Philadelphia/Center City East - neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA

City Center East is the most dense section of Philadelphia, home to City Hall, the Convention Center, Chinatown, Washington Square West, and Gayborhood.

Get in

By regional rail

• Jefferson Station (Market East Station), Market St. between 10th & 12th St, 39.95282°, -75.158°. An underground station that is on Market Street between 9th and 12th Sts. It is one of three core Center City stations on the SEPTA Regional Rail system. There are several entrances, but the main one is on 12th & Filbert Sts. 2021-06-16

By subway

The Market-Frankford Line runs under Market Street with three stations serving Center City East: 8th Street (non-free connection to the Broad-Ridge Spur), 11th Street, and 13th Street (free connection to the Broad Street Line and the Subway-Surface Trolleys).

The Broad Street Line runs under Broad Street along the western edge of the district, with stops at Race-Vine, City Hall (free connection to the Market-Frankford Line and the Subway-Surface Trolleys), Walnut-Locust, and Lombard-South. The names of the hyphenated stations indicate the two parallel streets the station is situated between.

The Broad-Ridge Spur is a branch of the Broad Street Line that operates under 8th Street in Center City East. The stations serving the district are Chinatown (at 8th and Race Streets) and 8th Street (at Market Street, non-free connection to the Market-Frankford Line). The Spur operates 6AM-9PM Monday through Saturday, no Sunday service.

Understand

See

Neighborhoods

• Washington Square West, 39.94718°, -75.15247°. A lively neighborhood, extending from 7th to Broad Street, Chestnut to South Street. It is bordered by the quieter neighborhoods of Rittenhouse Square to the west and Old City/Society Hill to the east. It is home to Antique Row and Mid-Town Village (two great shopping districts), historic cobbled streets, theaters, restaurants and more. Antique Row (Pine Street between about 13th and 9th Streets) is full of interesting shops, not all of them antiques-oriented. This neighborhood is a good place to see Philadelphia's native style of house, the "trinity" -- two, three, or four floors, one room per floor, connected by spiral stairs. The small streets above Pine, such as Quince Street, are lined with trinities. Washington Square itself is worth a visit to see the tomb of the unknown Revolutionary War soldier.
• The Gayborhood, 39.94706°, -75.16170°. Philadelphia's gay-friendly area. It covers from about Broad and Walnut about 11th and Pine, and is most strongly associated with 12th and 13th streets, especially from Pine to Walnut. Gayborhood is comprised of bars, restaurants and has a bookstore with its very own history: Giovanni's Room (James Baldwin wrote a book with this title; he based it on the bookstore). Some places that attract large crowds are Woody's (Wednesday is college night), Pure and 12th Street Gym. Most straight-owned Gayborhood businesses are friendly to the LGBT community and straights alike regardless of orientation.
• Chinatown, 39.953687°, -75.156261°. Extends from approximately 8th Street to 11th Street east-west, and Vine Street to Market Street north-south. Compared to the Chinatown of other cities, Philadelphia's is fairly small. It is home to a variety of Asian ethnicities (not just Chinese) and is a popular neighborhood for young people. The streets are dominated by homes, restaurants, and boutique stores. Chinatown's symbol is its "Friendship Arch", an ornate paifang in the heart of the neighborhood, located at 10th and Arch streets. Though it is commonly found in many North American Chinatowns, the Arch Street incarnation is more elaborately rendered than most. Chinatown is filled with restaurants, bakeries and gift shops. Restaurants include Penang, Sang Kee, Banana Leaf and Tai Lake. Bakeries include Asia Bakery, Hong Kong Bakery, Mong Kok Station Bakery and KC Pastries. Popular foods include milk tea, bubble tea (also known as boba tea) egg tarts, pork buns, steamed buns, chicken buns and pineapple buns.

