Travel Tips: Where to Stay in Philadelphia; Bars in Philadelphia
By Steve Poland • April 30, 2008
I’m going to be visiting Philadelphia in the coming weeks and have no clue where to stay or what to do. I tried looking online, but can’t find anything that just says “Stay in this area if you want to be walking distance to bars and restaurants”. So I called up a buddy Chris Difonzo that lives out there and he gave me some info.
Here are my scattered notes, hopefully this helps someone else in the future. Also, if you have any recommendations of bars or restaurants or touristy things, please let me know in the comments. I’m going to see the Frida exhibit at the art gallery there.
Hotels:
- Sofitel
- ANYTHING in old city or rittenhouse square area
- latham hotel — rittenhouse square area
- windsor suite — out of the way
- radisson plaza hotel — good area
- NOTHING in university city or business district
- marriott hotel — really nice hotel
- omni hotel — old city; good
- comfort inn — out of the way; wouldn’t stay there
- westin — middle of biz district; on edge of rittenhouse square area [probably wouldn’t stay there, but not bad].
- loews — really nice place; same grade as sofitel. take cab or walk 12 blocks.
- society hill hotel — great location in old city.
Other stuff to do:
- #1 restaurant in Philly right now — Amada — spanish restaurant in old city; probably can’t get reservations; possibly can get a seat in 45 mins if you come in after 8 or 9pm and hang by the bar.
- old city — irish pub — Plough and the Stars — definitely check that out.
- Between market and chestnut on 2nd street — that block has everything you could possibly want — grungy orig music place to martini bars to irish pub around corner to brazilian dance club.
- Constitution center — check that out; it’s history.
- Phillies game — stadium is awesome.
- Gino’s cheesesteak — or pat’s.
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