Best of Philly 2018
What do an Ethiopian cheesesteak, a vintage g store, a ping-pong club, and a pet-portrait artist have in common? They’re all weird, wonderful, uniquely Philadelphian, and the best of their kind in town (and, yes, sometimes the only of their kind).
We scoured the area to find these — and plenty of other must-know winners — for your annual rip-out-and-keep guide to the city and suburbs right now. Because when it comes to where to eat, drink, shop, spa and sweat, who are you going to trust: a random Yelp reviewer, or us, the people who have been doing this for 45 years? Yeah, that’s what we thought.
Best of Philly 2018
Food & Drink
- Best After-Hours Coffee Shop: Rim Cafe
- Best After-Hours Restaurant: Tai Lake
- Best Authentic Country Store: The Market at DelVal
- Best Back-Alley Brewery: Fermentery Form
- Best Bagels: Vanilya
- Best Bakery: The Kettle Black
- Best Bar for Day-Drinking: Harper’s Garden
- Best Bar Snacks: The International
- Best Bar to Get Banned From: Hop Sing Laundromat
- Best Bartender: Alison Hangen
- Best BBQ: Mike’s BBQ
- Best Bread Basket: Noord Eetcafe
- Best Bread for Grilled Cheese: Mighty Bread Company
- Best Breakfast Spot: Middle Child
- Best Breakfast Spot for Soccer Hooligans: Stargazy
- Best Brewpub: Yards Brewing Company
- Best Brewpub Worth a Road Trip: Hidden River Brewing Company
- Best Brunch in the City: Crème Brûlée
- Best Brunch in the Suburbs: The Bercy
- Best Burger: Rex 1516
- Best BYOB: Hearthside
- Best Cauliflower Dish: Front Street Café
- Best Charcuterie: Royal Boucherie
- Best Cheesemonger: David Jeffrey Harper
- Best Chef: Chad Williams
- Best Cidery: Hale & True Cider Co.
- Best Cocktails: Han Dynasty
- Best Croissants: Machine Shop Boulangerie
- Best Distillery: Little Water Distillery
- Best Dive Bar: The Bar(n)
- Best Drunk-Food Spot: El Sabor De Mi Tierra
- Best English Muffins: Philly Bread
- Best Falafel: Goldie
- Best Fancy Cheese: The Grand Fromage
- Best Fancy-Pants Breakfast Sandwich: Res Ipsa
- Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant: Cadence
- Best Fast-Casual Restaurant: El Merkury
- Best Food Truck: Bangin’ Curry Franklin
- Best Fried Chicken: Love & Honey Fried Chicken
- Best Gas Station Fried Chicken: Royal Farms
- Best Gay Bar to Bring Your Gay Friends to: The Bike Stop
- Best Gay Bar to Bring Your Straight Friends to: Tavern on Camac
- Best Guisados: Guisados Don Roman
- Best Happy Hour in the City: Abe Fisher
- Best Happy Hour in the Suburbs: Clam Tavern
- Best Hole in the Wall Restaurant: Hibernian Coffee Shop
- Best Hot Pot: Little Sheep
- Best Ice Cream: Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream
- Best Indian Restaurant: Indian Hut
- Best Ingenious Breakfast Creation: Lost Bread Co.
- Best Italian Restaurant: Vetri Cucina
- Best Late-Night Happy Hour: Tattooed Mom
- Best Lesbian Bar: Toasted Walnut Bar & Kitchen
- Best Lunch Counter: Rooster Soup Co.
