The Farm and Fisherman
Plenty of chefs do head-to-tail, root-to-leaf cooking. But none do it quite like Josh and Colleen Lawler, who work it without a walk-in refrigerator. From the beef hearts to the beet steaks, this fresh and inventive BYO is the real deal. 1120 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, thefarmandfisherman.com.
Meister's Barbershop
This handsome addition to East Passyunk is everything it needs to be and nothing it doesn't: a smartly designed space, a simple first-come, first-served system, and four chairs where owner Rob Baumiester and his team will deliver the finest fade you've ever received. 1810 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, meistersbarbershop.com.
Casa del Gatto Door Knockers
Nothing says “Welcome to my idiosyncratic house of delights” like a bronze door knocker shaped like a cat or mouse. Casa del Gatto’s additions to the genre of quirky door decor will lend your entryway the personality you didn’t know it was missing. etsy.com/shop/casadelgatto.
Wine to Go From Vino Volo
For those who want nothing more than to sip on a healthy pour of pinot grigio while thumbing through Us Weekly at their gate, we’re happy to report that your wish has been granted. B/C Connector and D/E Connector. philamarketplace.com/store/vino-volo.
Malvern Buttery
Lunching here is a bit of a leap of faith—there’s no menu, so all you can do is wait to see what toasts, salads, soups and breads the kitchen crew slides onto the counters. And guess what? Nothing has fallen flat yet. 233 East King Street, Malvern, PA 19355, malvernbuttery.com.
Juju Salon and Organics
Forget its holistic mission, earth-friendly product lines and semi-crunchy following. The styles coming out of this five-year-old salon are nothing short of sublime, which is why even the what-the-eff-are-Birkenstocks crowd is now booking here. 713 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, jujusalon.com/juju-salon.
Rowhouse Gin
Complex but not overly botanical and crafted in small batches by a microdistillery on Frankford Avenue, it makes for a great gin and tonic (or any cocktail, really) and is one of those incredibly rare, non-infused gins that can even be drunk straight, over rocks, with nothing but a squeeze of lime. rowhousespirits.us/rowhouse-spirits-distillery/brands/gin.
McFadden's on 3rd Street
We've had no shortage of mediocre-to-lousy places shutting their doors in 2015, but none of them were quite as wretched as the wretchedest of all, this 14-year-old bastion of sticky floors, bar fights and regret-filled 2 a.m. hookups at 3rd and Spring Garden.
Paramour
Grandparents complain about noise, cramped seating, city addresses, and waiters with eyebrow piercings. This restaurant in the Wayne Hotel (it replaced Taquet) has none of those things. And Grandma will get a kick out of the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar at Sunday brunch. 139 East Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, paramourwayne.com.
Broad Street Broad
Stylish sweatpants are no longer an oxymoron. (Seriously!) You can get em here along with off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, vintage-y tanks, PJs, tote bags and undies emblazoned with the companys ode-to-the-city logo: a retro Phillies-esque P within a heart. 737 North 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, broadstreetbroad.com.
A-K Custom Interiors
Nothing elevates a good-looking house to showstopper status quite like the bespoke touches of focal-point built-ins or a one-of-a-kind front door. And while A-K owner Kevin McCarthy, based in Kensington, is no doubt an artist, he’s easy to work with and fairly priced. 2011 N Howard St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, akcustomcabinets.com.
Mini Museum
As its name might suggest, this roving pop-up museum features a collection of tiny art. (Nothing over five inches in any direction is even considered.) Find it on Instagram @Mini_Museum_Philly and in a variety of public spaces, like the exhibit running through December at Philadelphia International Airport. minimuseumphilly.com/index.html.
Crab Fingers at Olde Bar
In this age of architectural apps that taste more like ego than food, there is no classier, more luxe bar snack in Philly than these half-cracked cocktail crab claws in lemon-garlic butter, served with nothing more than a couple of slices of bread for mopping up the plate. 125 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, theoldebar.com.
Menagerie
Everything at this jam-packed shop looks very "Kate Middleton in Mustique" but it's all laid-back enough to work for the Lombard Swim Club, too. There are bohemian silk tunics, pastel striped rompers and gauzy shifts, plus the totes and sandals that will keep you gorgeously accessorized. Eagle Village Shops 503 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, ajeweledmenagerie.com.
Handcraft Workshop
Owner Heather Hutchison Harris gears her Sewing 101 toward the true newbie, but also offers project-based classes in which students learn to make totes, infinity scarves, skirts the types of things that make you feel, if not Martha-esque, at least moderately accomplished. 7224 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119, handcraftworkshop.com/news.html.