cBOP
Nope, those aren’t pint-size Comme des Garçons tees – they’re by luxe kiddie loungewear brand Noggi. And those mini Gucci-looking slides? They’re actually Hoo shoes. (The Chloé label, however, is the real deal.) cBOP is stocked with clothes so stylish that you’d covet them for your own closet if the sizes didn’t range from newborn to a children’s 6. 393 West Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041, shopcbop.com.
What a Crock
With ready-made frozen meals requiring nothing more than a few hours in a slow cooker—no chopping, no pans, nada—What a Crock has out-convenienced the Blue Aprons of the world and managed to make delicious Crock Pot meals. (Try the buffalo chicken mac and cheese.) Buy them at stores in Delco and Chestnut Hill or, yes, have the meals delivered right to your door. Multiple locations, whatacrockmeals.com.
Savona
Sommeliers, with their esoteric winespeak and predictably expensive recommendations, can ruin a nice dinner out. Not the laid-back Monosoff, who's more supportive wine cheerleader than intimidating salesman. She's added handy features like a half-bottle list at Savona. And while her wine list is terrific, nothing beats getting her friendly, jargon-free, budget-sensitive wine recs. 100 Old Gulph Road, Gulph Mills, PA 19428, savonarestaurant.com.
Flight Club
You’ve probably played darts before, but you’ve probably never played them like this. The bar, which opened in May, features a newfangled technology called Social Darts. Yes, there’s automated scoring (there’s nothing worse than trying to keep score after a few IPAs), but there are also interactive dart experiences that put a new spin on a very, very old game. 1417 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, flightclubdartsusa.com/philadelphia/philadelphia.
Bodie
Photograph by Nell Hoving Dixon If your space bends more toward the colorful and kitschy, this modern general store has what you need, from candles shaped like pretzels and tinned fish to stunning Parisian flatware in pastel shades to branded tote bags to take it all home in. But don’t leave without a produce pillow. Who’s to say the pièce de résistance of your living room can’t be a giant fleece strawberry? Locations in Queen Village and Fairmount, Philadelphia, PA shoppebodie.com.
Crown & Feather Tattoo Co.
Since opening in 2019, Andrew Robinson and Dylan Carr’s private studio specializing in fine-line and Japanese styles has earned some two million likes on TikTok and recognition at both local and international tattoo conventions. There’s a cozy area for consultations, and the team is always welcoming — and constantly booked. Can’t snag an appointment? One of their wildly cool totes or tees will suffice till you can. 2628 Martha Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, crownandfeather.com.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Thanks to the city’s long- awaited ban on plastic bags, the hottest accessory in Philly right now is the humble reusable tote. So it’s time to invest in a bag that’s worth keeping tabs on. The PMA’s collection features the obligatory famous works of art but also Philly-themed designs from local makers. We’re certain the Basquiat print of colorful skulls will turn heads in any checkout aisle. 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130, philamuseum.org.
Savona
It claims to have one of the largest wine lists in Pennsylvania, with more than 1,000 bottles, but it's the quality, not quantity, that impresses here. Under the watchful eye (or nose?) of Melissa -Monosoff (below) one of only 15 women in the U.S. to hold the rank of Master Sommelier this list has something for everyone, from pinot-grigio--swilling ladies-who-lunch to rare bordeaux for the heavy-hitting oenophiles. 100 Old Gulph Road, Gulph Mills, PA 19428, savonarestaurant.com.
Musi
Musi’s menu ventures somewhere in between the familiar and the unknown, with dishes like kreplach stuffed with kale-purslane-cabbage kraut. The restaurant — which chef/owner Ari Miller calls “not totally Jewish, not quite Israeli” — is stretching the imagination of Philly’s fine-dining scene. Come here to be taken out of your culinary comfort zone or possibly just eat some pasta that the menu says has nothing to do with Italy. 100 Morris Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, musiphilly.com.
Suplex Vintage
Before there was concert merch, as the kids call it, there were just plain old concert tees. There’s nothing plain or old about the retro t-shirts here, where a random mix of sports, music and Harley-Davidson tops from across the decades lines the racks. The authenticity of the goods is in the hearty cotton fabrics, the Made in USA tags, and, most of all, the single-stitch construction that characterized clothing until the mid-’90s. 720 South 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, suplexvintage.com.
Cruel World Vintage
There’s nothing like a good vintage t-shirt, and there’s no such thing as too much merch. At Cruel World Vintage, a highly curated collection of vintage clothing is available to suit every nostalgic mood. From Whitney Houston tour memorabilia to dark-wash Levis 501s, you’ll be thrown back to your chosen decade in a flash. Shop online, or email to make an appointment at their private West Philly location. shopcruelworld.com/shop.
Kennett Square
Kennett Square. Photograph by Jeff Fusco Think this town’s only got mushrooms? Chic kids’ shop Penny Lane Emporium shills fun items like rainbow ukuleles and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls books; Marché is rich with boho home wares; Clean Slate Goods eco-boutique has ceramics, totes, and apothecary items; and trendy Urban Outfitters-inspired shops like Green Eyed Lady abound. State Street. historickennettsquare.com.
Massage Envy
Sure, the sheets might not be as plush or the bathroom quite as luxe, but there's nothing cut-rate about Massage Envy's Wellness Program. A $59 monthly membership fee buys a 50-minute massage (we loved the deep-tissue with Regina Cerceo-Hagpian in Ardmore) every 30 days, and you can book additional massages for only 39 bucks. If you're looking for a way to incorporate regular rubdowns into your life, this is it. See website for locations, 00000, massageenvy.com/regions/PA/Philadelphia.aspx.
Baked
Finding a new bathing suit can be its own circle of doomscrolling hell now that most swimwear is sold online. Adrienne Volpetti, owner of sunless tanning studio Baked, has been steadily growing her in-store selection of stylish swim labels since 2020. This season, Devon Windsor swim joins L*Space, Wave Babe and SOAH, along with Eleventh Hour sunnies and Bogg Bag beach totes. 740 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, bakedtanning.com.
Jim’s Steaks South Street
Photograph by Jeff Fusco Walking down South Street for the past two years, it was clear something was missing, something was off. You’d take a deep breath through your nose, and — what, no onions? No grease? Jim’s Steaks on South Street has now reemerged both physically and olfactorily, boasting the Best Restaurant Expansion after taking over the Eye’s Gallery space next door. Construction unveiled a breathtaking mosaic by Isaiah Zagar, concealed behind drywall for decades. 400 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, jimssouthstreet.com.