A Mano
Townsend Wentz and his chef, Michael Millon, want people to think that A Mano is just some little neighborhood Italian restaurant. But don't be fooled. A Mano is really a poor man's Vetri — a place where remarkable precision and care are brought to classic Italian pastas and entrées, resulting in something uniquely modern and uniquely Philadelphian. 2244 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, amanophilly.com.
Sampan
Although Double Knot is getting all the love for being the cool new thing on the block, its next-door sister still kills it at happy hour, doing some of the same dishes you'll find at Double Knot (edamame dumplings, satay, kimchi fried rice) but with fewer crowds. 124 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, sampanphilly.com/#sampan.
Tavern on Camac
You already know about the always-fun first-floor piano bar. But upstairs is a music-pumping hideaway where the city’s cool-kid creative types go to blow off some steam. Diverse, inclusive and hassle-free—a rare combination in a dance club these days. 243 South Camac Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, tavernoncamac.com.
Triangle Tavern
Your mama may be Italian, but her meatballs can't hold a candle to Triangle Tavern's veal-beef-and-pork version. That's shocking, we know -- but so is the fact that the best meatballs in South Philly aren't at some storied red-gravy joint, but inside this reborn hipster bar on East Passyunk. 1338 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, triangletavernphilly.com.
Rice Noodle Bowl at Prohibition Tap Room
We're talking rice noodles, lots of greens, roasted veggies, pickled daikon, zucchini, fresh herbs, lemongrass and pan-seared tofu (or shrimp, or even filet, if you insist) -- and it's at a bar, not some health-food store. You won't even miss your usual fried fill-in-the-blank. 501 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, theprohibitiontaproom.com.
Abe Fisher
Anyone who thinks America's best Ashkenazi and Sephardic foods are locked up in some Lower East Side deli simply hasn't tasted the matzo brei and pastrami-style short ribs at this Rittenhouse newbie. And how a restaurant with a checkerboard-tile floor ends up with a cocktail bar this sexy is a Talmudic mystery. 1623 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, abefisherphilly.com.
Purenergy Studio
You can hop from the TRX bands to the spin studio to an aerial yoga or barre class thanks to Paoli's new one-stop-shop fitness studio. The idea is to keep your mind and muscles busy with lots of workout options, accomplished (and then some) by way of more than 90 stellar classes a week. 21 Plank Avenue, Paoli, PA 19301, purenergystudio.com.
Instacart
Sign on, pick out whatever you want from Whole Foods, Super Fresh, Green Aisle Grocery or even the liquor store, and have it in your hands at the office, at home in about an hour. It sounds indulgent, but it's not — free to sign up, and just a few bucks a load, plus tip. instacart.com.
Pet-Sit
The pet sitters here are all professionally trained (and some are even pet-CPR-certified yup, that's a thing), and will meet with you before the first official visit to get your pet's routine down before you take off.
Philly EyeWorks
This new Rittenhouse-based start-up is taking on Warby Parker: In addition to sending at-home try-on pairs (the collection includes more than a dozen frame styles with Phillyistic names like "Yo Adrian" or "The Jawn"), they'll even get your prescription from the optometrist, so you don't have to. 131 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, phillyeyeworks.com.
Rescue Rittenhouse Spa
Sometime in my mid-20s, three faint but distinct lines decided to plant themselves on my brow, stretching from temple to temple across my forehead like a fence without posts. I sometimes stand under the harshest light in my bathroom, dapping on a variety of products to see if with the right combination they might plump back out, like little troughs just waiting to be filled. They never do. Well, they never did, I should say Five years ago, on the advice of a friend, I went to Rescue Rittenhouse Spa's Danuta Mieloch, a Polish-born aesthetician who worked in Paris and Manhattan before opening Rescue here nearly a decade ago. Her facials are the only thing that has ever made the lines fade to near-nothingness. I realize this sounds absurd, especially because we're not talking about injectables or lasers or anything you've seen on Real Housewives. The magic comes courtesy of a non-invasive, utterly relaxing 60 minutes filled with exfoliating, a little microdermabrasion, and lots of moisturizing. The result is Beyonce-level luminosity and smoothed-out skin. One glows no exaggeration for weeks. Chances are good that I'm not writing anything you haven't read about or experienced yourself: Danuta (or Dana, as she's known to clients) long ago became an instant Philly classic. Friends told friends, and suddenly you had to wait six months to get an appointment But Rescue the closest thing I've ever found to redemption for all those sunburns in my youth is always worth it. 225 South 17th Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, rescuerittenhousespa.com.
Grant Blvd.
Former Jenkintown councilmember and teacher Kimberly McGlonn launched her line in 2017 with a clear and personal mission: to create something sustainable, and to support those who came through or are in the prison system. And every time you snap up one of her pieces — fuchsia jeans with sewn-in denim pockets, cropped tie-front blouses made from reclaimed materials — you’re supporting the cause. grantblvd.com.
Settlement Music School
If being at home with your kids 24/7 has changed your attitude toward screen time, it’s okay. Allay your guilt (if you still have any) by registering for one of the many local kids’ classes that have popped up on YouTube and across social media. See the full write up at Virtual Classes. settlementmusic.org/music/settlement-digital.
Tyrique Glasgow of Young Chances Foundation
This survivor-turned-advocate has been on the ground, building support for fighting gun violence even when the cameras aren’t rolling. Some other activists rattle off lots of stats, but he’s doing the work, creating coalitions with a diverse group of organizations in a valiant effort to get to the systemic causes of a crisis too many write off as intractable. youngchancesfoundation.com.
Milk Jawn
Order pints online in flavors like Earl Grey, flecked with handmade honeycomb candy, or lemon curd, swirled with made-from-scratch blueberry basil compote. Classic options include chocolate peanut butter and vanilla, made with a double-strength extract. Either way, you’re getting some of the city’s most exciting (and straight-up delicious) new ice cream. 3525 I Street Unit B06, Philadelphia, PA 19134, milkjawn.com.