Landmarks

• City Hall, 1 Penn Square, 39.9525°, -75.16373°. The unofficial center of Center City at Broad and Market Street. An architectural masterpiece, built out of stone in the Second Empire style. The building is 548 ft (167 m) tall, topped by a 36 ft bronze statue of William Penn. It remained the tallest building in the city from its construction in 1901 until 1987. There is a paid tour you can go on which takes you to an observation deck in the tower. 2018-02-04
• The African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St (at 7th St), 39.953169°, -75.151836°, +1 215 574-0380. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Built to preserve, interpret, and exhibit achievements of African Americans. $14 adults, $8 children (4-12)/students (with ID)/seniors
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), 128 N Broad St (between Cherry and Race), 39.955683°, -75.163217°, +1 215 972-7600. A school that has had an impressive roster of artist alumni in the past 200 years, including some of the best-known names in American art. Its museum shows works from past and present PAFA students and faculty, as well as regular special exhibits.
• Wanamaker Organ, 1300 Market St (inside the Macy's store), 39.95166°, -75.16204°. Concerts free, tours on last Sa of month $20/person. The largest operational musical instrument in the world is played twice a day in the store, six days each week. Guided tours are offered on the last Saturday of each month, get tour tickets online. 2022-02-07

Do

The Avenue of the Arts is on Broad Street containing many of the city's cultural institutions, especially the theater and arts area south of City Hall. The Avenue is a becoming more residential, but the main attractions include the Kimmel Center, Merriam Theatre, and the Academy of Music.

• Kimmel Center, 260 S Broad St, 39.946673°, -75.165236°, +1 215 893-1999. Showcases a variety of performing arts from chamber music, dance, drama, orchestral, jazz & pop.
  • The Philadelphia Orchestra. Founded in 1900, the Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the most famous and widely traveled orchestras in the world. Performs in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
• Academy of Music, 1420 Locust St, 39.948289°, -75.16577°, +1 215 893-1935. The Academy is the oldest grand opera house in the United States still being used for its original purpose. The Academy also provides the Philadelphia area with interesting and popular concerts, ballets, Broadway shows, and other events. Tours of the Academy, focusing on its inspiring history and current renovations, are available by contacting the manager's office.

Theater and music

There are a number of venues for theater and music not on the Avenue of the Arts.

• The Mask and Wig Club, 310 S Quince St (between Spruce and Pine), 39.945921°, -75.160473°, +1 215 586-3729. Mask and Wig has presented comedy, music, and dancing to the University of Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia and to audiences across the country since 1889 and is a legend amongst Philadelphia theatre-goers. Each spring, Mask and Wig performs a full-length musical comedy at its historic Clubhouse.
• Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St (at 9th St), 39.94839°, -75.155489°, +1 215 574-3550. America's oldest theatre celebrated its 200th anniversary season in 2009. Shows regularly sell out, and travelers are advised to buy in advance. The theater is a self-producing, non-profit regional theater.

Buy

• The Gallery at Market East, 901 Market St (three city blocks on north side of Market St, stretching from 8th to 11th Sts), 39.951999°, -75.155691°, +1 215 625-4962. Closed until 2017. Located atop a major transit hub (the Jefferson Station on the SEPTA Regional Rail system), this oh-so-dated urban shopping mall (primarily useful as an underground pedestrian pathway between the subway station at 8th Street and Market East) in was closed in late 2015 for extensive renovations expected to last into 2017. 2016-05-04
• Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch Sts (entrances on Arch St, Filbert St, and 12th St), 39.95313°, -75.159043°, +1 215 922-2317. M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM. The Reading Terminal Market is home to many of Pennsylvania's Amish merchants who sell their goods. Here, you can find some of the best baked goods and the freshest organic produce in the region. Additionally, the market features cheesesteaks and other non-Amish restaurants and shops.
• Antique Row, Pine St (Between 9th and 13th), 39.94457°, -75.15772°. Antique Row is home to a mix of antique stores and local gift and craft boutiques. Visit the Foodery at 10th and Pine for a selection of hundreds of by-the-bottle beers from around the world, or a few blocks down, ring the bell at Halloween (1329 Pine) for an incredible jewelry store experience that can accommodate any budget. 2021-05-08
• Giovanni's Room, 345 S 12th St (at Pine), 39.94518°, -75.161232°, +1 215 923-2960. M-Sa 11:30AM-7PM, Su 1PM-7PM. An LGBT bookstore. Macy's

Chinatown

East of Broad St, "East meets West". Philadelphia's Chinatown is an ethnic section of the city that can't be missed. Why settle for Chinese buffets when you can get the authentic stuff right here? Chinatown is located north of The Gallery at Market East, close to the Reading Terminal Market.

