)

$31 to $50

Comfort Food

Northern Liberties

About the restaurant

**21+ after 5 PM DAILY
Welcome to SET NOLIBS, home of the infamous Mimosa and Margarita Towers!

We are an award winning sports bar located in the Northern Liberties District of Philadelphia. Catch (almost) any game on one of our 11 TVs.

Our kitchen offers an Asian Fusion menu featuring tacos, sliders, and much more. The Charbroiled Oysters are a menu highlight and a customer favorite. Full bar specializing in margaritas, serving up frozen margs all year round!

Stop by Saturday or Sunday 11am-3:45pm for our weekend brunch.

Top review

IvelisseVIP

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

If you are looking for a fun, lit, brunch spot in Philly this is the place to go! It was a group of 4 of us and we had the best time. The service by Alysse (Sorry if I misspelled her name) was 10/10. She was on point! From her recommendations, to service, and overall attention, she never missed a beat! DJ was GREAT and kept the crowd going the whole time we were there. The food was also very good which is rare to come across when a place already checks off all the other factors I mentioned.

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Experience

Ready, SET, Lunch!

Experience

SET The Tone Weekend Brunch

The Newsroom - Philadelphia

4.1

4.1 (20)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Center City

About the restaurant

Hidden behind a vintage 7-Up door in Northern Liberties, The Newsroom Philadelphia is an upscale speakeasy and hidden gem in the city’s dining scene. Known for its intimate ambiance and inventive cocktails, The Newsroom offers a bold take on Philadelphia sushi through a Japanese-Latin fusion lens.

Executive Chef Nobuhiro Hamazaki, formerly of Koi and Kobano NYC, brings over 20 years of global experience to a refined menu that reimagines sushi, sashimi, and small plates with Latin flair. Each dish reflects Chef Nobu’s mastery of Japanese technique and passion for innovation—making The Newsroom a destination for those seeking unforgettable flavor behind a discreet, nostalgic door.

Top review

Erica

Dined 2 days ago

I love it and I will come back over and over everything was a vibe

Hard Rock Cafe - Philadelphia

3.9

3.9 (791)

$30 and under

American

Center City

About the restaurant

Hard Rock Cafe is a global phenomenon with 185 cafes that are visited by nearly 80 million guests each year. The first Hard Rock Cafe opened on June 14, 1971, in London, England, and from there the brand has expanded to major cities and exotic locations around the world.

Top review

Jose

Dined 6 days ago

Hard Rock Café has always been a special place in different places, and Philly's downtown location is no exception. We loved the ambience, music, food, drinks and service. Congrats and keep rolling!!

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3.8

3.8 (41)

$30 and under

American

Center City

About the restaurant

Topside Tavern began as a dream to create a place where people could come together to enjoy good food, great drinks, enjoy sports and even better company. Our mission is simple: to provide the finest pub and bar in Philadelphia experience.

Top review

Amy

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

Thank you for a wonderful Father's Day experience! The restaurant is so lovely, and we loved the jazz musician. Brunch was delicious and the servers were attentive! The next time, I would love to sit on the roof! We wish you the best, Topside Tavern!

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