Sampan
Although Double Knot is getting all the love for being the cool new thing on the block, its next-door sister still kills it at happy hour, doing some of the same dishes you'll find at Double Knot (edamame dumplings, satay, kimchi fried rice) but with fewer crowds. 124 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, sampanphilly.com/#sampan.
Thos. Moser
As indie boutiques continue to shutter along this vaunted shopping row, this newly opened handmade furniture haven gives us hope. Hit it up for subtly curvilinear bed frames, leather-wrapped seats, and writing desks so inviting, they’re sure to inspire productivity. 1605 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, thosmoser.com.
Tavern on Camac
You already know about the always-fun first-floor piano bar. But upstairs is a music-pumping hideaway where the city’s cool-kid creative types go to blow off some steam. Diverse, inclusive and hassle-free—a rare combination in a dance club these days. 243 South Camac Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, tavernoncamac.com.
Triangle Tavern
Your mama may be Italian, but her meatballs can't hold a candle to Triangle Tavern's veal-beef-and-pork version. That's shocking, we know -- but so is the fact that the best meatballs in South Philly aren't at some storied red-gravy joint, but inside this reborn hipster bar on East Passyunk. 1338 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, triangletavernphilly.com.
Rice Noodle Bowl at Prohibition Tap Room
We're talking rice noodles, lots of greens, roasted veggies, pickled daikon, zucchini, fresh herbs, lemongrass and pan-seared tofu (or shrimp, or even filet, if you insist) -- and it's at a bar, not some health-food store. You won't even miss your usual fried fill-in-the-blank. 501 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, theprohibitiontaproom.com.
Abe Fisher
Anyone who thinks America's best Ashkenazi and Sephardic foods are locked up in some Lower East Side deli simply hasn't tasted the matzo brei and pastrami-style short ribs at this Rittenhouse newbie. And how a restaurant with a checkerboard-tile floor ends up with a cocktail bar this sexy is a Talmudic mystery. 1623 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, abefisherphilly.com.
Purenergy Studio
You can hop from the TRX bands to the spin studio to an aerial yoga or barre class thanks to Paoli's new one-stop-shop fitness studio. The idea is to keep your mind and muscles busy with lots of workout options, accomplished (and then some) by way of more than 90 stellar classes a week. 21 Plank Avenue, Paoli, PA 19301, purenergystudio.com.
Trail Creek Outfitters
From hiking to trail running to yoga, the selection at TCO is vast. But what will keep you coming back are the friendly, knowledgeable staff, who are more than happy to chat about their own outdoor adventures and share insider know-how to make yours unforgettable. 487 Glen Eagle Square, Glen Mills, PA 19342, trailcreekoutfitters.com/site.
Pet-Sit
The pet sitters here are all professionally trained (and some are even pet-CPR-certified yup, that's a thing), and will meet with you before the first official visit to get your pet's routine down before you take off.
Philly Drag Mafia
Whether you prefer to attend a drag show at a Thai restaurant, a Gayborhood club, a Delco watering hole, or — one of the coolest spots in town — the rooftop bar of the Bok Building, indefatigable Brittany Lynn and the queens of her Drag Mafia have you covered. Sooooo gay, as Brittany likes to say. phillydragmafia.com.
Frederick W. Oster Fine Violins
Photograph by Getty Images For 45 years, Oster has sold 17th-century instruments so expensive that he won’t even list some prices. If his luthiers are good enough to handle those masterpieces, you bet they’re good enough for your grandmother’s old fiddle. 507 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, Osterviolins.com.
Sarvida
Chicharron with crumbled kesong puti cheese goes best with a cold lager. Pancit is perfect with a crisp white, and the lechon pork belly pairs nicely with a fruity red. Good thing you can bring all three to this homey BYO in Fishtown, a spot that helped birth Philly’s Filipino food boom. 300 East Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, sarvidaphilly.com.
Janean Malloy at Irwin’s
Janean Malloy at Irwin’s. Photograph by Colin Lenton Malloy is a true talent — a server who always anticipates a table’s wants and needs, deals with difficult guests with aplomb, and acts like she owns the place (in the best way possible). She’s got the kind of swagger that keeps people coming back for reasons that have nothing to do with the food or drink. 800 Mifflin Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, irwinsupstairs.com.
Colugo Strollers
Wharton School grad, twin dad and Philly resident Ted Iobst created a genius stroller that weighs 16 pounds, folds with one hand, is well-priced, and still looks cool. Wavering? Don’t; it comes with a 100-day trial run. hicolugo.com.
The Blue Béret
Like walking into the pages of a Madeline, Paddington Bear or Winnie the Pooh book — or any other tome that’s European and ultra-sweet. What started as an online shop last spring is now a pop-up shop (open until January at least …) that’s shared with other local makers and artists. 122 East Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, theblueberet.shop.