Best Hidden Gems

Our Local Expert Says:

In his lifetime, Albert C. Barnes gathered one of the most comprehensive collections of art in the world. What is most notable about this museum is the way Barnes arranged paintings and decorative pieces to highlight the forms and colors within the paintings.

Description:

The Barnes Foundation is a remarkable museum that reflects the genius of its founder, Albert C. Barnes. Barnes began displaying his collection in 1922 in order to "promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts." The collection was meant to instruct, with paintings and decorative arts strategically grouped to enhance viewers' understanding of what Barnes believed to be the most important elements of the pieces. The collection focuses on Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, with an impressive number of holdings by Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Cezanne, and others. The audio guide to the collection is quite useful, as the narration explains important pieces and the rationale behind Barnes' groupings of pieces.

Description:

Voted Best New BYOB by Philadelphia Magazine, Marigold Kitchen serves modern American cuisine in the century-old surroundings of University City. Nestled on a quiet, tree-lined block of Victorian houses, Marigold has been providing hospitality for more than 70 years since the first customers were served at the Marigold Tea Room in 1934. Marigold Kitchen serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday, beginning at 5:30pm. Reservations are encouraged. Friday and Saturday dinner is served as a choice of a 3 or 5 course tasting menu.

Our Local Expert Says:

Absolutely beautiful historic garden. Definitely worth a visit!

Description:

Considered to be the progenitor of American horticulture, Bartram's Garden is an 18th Century wonder on the banks of the Schuykill River. Established in 1731, the home of John and William Bartram, the first American botanists, the gardens stand prominently on an estate of 44 acres with a view of the city skyline in the background. This site is home to aspiring scientists to discover the bevy of new species in the Americas.

Description:

The owner of this restaurant likes the hands-on approach: He doubles as the chef. And a chef he is: The menu is based solely on his discriminating palate. As you may have guessed by the name, the restaurant specializes in fish dishes: grilled, seared, pan-fried, sautéed, but never heavy or deep-fried, always very healthy and fresh, based on seasonal availability. The offered accompaniments are very complementary to any dish you might choose. The place is busy and small; in other words, intimate. Rest assured you will soon forget any inconvenience as soon as you sample any of the dishes. Everything is prepared with great attention, even the desserts, also homemade and fresh. And if there is something you're not satisfied with, you can tell the chef directly. He's probably only a few feet away.

Our Local Expert Says:

Philadelphia is famous for its murals. Take an informative walking or trolley tour for a sampling of the city's nearly 3,000 murals.

Description:

Philadelphia may be the world's mural capital, with over 2500 outdoor and indoor murals, most of them done since 1989, when the city's Mural Arts Program began. Mayor Wilson Goode began the program, then called the Anti-Graffiti Network, as an effort to dissuade graffiti artist from tagging and instead encourage them to create murals that would beautify the city. The program took off in the ensuing years, and its artists have painted Philadelphia's walls into modern history. The Mural Arts Program offers trolley tours of different neighborhoods of the city and the murals that beautify those neighborhoods.

Tours and Prices:
Trolley tour: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays at 10 am. Prices are as follows: Adults - $25, Seniors - $23, Children (under10) - $15. There is a daily walking tour at 11:30 priced at $17.

Description:

Kanella offers authentic Cypriot food prepared by chef Konstantinos Pitsillides. The menu is simple and elegant, featuring free-range, organic, and local ingredients.

Description:

"Best tiny romantic restaurant" - Philadelphia Magazine "at F.F.S. the focus is on intimate conversation & splendid food" - Philadelphia Weekly "still satisfying after all these years" - Craig Laban, Philadelphia Inquirer Wine lovers: Every bottle of wine just a notch over cost.

Description:

Roni Koresh's organization performs a handful of times a year in the city. The company's hallmarks are colorful athleticism and deep-seated passion. Israeli by birth, Koresh juxtaposes themes of the Holocaust and war with country dances and an interpretation titled "Day Old Coffee." Hmmm.

Description:

Old City on a Saturday night might be the last place you'd expect to see a quiet acoustic show by Amos Lee, Dar Williams, or a bluegrass trio, but I swear, it happens here all the time. The second-floor Tin Angel feels more like a big coffeehouse than a cafe, and once the night's performer takes the small stage, the room hushes. Seats are general admission, so come early if you want to score. Downstairs, Serrano restaurant does a nice job with international fare.

Description:

Like taking a vacation without getting on a flight, Shouk Lounge will show you a different world. The hip Queen Village spot serves sheeshas (flavored tobacco pipes), stylish Middle Eastern tapas and exotic drinks in an amazingly comfortable lounge setting.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you're not going to a show here, the site is at least worth a walk-by. Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar, whose mosaics can be found on walls throughout the city (particularly around South Street), made the exterior of this building as noteworthy as the events that go on within.

Description:

The outside of the building indicates that patrons are in for a unique experience – and (thankfully) the inside lives up to the expectation. This visual art and live performance gallery has long been a revered institution for those looking to avoid the mainstream, and hosts the city's longest continually running Jazz series. Free admission to the gallery is available Tuesday through Saturday. Live performances inside the center's 250 seat theatre take place at various times.