• Shanghai Bazaar, 1016 Race St (between 10th and 11th Sts), 39.95539°, -75.156643°, +1 215 629-8398. 10:30AM-8PM daily. Two floors of random Chinese merchandise; the upstairs has a lot of music, books, and DVDs. They also have a man in back that does Chinese massage and acupressure.

Eat

Washington Square West

• Effie's, 1127 Pine St (at Quince, between 11th and 12th Sts), 39.945102°, -75.160623°, +1 215 592-8333. M-Th 5PM-10PM, F-Sa 5PM-11PM, Su 5PM-9PM. Effie's is one of two well-known Greek restaurants east of Broad St., though it's more unassuming than Kanella and looks like part of an ordinary rowhouse. Inside, a bright but cozy atmosphere awaits either inside or outside on the courtyard patio in back. While the food isn't particularly inventive, it wins points for making basic Greek dishes excellent. BYOB.
• El Fuego, 723 Walnut St (between 7th and 8th Sts), 39.948147°, -75.153574°, +1 215 592-1901. M-F 11AM-9PM, Sa-Su noon-6PM. The best advertisement for this hip burrito shop is the long line that develops inside every weekday at lunchtime.
• Flambo Caribbean Restaurant, 205 S 13th St (between Fairmount and Girard Broad Street Line stations), +1 267-908-9262. Tu-Sa 4PM-10:30PM. Trinidadian cuisine in a relaxed but elegant atmosphere. Friendly staff. BYOB. The curry goat and oxtail are both classic and highly recommended; you can also try their Trinidadian Chinese offerings for a different but still excellent experience.
• Kanella, 1001 Spruce St (at 10th St), 39.946262°, -75.158008°, +1 215 922-1773. Breakfast/lunch: M-F 11AM-3PM, Sa-Su 10AM-3PM; dinner: Tu-Sa 5PM-10:30PM (open Su 5PM-9PM for Cypriot meze). It's hard not to see Kanella coming a mile away, what with its bright blue exterior and white Greek lettering. Yes, the food is Cypriot-Greek, and unlike most Greek places, you can eat three meals a day there if you're so inclined. Which you may very well be after eating dinner once. Semi-casual, spare, elegant decor and friendly service. BYOB. Entrees $18-24
• Vetri, 1312 Spruce St (between 13th and Juniper Sts), 39.946683°, -75.163184°, +1 215 732-3478. M-Sa 6PM-9PM, Su closed. Bon Appetit magazine has said that this small, very upscale place is "probably the best Italian restaurant in America." 'Nuff said. But in case you need to hear it from the locals, the Philadelphia Inquirer has named it one of the top 5 restaurants in the city, along with Le Bec Fin and a few others. The restaurant is centered around a classic Italian four-course prix-fixe tasting menu (antipasto, primo, segundo, and dessert), with the option to add on a shared starter or additional pasta for $25 each. The tasting menu includes complimentary amuse-bouches and light drinks. Full bar and wine list carefully tailored to the food. A real service experience, and budget extra time for this one: the meal can easily take 3 hours. Food: $135 price-fixe + optional addons (see description); Drinks (alcoholic): $10-$40 per drink

Chinatown/Convention Center

• David's Mai Lai Wah, 1001 Race St (at 10th St), 39.955486°, -75.155996°, +1 215 627-2610. Su-Th 11:30AM-3AM, F-Sa 11:30AM-4AM. Excellent American Chinese food (with an even better non-Americanized menu for the adventurous); even the Americanized dishes are less so than you might expect, and some oddball dishes do appear on the regular menu. Open late, and a very nice staff.

• Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch Sts, 39.95313°, -75.159043°. M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM. America's oldest farmer's market is a bustling indoor public market hall, with produce markets, bakeries, arts and crafts, a beer garden, and virtually every type of cuisine present. Be sure to make some time to stroll around and sample as much as you can. Despite the market's stated hours, individual vendors operate their own schedules; some restaurants will be open for dinner, and some, particular the Pennsylvania Dutch shops, are closed on Sundays.

