Best of Philly 2016
Water ice from Yardley Ice House | Photographs by The Voorhes
We’re back, fresh off another year of tireless testing and vetting, all to bring you this: a crazily well-researched compilation of everything worth eating, everyone worth knowing, and everywhere worth visiting in the city and ’burbs. Read it, love it, hate it, debate it—this is the Best of Philly as we see it right now.
Best of Philly 2016
- Best All-Day Cafe: Hungry Pigeon
- Best American Restaurant: La Peg
- Best Appetizer: Bacon at LP Steak
- Best Authentic Taco: South Philly Barbacoa
- Best Bagels: Philly Style Bagels
- Best Bar in the ‘Burbs: Brick & Brew
- Best Bar Menu: Ela
- Best Bar-Scene Maestros: Stephen Simons and David Frank
- Best Beer List: Sancho Pistola’s
- Best Bologna: Ely Farm Products
- Best Bread Service: Neuf
- Best Brunch in the ‘Burbs: Stove & Tap
- Best Brunch in the City: The Dutch
- Best Burger: Southgate
- Best Chef: Townsend Wentz, A Mano and Townsend
- Best Chicken Fingers: Wishbone
- Best Chinese Restaurant: Ting Wong
- Best Classic Fried Chicken: Clarkville
- Best Coffee: Draft Latte at La Colombe
- Best Date-Night Restaurant: Good King Tavern
- Best Deal for Carnivores: Pineville Tavern
- Best Delivery Service: Caviar
- Best Doughnuts: Curiosity Doughnuts
- Best Dumplings: Bing Bing Dim Sum
- Best Dumplings to Go: Humpty’s Dumplings
- Best Fried Cheese: Bud & Marilyn’s
- Best Fried Chicken Sandwich: Samwich
- Best Fries: Saint Benjamin’s Taproom
- Best Fusion Taco: Roast Duck Taco at Revolution Taco
- Best Gluten Overload: Mac Mart
- Best Grilled Cheese: Meltcraft
- Best Grown-up Chicken Nuggets: Double Knot
- Best Happy Hour with Your Coworkers: City Tap House Logan Circle
- Best Happy-Hour Food: Sampan
- Best Happy-Hour Oysters: Doc Magrogan’s
- Best Hoagies: Fink’s
- Best Indian Food: Chaat and Chai
- Best Kids’ Menu: Whetstone Tavern
- Best Korean Restaurant: Seorabol
- Best Late-Night Eats: Heffe
- Best Late-Late Night Eats: Shiao Lan Kung
- Best Local Beer: HopHands
- Best Local Cider: Little Round Hop
- Best Local Gin: Rowhouse Gin
- Best Local Kombucha: Inspired Brews
- Best Local Rum: Petty’s Island Driftwood Dream
- Best Local Whiskey: Kinsey
- Best Menu Item With “Jawn” in It: “The Jawn” at SpOt Gourmet Burger
- Best Mexican Restaurant: El Primo Taqueria
- Best New Bar: Martha
- Best New Beer Garden: SkyGarten
- Best New Bottle Shop: Di Bruno Bros. Bottle Shop at the Franklin
- Best New Brewpub: Bar Hygge
- Best New BYO: Saté Kampar
- Best New Italian Restaurant: A Mano
- Best New Pastry Chef: Pat O’Malley, Hungry Pigeon
- Best New Restaurant: Double Knot
- Best New Sandwich Shop: Woodrow’s
- Best New Sister Restaurant: South Helm
- Best New Twist on a Steak Dinner: Urban Farmer
- Best Noodles: Stock
- Best Nouveau Pizza: Wm. Mulherin’s Sons
- Best Old-School Steakhouse: The Pub in Pennsauken
- Best Outdoor Dining: Russet
- Best Pie Shop: Stargazy
- Best Pizza (Readers’ Choice): Santucci’s Original Square Pie
- Best Poutine: Coeur
- Best Quickie Lunch Spot (Readers’ Choice): Jake’s Sandwich Board
- Best Reason to Venture Into Trenton: Chick & Nello’s Homestead Inn
- Best Red-Gravy Italian: Bona Cucina
- Best Restaurant for Dining Alone: DanDan
- Best Restaurant Revival: Opa
- Best Roast Beef Sandwich: Cherry Street Tavern
- Best Soft-Serve: Pizzeria Vetri
- Best Soup Dumplings: Tom’s Dim Sum
- Best Soup to Go: Bottled Gazpacho at Beefsteak
- Best Southern Food: South
- Best Sunday Dinner: The Fat Ham
- Best Vegetables in a Non-Vegetable Restaurant: Aldine
- Best Water Ice: Yardley Ice House
- Best Way to Pretend You’re Eating Healthy: Buffalo Cauliflower at Front Street Cafe
- Best Weeknight Scene: Tredici
- Best All-in-One Yoga Studio: CorePower Yoga
- Best Escape Massage: The Quartet at the Rittenhouse Spa + Club
- Best Fitness Studio for Moms: Mama’s Wellness Joint
- Best Fitness Trainer: Osayi Osunde, Fit Academy
