Pinball Gallery
Here, you pay an hourly rate for dozens of machines, including some very cool vintage specimens from the '60s and '70s. 81 Lancaster Avenue (edited), Malvern, PA 19355, pinballgallery.net.
Hardena
The chafing dishes at this cigar-box-sized buffet are the closest you can come to Java without leaving the 215. 1754 South Hicks Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145, hardenas.com.
Resurrection Ale House
Seasons change, plates change, but there are always thoughtful dishes coming out of this tiny and impressive kitchen. 2425 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146, resurrectionalehouse.com.
Penang
The big dining room and friendly staff are perfect for kids, and the menu is full of interesting things for your little Escoffier to shove in his snack hole. 117 North 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, .
Bait & Switch
The owners here have the discipline not to meddle. That pile of shrimp, the fish tacos and the fish and chips come just as the Fish Gods intended them to be: simple. 2537 East Somerset Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, thebestseafood.com.
Pinot Boutique
Come here for Riedel decanters for your snooty oenophile uncle, handpainted glasses for Mom and her gal pals, and a posh picnic basket stocked with stemware for you (because outdoor drinking need not be limited to tailgating at the Linc). 227 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, pinotboutique.com.
Go Fox
The perfect solution for anyone too busy, important, lazy, fancy, rich or cool to wait in line anywhere. And honestly, who doesn't fit into one of those categories at some point? Call or see website for consultation, 00000, gofoxonline.com.
Body Cycle Studio
There's no boring workout a good soundtrack can't cure. Add in some costumes (theme rides!), awesome instructors and pretty surroundings, and you've got a recipe for a workout you'll actually look forward to doing. 1923 Chestnut Street, second floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, bodycyclestudio.com.
Monnalisa
The KOP outpost of this Italian brand offers bright, playful, high fashion for boys and girls as well as some mommy-and-me outfits — if that’s your thing. Beyoncé, Gisele and Madonna are fans. 160 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406, monnalisa.eu/en/monnalisa-philadelphia.
Rothman Roller Rink
Sure, the wintertime ice-skating at Dilworth is great and all, but we simply loved the retro roller rink that debuted this spring. It closed in July, but we’re hoping for an encore this fall. One South 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, .
Nature's Gallery
The prettiest bunches we've seen of late come from chief designer, Gabriella Nemati, who artfully arranges unusual offerings (succulents, lilacs, parrot tulips, even feathers) with a peerless eye for color and form. 2124 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, naturesgalleryflorist.net.
Jeantrix
Philly design duo Deric “Nyce” Crawley and Muhammad “Homm” Abdul-Basit’s wearable works of art were featured in Beyoncé’s Black Is King visual album. 160 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406, jeantrix.com.
Old Italian at Uncle Oogie’s
Simple, straightforward, perfected — this is pan pizza that doesn’t come with an agenda. No one wants to think too much about dinner on a weekday night anyway. Multiple locations. uncleoogies.com.
Empanada Mama
They’ve got the great traditional spiced-beef-filled pastries, but come here for more surprising varieties, like cheesesteak, spinach and artichoke dip, or Mexican street corn. 21 Donaldson Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, yoemama.com.
Terakawa Ramen
Loyalists go for the noodle soups, but you should get to know this spot for the dumplings, too particularly the addictive tempura-fried shrimp shumai, which come hot and crispy. 204 North 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, terakawaramenphilly.com.