  • Bassett's Ice Cream. A local ice cream brand that has operated the same store at the same location in Reading Terminal Market since it opened in 1893, and has the distinction of being America's oldest ice cream company. While Bassett's is available at many other restaurants and supermarkets, this is the only retail outlet carrying the Bassett's name. The ice cream itself is rich, creamy and delicious. $3-$5

  • DiNic's. One of the market's most popular restaurants, specializing in the Philadelphia roast pork sandwich (served with sharp provolone and greens); also serves roast beef sandwiches. Lines tend to be extraordinarily long, but the line moves. The staff will go down the long line to take your order to make things move efficiently, so make sure you know what you want before you get in line. $9-$15

  • The Down Home Diner. M-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 8AM-6PM. Traditional diner fare with an emphasis on Pennsylvania Dutch and some Southern-style dishes. You can find scrapple here as well as shrimp-and-grits. The diner has its own entrance outside of the Reading Terminal Market on Filbert Street across from the Field House Bar if you wish to go to the diner when the Reading Terminal Market is closed. 2017-05-18

  • Spataro's Cheesesteaks, +1 215 925-6833. One of the best cheesesteaks at the market. Long lines, especially around lunch. $9-$11

• Sang Kee Peking Duck, 238 N 9th St (at Winter, south of Vine), 39.956419°, -75.154204°, +1 215 925-7532. Su-Th 10AM-10:45PM, F-Sa 10AM-11:45PM. One of the best places to eat in Chinatown. The Peking duck is, obviously, what Sang Kee is famous for, but other delights abound, like wonton noodle soup and pork spare ribs. Unpretentious, casual surroundings and brisk service. Great for big groups. Entrees $8.50-25

Drink

Chinatown

• Yakitori Boy, 211 N 11th St (between Race and Spring), 39.955977°, -75.157275°, +1 215 923-8088. 5PM-2AM daily. A Japanese restaurant, with a karaoke bar and lounge upstairs. You can either rent private rooms, which are pricey but worth it with a large group of friends, or if you're brave enough, get your drink on and then sign up to sing publicly at the bar.

Washington Square West

• Dirty Frank's, 347 S 13th St (at Pine), 39.945386°, -75.162817°, +1 215 732-5010. 11AM-2AM daily. One of the contenders for best dive bar in the city. Everything you could want: an eclectic, scruffy crowd both old and young, gay and straight, pinball, darts, random crap stuck up all over the bar, wisecracking bartender, cheap drinks. Cash only
• Woody's, 202 S 13th St (between Walnut and Chancellor), 39.948791°, -75.162302°, +1 215 545-1893. M 8PM-2AM, Tu-Su 4PM-2AM. A gay bar with 3 different rooms to satisfy everyone.

Other

• Old City Coffee, 1136 Arch St (Reading Terminal Market), 39.953771°, -75.158901°, +1 215 592-1897. M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM. One of the two branches is located inside the Reading Terminal Market serving good coffee.

Sleep

City Hall

• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City, 237 S Broad St (at Locust), 39.947977°, -75.164225°, +1 215 893-1600. $165 average
• The Bellevue Hotel, 200 S Broad St (at Walnut), 39.949091°, -75.1646°, +1 215 893-1234, conciergephlph@hyatt.com.
• The Notary Hotel, Autograph Collection (former Courtyard), 21 N Juniper St (northwest of City Hall between Commerce and Filbert), 39.952998°, -75.162256°, +1 215 496-3200. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Re-opened after a grand $75 million restoration. This 18-story, 498-room Philadelphia hotel opened in 1926 and is listed on the "National Register of Historic Places". The hotel now integrates state-of-the-art systems with unique architectural details like coffered plaster, stunning bronze work and striking marble finishes.
• Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Center City, 1 E Penn Sq (east side of City Hall between Market and Commerce), 39.952661°, -75.162294°, +1 215 557-0005.
• Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, 201 N 17th Street, +1 215-448-2000. 2023-03-29

Washington Square West

• Alexander Inn, 301 S 12th St (at Spruce), 39.946315°, -75.160996°, +1 215 923-3535, info@alexanderinn.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. In a bohemian section of Washington Square West. $119+
• Sonder The Arco, 1234 Locust St (at 13th St), 39.947814°, -75.162106°, +1 617-300-0956. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $169+

Chinatown/Convention Center

• Hampton Inn - Center City Philadelphia, 1301 Race St (at 13th St), 39.95616°, -75.160867°, +1 215 665-9100.
• Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St (between 12th and 13th Sts), 39.952342°, -75.160668°, +1 215 625-2900. Adjacent to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and 8 blocks from Independence Hall.

Connect

Go next