- Best Fixer Massage: Houdini JINI at Eviama Life Spa
- Best Forced Relaxation: Flotation Philly
- Best Guru for the Injury-Prone: Pete Mattis, ZAKTi Fitness Studio
- Best Instagram Account to Spark Your Inner Fitness Junkie: Lauren Boggi (@laurenboggi)
- Best More-Than-a-Spin Studio: The Wall Cycling Studio
- Best On-the-Water Activity: SUP Fitness with Aqua Vida
- Best Out-of-the-Box Fitness Class: Iron Maiden Futurism at Palo Santo Wellness Boutique
- Best Running Group: City Fit Girls
- Best Suburban Trail: Perkiomen Trail
- Best Virtual Workouts: Ploome Fitness & Lifestyle Boutique
- Best Yoga Podcast: Maura Manzo
- Best Yoga Studio (Readers’ Choice): Yoga Home
- Best All-Around Muscle: Philadelphia Women’s Rugby Football Club
- Best Alterations: Sara Teixeira, The Tailory
- Best Baby Swim Lessons: Infant Swimming Resource
- Best Bike Doctor: Trophy Bikes
- Best Closet Renovation: The Closet Works
- Best Coat Relining: Saks Fifth Avenue
- Best Convenient Car Wash: Waterless Works
- Best Dog Boarding: Wagsworth Manor Pet Resort
- Best Dry Cleaning: Carriage Trade Cleaners
- Best Emergency Vet: University of Pennsylvania Ryan Veterinary Hospital
- Best Financial Advisor for Women: Rachel R. Cohen, the Cohen & Sutcliffe Group, Morgan Stanley
- Best Florist: Nature’s Gallery
- Best Furniture Makeovers: The Restoration Studio
- Best Green House Cleaning: Clenz
- Best iPhone Repair: iRepairWorks
- Best Junk Remover: Junk Be Gone
- Best Language Classes: Lingual Institute
- Best Leather Restoration: ToBox
- Best Meal Delivery: Home Appétit
- Best Modern Parenting Guru: Brandi Davis, Child and Family Coaching
- Best Movers: Mambo Movers
- Best Moving Concierge: Pad Porter
- Best Party Planners: Confetti & Co.
- Best Personal Branding Help: Back-to-School Classes at Ink + Mortar
- Best State Store Employee: Rob Peters, Ardmore Wine + Spirits
- Best Tattoo Removal: Evan Zelinger, Abington Aesthetic & Laser Medical Center
- Best Urban Kitchen Contractor: Michael Quinn Contracting
- Best Urgent Care in the City: Jefferson Urgent Care
- Best Wardrobe Guidance: Kristel Closets
- Best Window-Box Design: Enliven Planters
Food & Drink
Health & Fitness
Helpers & Fixers
- Best Affordable Salon: Pageboy Hair
- Best Architectural Salvage: Philadelphia Salvage Company
- Best Baby Store: Minnow Lane
- Best Barn Sale: Life’s Patina
- Best Bath and Body Shop: Volta Market
- Best Beauty Pregame Spot: Koukla Blowdry & Beauty Bar
- Best Beauty Products You Can’t Find at Sephora: H Mart
- Best Brow Shaping: Sheri David, Jay Michael Salon & Spa
- Best Cellulite Treatment: Cellfina at Cross Medical Group
- Best Children’s Boutique: Believe
- Best Collaborations: Lapstone & Hammer
- Best Comes-to-You Beauty: ManeStreem
- Best Consignment Shop: Addiction Studios
- Best Customized Gifts: Sweet Whistle
- Best Drone Store: Liberty Drones
- Best Eyebrow Filler: Microblading at 3000BC
- Best Eyelash Extensions: Russian Volume Mega Volume Full Set Extensions at LashBee
- Best Fancy Furniture: Studio 882
- Best Gift Shop: Moon + Arrow
- Best Hair Removal: Sugaring at Green City Beauty
- Best Hand Makeover: Hand Rejuvenation at About Face Skin Care
- Best Handcrafted Furniture: BDDW
- Best Handmade Dishware: Felt + Fat
- Best Handbags: Arden + James
- Best Handmade Kitchen Goods: Lostine
- Best Handmade Menswear: Ikiré Jones
- Best Handmade Shoes: Mason Dixon
- Best In-Store Events: Art in the Age
- Best Indie Bookstore: Wellington Square Bookshop
- Best Instagram Flash Deals: Skirt (@shopskirt)
- Best Instagram for Vintage Clothes: Greatest Friend (@greatestfriend)
- Best Instagram for Vintage Furniture: Retrospect Vintage (@retrospectvintage)
- Best Jewelry: Ritual Ritual
- Best Lunch-Hour Makeover: ClearLift Lunchtime Laser Treatment at Deme Cosmetic
- Best Luxe Mani/Pedi: AME Salon and Spa
- Best Made-in-Philly Workout Wear: MBStix