- Best Meatballs: Mama’s Meatballs
- Best Modern Dumpling Shop: Baology
- Best New American Restaurant: Serpico
- Best New Bar: Dock Street Cannery + Lounge
- Best New City Coffee Shop: Herman’s Coffee
- Best New Food Hall: Franklin’s Table
- Best New Restaurant: Suraya
- Best New Suburban Coffee Shop: Pretty Bird
- Best No-Frills Coffee: Wawa
- Best Octopus: Oloroso
- Best Pastry Chef: Melissa Weller
- Best Pastry You’ve Never Heard Of: Cake Life Bake Shop’s Nanaimo Bar
- Best Pickles: Martha
- Best Pizza Destination: Pizza Gutt
- Best Pizza Slice: Rione
- Best Place for Bloody Marys: Bud & Marilyn’s
- Best Place for Midnight Milkshakes: Marlton Diner
- Best Place to Score Cutlets Just Like Mom-Mom’s: Cotoletta
- Best Power Lunch: The Love
- Best Ramen: Hiro’s Gates of Hell at Hiro Ramen House
- Best Reliable Farmer’s Market: Clark Park Farmers’ Market
- Best Restaurant Design: Tuna Bar
- Best Restaurant for Groups: Stove & Tap
- Best Restaurant Pro to Know: Jon Medlinsky
- Best Seafood Restaurant: Little Fish
- Best Secret Menu Item: Chirashi at Double Knot
- Best Sports Bar: Chickie’s & Pete’s
- Best Strip-Mall Restaurant: Little Sicily II
- Best Tacos: Tacos El Rodeo
- Best Top-Quality Meats: Primal Supply
- Best Trinidadian Restaurant: Flambo
- Best Twist on a Cheesesteak: Gojjo
- Best Unexpected Fusion: The Spicy Belly
- Best Unexpected Wine List: Fountain Porter
- Best Unusual Food Trend to Try: Cheese Tea at A Cup of Tea
- Best Vegetables: Johnny Brenda’s
- Best Veggie Breakfast Dish: Usaquén
- Best Veggie Hoagie: Antonio’s Deli
- Best Wine Bar: Enoteca Tredici
- Best Wine Expert: Max Gottesfeld
- Best Wine Store That’s Actually Fun to Shop: 320 Market Café
- Snack to Sneak Into a Movie Theater: Edible Cookie Dough at Sweet Box
Health & Fitness
- Best Barre Instructor: Stephanie Grimes
- Best Budget Gym Chain: The Edge Fitness Clubs
- Best Fitness Studio for Parents: Torque
- Best Hangover Helper: IV Therapy at City Hydration
- Best Inexpensive Massage: V&V Foot Spa
- Best Locker Rooms We’d Live In: The Bar Method
- Best Massage for Exercise Addicts: Phila Massages
- Best Meditation Studio: Vitality Meditation
- Best Men’s Spa Treatment: Just for Men at Spa Terme Di Aroma
- Best Midday Workout: X-Force
- Best Outdoor Workout: Art Museum steps
- Best Reason to Work Out at 6 A.M.: Daybreaker
- Best Running Club: Sansom Street Donut Run
- Best Spa: Nurture Spa
- Best Spa for Moms: Vir tù Spa
- Best Training Programs You’ll Love to Hate: You Should Be Running programs by Goalsfit
- Best Two-in-One Workout: BPM Fitness
- Best Weight-Loss Gurus: OnPoint Nutrition
- Best Workout for People Who Would Rather Be at Brunch: Namaste Nourish
- Best Workout That’ll Make You Feel Like Beyoncé: Alexis Rose Xperience
- Best Workout Trend: Puppy Yoga
- Best Yoga Teacher: Mariel Freeman
Media, Politics, and People
The stories, personalities, and moments that inspired and moved our city this year.
Helpers & Fixers
- Best All-in-One Dog Care: HD Dog Training
- Best At-Home Salon: Concihairge
- Best Bartender for Hire: 13th Street Cocktail Catering
- Best Beer Delivery: goBooze by goPuff
- Best Bike Repair Shop: Cadence Cycling & Multisport Center
- Best Body Shop: Classic Coachwork Main Line
- Best Budget Car Wash: The Unlimited Monthly Car Wash Club at Clean Machine Car Wash & Detail Center
- Best Carpenter: A-K Custom Interiors
- Best Casual Caterers: Woodrow’s Sandwich Shop
- Best Clothes Whisperers: Carriage Trade Cleaners
- Best Co-Working Space for Parents: PlayArts
- Best College Prep Help: Leahy Learning
- Best Earth-Friendly Exterminator: Green Pest Solutions
- Best Garage Organizer: Dream Garage Remodeling
- Best Garden Guru: Edwin’s Glorious Gardens Etc.
- Best Golf-Club Doctors: 2nd Swing
- Best Healthy Meal Delivery: Performance Meal Prep
- Best On-Demand House Cleaners: Scrub!
