Living in Philadelphia: A 6-Month Check-In

Shop the Post:

Jacket: BLANKNYC | Skirt: ℅ Chicwish | Boots: Similar | Necklace: Kendra Scott | Lip: Armani Beauty

“How’s Philly?”

This is the hot question of the minute. I officially moved to Philadelphia 6 months ago, and yet I still don’t have a clear answer on how Living in Philadelphia is.

I was in town for about three weeks when I had to go back to D.C. for another three weeks to help out my mother with her hip replacement surgery. Then I got a boyfriend who lived in Charlottesville, Virginia. And on top of that, my travel blogging picked up. So, while I do live in the City of Brotherly Love, I still feel a little disconnected from Living in Philadelphia and my new city. The last time I spent a full week living in Philadelphia was right after I sprained my knee.

Despite this, I am working hard on my Philly Travel Guide. I have eaten some of the best food of my life here and have enjoyed the brief amount of time I’ve spent here so far! Since this amazing city is only 2 hours by train from D.C. and NYC, I think it is one of the best places to spend a weekend. In the meantime, I wanted to put a quick post together with some of my favorites about living in Philadelphia. 

Living in Philadelphia: Favorite Eats

• El Compadre: Hands down, this is one of my favorite cheap eats in Philly. And one of the best authentic Mexican meals I’ve had. Bon Appetit named their previous location, South Philly Barbacoa, one of the 10 Best New Restaurants in America in 2016, and for good reason: everything is made fresh. Go early on the weekends for their famous barbacoa tacos (they will sell out!)
   
• Harp & Crown: This restaurant is probably one of the coolest spots I’ve ever been to: not only is their New American menu to die for, but it also is housed in a stunning renovated space which has a secret bowling alley at the bottom. This is an excellent restaurant for date night, or to go with a large group of people.
   
• ROOT Restaurant & Wine Bar: Ok, this is in my neighborhood (Northern Liberties/Fishtown), and I know visitors mostly stay in the Rittenhouse/Center City/Old City area of town. However, I’d highly encourage you to take the 10-15 minute Uber ride over to my neck of the woods, because Root is one of the best spots I’ve eaten at in town. They serve a fresh take on Italian, Spanish and American cuisine, and have an extensive wine and beer list. The lamb chops here made me shed a tear or two!
   
• Farmacia: I’ve only had brunch here, so I can’t speak too much about the dinner menu. They have 1/2 priced drinks during weekend brunch and an incredible cocktail selection here. It’s also BYOB, so you’re more than welcome to bring a bottle of champagne on your own to brunch. Farmacia emphasizes local, seasonal ingredients, and has a pretty robust menu.

Living in Philadelphia: Nightlife

• Independence Beer Garden: This 20,000 square foot pop-up beer garden is open seasonally, and is located only steps away from the Liberty Bell. They’ve got 40+ beers on tap and all the bar games you could ever want to play. Trust me; I’ve spent hours here over the summer!
   
• Assembly Rooftop Lounge: This rooftop lounge is a little more on the upscale side, but it’s not pretentious, and it offers some of the best views of the city. You can get table service here, or just hang out at the bar. 
   
• Frankford Hall: This is back in my neighborhood again and not in “downtown,” but it’s worth the trip. They’ve packed the place with heaters so you can still enjoy the outdoor beer garden in the dead of winter, and they offer 12 beers on tap and another 12 beers in bottles.
   
• The Fillmore: If you want to see live music while you’re in town, I would check out The Fillmore’s list of upcoming events. From well-known bands to fun DJs and themed nights, this is the place you can dance the night away!

Photos by Tom McGovern