Mina's World
Mina’s World is a retail space for local artisans, a community fridge, a meeting place for West Philadelphians. But mainly, it’s a cafe — a coffee shop that serves expert cortados, rose syrup chai lattes, tehina mochas (!), and regular ol’ cups of joe brewed with locally roasted coffee. (Try a plate of pakoras and samosas while you’re at it.) While it’s all these things at once, Mina’s World is, at its heart, a perfect neighborhood coffee shop. 511 South 52nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143, mw4u.net.
Exceptional Finds
If we had to guess where Taylor Swift shops for jewelry in the Philly area, we’d guess Main Line boutique Exceptional Finds. The space carries Three Stories, the couture jewelry collection the Berks County native was spotted in not once but twice during last year’s NFL season. We also think she’d swoon for playful designs by Sydney Evan, from heart wrap hoop earrings to a mosaic horseshoe charm necklace. 101 East Lancaster Avenue, Suite 201, Wayne, PA 19087, exceptional-finds.com.
Cuzzy's
At Cuzzy Angiolillo’s charming ice-cream parlor, you’ll be greeted by the scent of hot waffle cones and people who appear to genuinely love their jobs. Order a few scoops of rotating flavors like small-batch spumoni or punchy cotton candy grape sorbet, and add a house-made topping like Oreo whipped cream. The nostalgic scene (shelves of penny candy like Charleston Chews and Bazooka bubble gum) is just the cherry on top. 618 South 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, instagram.com/cuzzysicecream.
Ya Fav Trashman
Electeds may talk about cleaning up the city, but Terrill “Ya Fav Trashman” Haigler is out there doing it. (See: the 325 tons of trash he’s taken off Philly streets.) In two years, he’s gone from rogue sanitation worker to full-blown activist, business owner, nonprofit founder, writer (he authored a children’s book on environmental justice) and, yes, Philly favorite. Wanna fix Filthadelphia? Put this man in charge already!
Deputy Sheriff Justice
In April, the Inquirer uncovered hundreds of problematic checks written by Sheriff Rochelle Bilal’s office. But one of those purchases was just too bizarre to be believed: $9,000 for a mascot — ironically named “Deputy Sheriff Justice.” That’s right: The city office charged with conducting sheriff’s sales and transporting prisoners to court decided it needed a mascot — and that the public should foot the bill. Just like the checks in the notorious row office, it appears the jokes there also write themselves.
C&C Appliance Repair
Freezer frozen over? Oven undercooking? Damp dryer? Call C&C. Last fall, our oven’s ignitor wasn’t working. We bought the part, disassembled the inside of the oven, and then … chickened out. (What if we broke the whole thing?!?) C&C came over in a split and, thanks to our own detective work, charged us only $100 for the installation. When’s the last time a repair cost you less than you expected?
City Food Tours
These guide-led three-hour tasting tours (for between $29 and $55 a person) are a fun, different way for locals and visitors alike to explore all that has shaped our city and its residents (mostly the latter). Try the charming evening wine, chocolate and tea tour, or the classic "Flavors of Philly" cheesesteak-hoagie-pretzel trail that ends up at Reading Terminal for dessert. (Termini Brothers, anyone?) Hey, we didn't say it was good for your waistline. ... 00000, cityfoodtours.com.
Canelés at Friday Saturday Sunday
After courses of yuzu-aioli-dappled tuna crudo and barbecued veal cheek at Chad and Hanna Williams’s beloved Rittenhouse restaurant, your server will drop the bill and two glistening canelés. These bite-size bombshells take time to make, with the batter resting for three days before they’re double-baked in copper molds. They’re then lacquered with beeswax, a totally unnecessary gesture underscoring the fact that every dish the kitchen puts out is not only near-flawless but has so much heart. 261 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, fridaysaturdaysunday.com.
Sugar Bar Salon
Maybe it’s the way clients are welcomed into a charming waiting room and offered a glass of rosé, or how the hair-removal gurus use the “sugar” (a simple mix of water, lemon juice and, yes, sugar) to produce super-soft fuzz-free skin that lasts weeks longer than waxing ever could. Whatever it is, Sugar Bar Salon’s sugaring — a gentle, all-natural process dating back to the ancient Egyptians — will leave you feeling like a modern, silky-smooth Cleopatra. 214 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, sugarbarsalon.com.
The Dogfish Head Experience in Lewes
Lewes, Delaware — a.k.a. “that town on the other end of the Cape May ferry” — is actually a charming beach resort that boasts the beer-centric Dogfish Inn. From there, you can pedal (on free Dogfish Head loaner bikes) to the Dogfish Head Brewery, where you’ll try exclusive Dogfish Head beers, and to Dogfish Head’s nearby restaurant, Chesapeake & Maine. Be sure to head home with Dogfish Head’s Compelling Gin, which has become an essential bottle in our bar. 105 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, dogfish.com/inn.
Dreamworld Bakes
When Patti LaBelle celebrated her 80th birthday, there was only one bakery bold enough for the Godmother of Soul: Dreamworld. Adorned with fresh flowers, glitter, and broad swirling strokes of vibrant icing, every creation by owner Ashley Huston is a statement piece. The flavor combos are just ambitious. Cardamom-spiced sponge filled with mango-chai mousse; matcha cake with lavender-strawberry jam; and for LaBelle’s birthday, brown butter cake topped with — what else? — lemon marmalade. dreamworldbakes.com.
Breezy’s Deli and Market
What does a perfect deli look like in 2024? Find the answer at Breezy’s, the bright new Washington Avenue spot filled with bins of fresh produce, a deli case stocked with cold cuts and local cheeses, and touch-screen menus offering fruit smoothies and made-to-order hoagies. The turkey BLT with tomato-cherry jam is reminiscent of a certain other Thanksgiving-themed sandwich, but the bird is house-roasted by owner Chad Durkin across the street at sister sandwich shop Porco’s. 2235 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146, breezysdeli.com.
The Pub
When this iconic South Jersey steakhouse closed in 2024 for massive renovations to the Tudor-style building, we were a little worried that it was going to lose its old-school charm and its vast salad bar, the latter being a rarity in the current restaurant world. We’re happy to say it kept both — and the homemade bread, garlicky Caesar salad, pickled beets, three-bean salad, and all the cheese on the buffet will make their triumphant return this fall, after the Pub’s summer break. 7600 Kaighn Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ 08109, thepubnj.com.
Remix Living Showroom
Dominique Calhoun of Remix Living Showroom. Photograph by Jonathan Pushnik Prolific interior decorator Dominique Calhoun and her team are busy for a reason: They absolutely nail the mix of glam and function, fun and form. Every item they put into a home has something special, whether it’s the sexy curve of a powder pink settee, leopard-print club chairs, or a side table made up of gold and cream spheres and cones. And a whole lot of it is for sale at Calhoun’s Northeast showroom and on her Instagram feed. Look for the items that were used to stage homes — they’re sold at a nice discount. Globe Dye Works, 4500 Worth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124, remixliving.com.
Feast Jewelry
Gone are the days of the fuddy-duddy string-of-pearls necklace (unless you’re Harry Styles, in which case, please carry on). Instead, we’ve been gifted with Adrienne Manno’s Feast Jewelry, a Kensington company that uses pearls on necklaces, earrings, bracelets and anklets in delightful ways. At the end of gold spirals or sandwiched between heavy chain links, pearls take on new, modern appeal. Manno has even started making pearl Croc charms, for when you want to give your slide-on footwear a preppy upgrade. feastjewelryshop.com.