Goldie
Yes, Michael Solomonov absolutely could use his name and talent to open all kinds of big, ritzy restaurants in big, ritzy cities. Instead, he opened this humble little shop that makes its falafel electric green with tons of herbs and spices, then stuffs them into fresh-baked pitas lined with salad and hot sauce. 1526 Sansom Street, Philadelphia , PA 19102, goldiefalafel.com.
Weavers Way Mercantile
The Weavers Way Co-Op has long been a part of the Mount Airy community (48 years and counting!), but the mercantile shop across the street opened in 2016. The space itself — a former garage — makes for a highly pleasant browsing experience, and the home goods and vintage clothes on offer will add retro personality to any home or closet. It’s not just limited to secondhand goods, though: Ceramics, candles, jewelry and more from local makers serve as reminders of the area’s rich artistic history. 559 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119, etsy.com/shop/WeaversWayMerc.
Eyechic of Philly II
Considering it quietly opened its doors six months ago, you'd never know this eyewear boutique was part of the Eyechic consortium that's amassed 87K followers on Instagram — and maybe it's better that way. With an ultra-modern interior and a curated collection of high-end lenses from the likes of Miu Miu and Linda Farrow, the shop remains surprisingly under-the-radar. 2003 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, eyechic.com.
Retrospect Vintage (@retrospectvintage)
Every day, more than 6,000 followers race to claim the vintage home goods this South Street vintage shop posts on its Instagram feed. The items range from antique treasures to kitschy curiosities (rattan peacock chairs, velvet paintings and Victorian settees have all cropped up), and all are priced to sell, well, instantly 508 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, retrospectvintage215.com.
Lapstone & Hammer
What happens when a painfully cool mens-wear boutique exhausts standard offerings? It joins forces with equally cool brands. In the past year, this shop has rolled out destructed denim hats from old-school sports mecca Mitchell & Ness and a recent 100-piece denim collection with Fishtown menswear brand Gentry + Rose. 1106 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, lapstoneandhammer.com.
Tacos California
This is one of the only shops in town serving tacos de canasta, a typical Mexican street food atypical to Philly’s food scene.Small corn tortillas (stuffed with taco fillings) are stacked in a basket, doused in seasoned hot oil, then steamed. The result is a plate of light, crispy, almost pierogi-like tacos. Treat ’em like fries and order a bunch for the table. 1030 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, .
Style Camp
Owned by mom-daughter duo Bitsy and Natalie Rhoda, this year-old shop, which recently settled into a bigger location at the top of Germantown Avenue, is sort of like an Instagram filter: The clothes and accessories in it from both revered and indie brands, like Kowtow, Saint James and Paper Denim make you look chicer than you might actually be. 8433 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, style-camp.com/#!.
Greendesign
Even if youre the type to turn up your nose at hippie-dippie eco-stores, this year-old shop might have you on Al Gores side. The sister store to a Princeton flagship eschews bad design (who needs a shirt made from a recycled burlap sack?) in favor of minimalist bamboo serving wares, reclaimed wood furniture, ridiculously cozy organic-latex pillows, and adorable stationery (printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper, of course). 8434 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, greendesigncorp.com.
Yoshi
Sushi and sashimi started out as fast food-quick snacks to be gotten outside the walls of ancient Edo by businessmen on the run. Yoshi returns sushi to its rightful place by offering a shop inside Suburban Station where hungry commuters can pick up a fast tray of fresh, inexpensive maki to go. Oh, and did we mention that all the sushi is made by robots? 1617 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103, yogurtsushi.com.
Casa Papel
On a side street in the Marais, you might expect a shop like this one, so petite and pretty, with papers and envelopes in exotic colors and embossed designs that you'd like to wear, if one wore paper. But here, on a busy Northern Liberties thoroughfare, this small spot where the invitations are to die for, and yes, they can make your baby book out of that amazing Chiyogami feels entirely unexpected, like a best-possible surprise. 804 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, casapapel.com.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House
During the week, it sometimes seems Del Frisco's isn't a lofty steakhouse at all, but rather a cocktail party hosted by Michael Nutter. The Mayor works the room with flair, visiting tables filled with power lawyers, City Council members and business honchos who are talking shop and foraging through the expansive wine list. (Pay no attention to the lash-batting ladies at the bar ... or do.) 1426-28 Chesnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, delfriscos.com/location/philadelphia.
Musa Weddings
Whether she’s transforming an Ambler coffee shop’s outdoor garden into a rustic wedding venue or staging a flamenco-filled ceremony and reception at a villa in Spain, Andi Schilawski isn’t afraid of a challenge. In fact, she prefers unconventional settings for the exchange of vows, often pulling velvet loveseats and mobile champagne carts from Collection by Musa, the event furniture rental company she opened in 2022. The East Falls planner also stands out for her graphic-design skills. musaweddings.com.
Vestige
When the novelty of wearing sweats 24/7 wears off, head to this shop, where casual-comfy-chic dressing was being elevated to an art form well before the pandemic. Everything here — from the cream-colored elastic-waist pants to the gauzy maxi dresses to the dusty blue foam-soled leather slides — is breezy, loose, and insanely wearable. 2041 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, shop-vestige.com.
Shroomwit at Frizwit
The meatless cheesesteak — treated as an afterthought in most Philly steak shops — is given the reverence it deserves at Frizwit in Pennsport. The mushrooms are local (from Mycopolitan, a mushroom farm that supplies some of the city’s finest chefs) and the cheese is made with local Abundantly Good cheddar (a do-good cheese that benefits Philabundance), and along with some onions, it’s all stuffed into a hoagie roll baked by Merzbacher’s in Germantown. Most importantly, the shroomwit eats like its meaty counterpart: unabashedly greasy, impossibly cheesy, and as junky and delicious as it ought to be. 100 East Morris Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, frizwit.square.site.
Home Appétit
Sick of having to plan, shop for and cook freaking dinner? Also sick of takeout? Home Appétit delivers enough precooked meals to your doorstep at the start of the week to feed your family through the weekend. No meal kits with shrink-wrapped garlic and complicated instructions, no pizza boxes — just a fridge full of food that actually tastes good. homeappetitphilly.com.