- Best On-Demand Muscle: Dolly
- Best On-Demand Vets: Vetter Pet Care
- Best Package Keepers: Fishbox
- Best Party Help: Party Host Helpers
- Best Pet Portraits: Andrew Pinkham
- Best Rat Help: Philadelphia Department of Public Health Vector Control program
- Best Rides for Kids: ShuttleBee
- Best Short-Term Pet Sitters: PhilaPets
- Best Small-Project Designers: Design on Demand by Widell + Boschetti
- Best Smartphone Screen Repair: Phone Repair Philly
Shopping & Beauty
- Best Activist Shop: The Outrage
- Best Baby Gifts: Little Moon + Arrow
- Best Bedding: Riverside Tool & Dye
- Best Blowout: Heads & Tails Beauty Boutique
- Best Bold Braids: Chrisa Clark
- Best Boutique for Discovering Local Designers: M Concept
- Best Brow Tint: LashBee
- Best Closet Staples: Kin Boutique
- Best Clothes for a Sweat Sesh: Sole Active
- Best Clothes for the Future Instagram Influencer: cBOP
- Best Consignment Home Goods: ReDecor Home Consignment
- Best Custom Jewelry: Marks Jewelers
- Best Custom Sneakers: UBIQ Lab
- Best DIY Night Out: Wax & Wine
- Best Estate Jewelry: A. Brandt + Son
- Best Eyelash Extensions: Juna Beauty Spa
- Best Fashion-Forward Boutique: Erdon
- Best Feminist Designer: Iris Barbee Bonner
- Best Gel Mani That Won’t Ruin Your Nails: Juju Salon and Organics
- Best Gift Box Service: Bloom & Blossom
- Best Hard-to-Find Records: Brewerytown Beats
- Best Innovative Men’s Suiting: Ermenegildo Zegna
- Best Jewelry Workshop: Forge & Finish
- Best Lingerie Workshop: Madalynne Intimates
- Best Local Skin-Care Products: Franklin & Whitman
- Best Luxe Mani: LaBelle Nail Bar
- Best Luxury Facial: Le Lift Parisienne at Rescue Spa
- Best Men’s Accessories: State & Union
- Best Men’s Boutique: Franklin & Poe
- Best Men’s Cut and Shave: Ethos GSFM
- Best Natural Hair Care: Duafe Holistic Hair Care
- Best New City Garden Shop: Vault + Vine
- Best New City Salon: Moxie Blue
- Best New Men’s Fashion Collaboration: Men’s Style Pro x ModaMatters
- Best New Shopping Event: Fishtown Flea
- Best New Sister Shop: Totem Woman
- Best New Suburban Garden Shop: The Argyle Bouquet
- Best New Suburban Salon: Salon Millan
- Best New Women’s Boutique: Atlantic
- Best Not-Boring Hostess Gifts: Ali’s Wagon
- Best Philly-Centric Tees: South Fellini
- Best Place for Makeup: Whole Foods
- Best Place to Find Hidden Treasures: The Brownsville Antique Centre
- Best Place to Meet Fashion Royalty: Joan Shepp
- Best Place to Start the Most Hipster Habit Possible: Philly Typewriter
- Best Pre-Vacation Prep: Sugared + Bronzed
- Best Quickie Facial: Cryo Facial at CRYO Philadelphia
- Best Quickie Trim: Architeqt Salon & Gallery
- Best Reason to Ditch Your Kindle: Baldwin’s Book Barn
- Best Secret Shopping Speakeasy: ToBox
- Best Shop for Cool-Spotting: Ulises
- Best Shop for Millennials: Downerss
- Best Shop for Women Who Wear Color: Ashley Austin
- Best Shopping App: WatchBox by Govberg Jewelers
- Best Shopping Happy Hour: Philadelphia Salvage Company
- Best Shopping Membership: Orchestra
- Best Showstopper Shoes: Blue Sole Shoes
- Best Skin-Care Destination: 3000BC
- Best Smart-Kid Toys: Momo’s Tree House
- Best Socially Conscious Menswear: Ikiré Jones
- Best Store Makeover: Boyds Philadelphia
- Best Store You Could Spend All Day In: United By Blue
- Best Tableware: Miya Table & Home
- Best Unexpected Furniture Mecca: King of Prussia Mall
- Best Vintage Clothing: Wayward Collection
- Best Women’s Accessories: Kirna Zabête
- Best X-Rated Greeting Cards: Paper Moon
Fun & Games
- Arts in the Suburbs: Bryn Mawr College’s Performing Arts Series
- Best Alternative to Camping: A-Frame by Lokal
- Best Board-Game Night: Thirsty Dice
- Best Club For Absolute Silliness: Concourse
- Best Dance Party: Making Time
- Best Drag Show: Bob & Barbara’s Lounge
- Best Gay Event That’s Not in a Gay Bar: Sip City Mixer
- Best High Fun: Jennifer Zavala Catering
- Best Karaoke: Live Band Karaoke
- Best Music Classes for Kids: Mister John’s Music
- Best Ping-Pong Club: Spin
- Best Place for Aspiring Mo’ne Davises: On Deck Training Center
- Best River Adventure: Pinelands Adventure
- Best Shore Fun in Philly: Garage Passyunk
- Best Suburban Nightlife Scene: Ardmore
- Best Zip-Lining: Treetop Quest
- Dance Company: BalletX
- Movie Night: BYO Movie Night at The Roxy
- New Philly Tradition: Illuminated fountain performances at Longwood Gardens
- Place to Discover Up-and-Coming Artists: Paradigm Gallery + Studio
- Reason to Spend Your Next Friday Night at a Museum: The Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Theater Subscription: The Wilma Theater
- Underrated Tourist Attraction: Fort Mifflin
- Way to See Big Acts Up Close: The Borgata’s Event Center
Reader Poll Winners
- Reader Poll: Best Local Brewery: Yards Brewing Company
- Reader Poll: Best Cheesesteak: Dalessandro’s Steaks
- Reader Poll: Best Philly Event: Parks on Tap
- Reader Poll: Best Road Race: Broad Street Run
Curious how we pick the winners? Read our Best of Philly FAQ.