Snap Custom Pizza
After recruiting a gaggle of tasters to dig into all the new quick-serve pizza shops that have opened around town (you know, those Chipotle-style, assembled-just-for-you spots), the results were unanimous. Snap is fresh, well-priced, has a sweet crust and will travel back to your desk (or car) really well. 4 Station Road, Ardmore, PA 19003, .
Essen Bakery
Despite being less than two years old, Tova du Plessis’s shop is a throwback to a time when bakeries felt personal—when you actually interacted with the person twisting your babka with chocolate; when chocolate chip cookies still tasted homemade; when you were encouraged to grab a seat, settle in and eat your toast on-site. 1437 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147, essenbakery.com.
Ubiq
If you're the type who won't give up your trainers for anyone, pluck any pair of sneakers off the wall displays at Ubiq and you'll still look pulled together. This Walnut Street cult shop sells more than new-release Jordans and Yeezys: There are subdued retro New Balances, eco-friendly Vans and reflective suede Onitsuka Tigers. 1509 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, ubiqlife.com.
Pat and Anna Scioli
With a client roster that includes Jim Gardner, Jim Kenney, the Eagles, and just about everyone in town who has to appear in a suit on camera, the Sciolis' little East Passyunk shop is a veritable clubhouse of the Philly elite. The Sciolis are known for masterful alterations and bespoke Italian wool suits, but it's also worth dropping in just to hear Pat say, "Take it eaaaaz!" 1744 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, .
Without Walls
There's now a reason to shop at Urban Outfitters past the age of 25: In the KOP location, you'll find the company's new fitness brand, which has taken Urban's splashy aesthetic and translated it into gymwear (floral yoga pants, tie-dye sports bras, graphic-printed tech shirts) for a look infinitely cooler than your boring black leggings. King of Prussia Mall, 640 West Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia, PA 19406, urbanoutfitters.com.
Nich Boutique
Maybe it doesn't make so much sense to splurge on that one-season wonder. (Leather crop tops, anyone?) Enter Nich, a wildly inexpensive boutique where you can find of-the-moment tanks, dresses, skirts, shoes and jewelry for well under $50. Score of the century? The table full of fun and quirky $10 sunglasses. 29 South High Street, West Chester, PA 19382, shopnich.com.
Nishi Jewelry
You can peruse Joanna Bengoa’s delicate ready-to-wear diamond necklaces, engagement bands and stud earrings on her web shop. But the jeweler can also utterly transform your dusty old heirlooms that have been lying untouched in the bottom of your drawer for a decade. Bengoa, who has a degree in gemology, will work with you to design a new one-of-a-kind piece that feels contemporary, fresh, and totally personal. nishiny.com.
Rescue Spa
Danuta Mieloch’s impressive new space inside the former Barneys is the stuff of beauty dreams. The opulent 9,700-square-foot haven offers luxe facials and massages (natch) but also nail and hair salons, a makeup counter, a brow room, a “Relaxation Room” complete with an infrared sauna and a hydrotherapy shower, and a shop full of 100-plus brands, including Mieloch’s new clean-beauty line, Danucera. Consider your movie makeover sequence handled. 1811 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, rescuespa.com/philadelphia.
Ambler Tire and Auto
The first thing you notice at Ambler Tire and Auto is that it’s clean. This isn’t necessarily a prerequisite for an auto mechanic — and often, the opposite may be true — but it’s emblematic of the shop’s work. For more than 40 years, they’ve been providing fair, honest work, leading to generations of return customers. Ambler specializes in European makers (Volkswagens, Audis, BMWs and Porsches), but you’re welcome to bring in your humble American auto, too. 123 South Main Street, Ambler, PA 19002, amblertire.com.
Wayne Edwards Workshop
With 50-plus years in business and a move to a new 1,500-square-foot shop and studio — the former home of Joseph Fox Bookshop — the Wayne Edwards team has more room to tailor your tux, plus a ready-to-wear section with luxury duds for your honeymoon. (Pair those Rubirosa sneakers with Candiani Italian denim.) And in the workshop? On average, 37 measurements to perfectly match your silhouette. 1724 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, wayneedwardsworkshop.com.
C.M. Neff: Cook Sup. Co.
Chef Cary Neff opened this impossibly small East Passyunk shop back in April, lining his shelves with both new and used tools, cookbooks, pots, pans and knives. While you’re looking around, Neff will bring your dull santoku back to razor-sharp life for just $9. The trick is to catch him — the hours, according to the front window, are “by chance.” 1940 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, instagram.com/cmneffcooksupco.
Bravado Philly
Because you can’t shop for a BVI vacation at 9 p.m. the night before you leave, Pamela Caruso and Jennifer Rossi will bring the racks (and plenty of coordinating accessories) right to you. The concierge stylists have also sourced $55 black-tie gowns and held meetings in day-care parking lots — they can even arrange for a tailor to come to your home or office. bravadophilly.com.
Goldie
Yes, Michael Solomonov absolutely could use his name and talent to open all kinds of big, ritzy restaurants in big, ritzy cities. Instead, he opened this humble little shop that makes its falafel electric green with tons of herbs and spices, then stuffs them into fresh-baked pitas lined with salad and hot sauce. 1526 Sansom Street, Philadelphia , PA 19102, goldiefalafel.com.
Weavers Way Mercantile
The Weavers Way Co-Op has long been a part of the Mount Airy community (48 years and counting!), but the mercantile shop across the street opened in 2016. The space itself — a former garage — makes for a highly pleasant browsing experience, and the home goods and vintage clothes on offer will add retro personality to any home or closet. It’s not just limited to secondhand goods, though: Ceramics, candles, jewelry and more from local makers serve as reminders of the area’s rich artistic history. 559 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119, etsy.com/shop/WeaversWayMerc.
Eyechic of Philly II
Considering it quietly opened its doors six months ago, you'd never know this eyewear boutique was part of the Eyechic consortium that's amassed 87K followers on Instagram — and maybe it's better that way. With an ultra-modern interior and a curated collection of high-end lenses from the likes of Miu Miu and Linda Farrow, the shop remains surprisingly under-the-radar. 2003 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, eyechic.com.