- Best Men’s Closet Upgrade: SuitSupply
- Best Men’s Gifts: Gorshin Trading Post & Supplies
- Best Men’s Grooming: Meister’s Barbershop
- Best Men’s Vintage: Cultured Couture
- Best Mobile Spray Tan: SPF Tanning
- Best Modern Furniture: Millésimé
- Best New Boutique: Egan Rittenhouse
- Best New Eyewear Shop: Eyechic of Philly II
- Best New Sister Shop: Ps & Qs For Her
- Best Philly-Centric Gifts: Philadelphia Independents
- Best Place to Pimp Out Your Office: Open House
- Best Quick-Fix Spa Treatment: Logan Weekday Reset at the Logan Hotel
- Best Record Store: Long in the Tooth
- Best Salon (Readers’ Choice): Salon Vanity
- Best Secret Resource for Kids’ Gear: CHOP Safety Center
- Best Secret Watch Stash: Workshop Underground
- Best Shop for Coffee-Table Books: Brickbat Books
- Best Shop for Local Designers: MAARK Concept
- Best Shop for Rugs: Parisa Rugs and Décor
- Best Shop for the Modern Hippie: Ella’s Grove
- Best Shopping Experience: Rikumo
- Best Shore Shop: Scout Clothing & Decor
- Best Sneakers: UBIQ
- Best Spa for Moms: Primp & Play
- Best Store for Snail Mail: Occasionette
- Best Style Service: Tie Rentals at Paschalville Library
- Best Stylist for a New Look: Christopher Hill, Headhouse Salon
- Best Surprising Store for Fitness Gear: Century 21
- Best Toy Store: PucciManuli
- Best Vein Zapping: Sclerotherapy at Vein & Vascular Institute
- Best Women’s Boutique: Shop Sixty Five
- Best Women’s Vintage: Meadowsweet Merchantile
- Best Work Clothes You Could Work Out In: Kit and Ace
- Best Amusement Park: Knoebels
- Best Arcade: Pinball Gallery
- Best Bar Crawl: Frankford Avenue, Fishtown
- Best Batting Cages: Grand Slam USA
- Best Boat Trip for People Who Want to Catch Fish: Time Out Charters
- Best Boat Trip for People Who Want to Look at Fish: ThunderCat Dolphin Watch
- Best Bowling Alley: South Bowl
- Best Class for Adults: Butchering at Kensington Quarters
- Best Classical Music Series That Doesn’t Involve Yannick: Astral Artists Center City Concerts
- Best Dance Party: L’Etage
- Best Dive Bar: Jack’s Famous Bar
- Best DIY Teacher for Kids: Juliet Hope Wayne
- Best Drunk Fun Not in a Bar: Major League Bocce
- Best Family Reunion Spot: Masons Mill Park
- Best Free Concert Series: The Pennypack Park Music Festival
- Best Free Fun: Bartram’s Garden
- Best Fun for Cat Lovers: Le Cat Cafe
- Best Fun for History Nerds: Penn Museum
- Best Fun for Literary Types: Publetters
- Best Hidden Gem Museum: The Wagner Free Institute of Science
- Best Ice Skating: IceWorks Skating Complex
- Best Mini Golf: Freddy Hill Farms
- Best New Music Venue: The Fillmore
- Best New Public Space: Cira Green
- Best New Tourist Attraction: One Liberty Observation Deck
- Best Pennsylvania Casino: Parx Casino
- Best Pickup Bar: Del Frisco’s
- Best Place to Buy Really Big Fireworks: Intergalactic Fireworks
- Best Place to De-Stress: Middletown Archery
- Best Place to Drive Ridiculously Fast: 309 between Sellersville and Quakertown
- Best Place to Fly Your Drone: Belmont Plateau
- Best Place to Indulge Your DIY Fantasies: The Craftery
- Best Place to Live Out Your Jersey Shore Fantasies: Premier Nightclub
- Best Place to Spend a Summer Night: Citizens Bank Park
- Best Place to Watch the Game: McGillin’s Olde Ale House
- Best Private Club: The Racquet Club of Philadelphia
- Best Private Tour: The Union League of Philadelphia
- Best Public Park to Do It In: Washington Square Park
- Best Public Pool: The John B. Kelly Pool
- Best Reason to Go to Atlantic City: Thunder Over the Boardwalk
- Best Restaurant to Do It In: Jose Pistola’s
- Best Rollerskating Rink: Millennium Skate World
- Best Romantic Weekend Getaway: Glasbern Country Inn
- Best Secret Art Gallery: Vox Populi
- Best Theater Company: Theatre Exile
- Best Thrill: iFLY Indoor Skydiving
- Best Urban Hike: Ben Franklin Bridge
- Best Way to Accessorize Your Stoner Sesh: GoPuff
- Best Wrestling Event: Chikara