Avenue of the Arts
Philadelphia’s premier cultural thoroughfare spanning from City Hall to the heart of South Philadelphia. The home of our major cultural and entertainment venues including the Kimmel Center, the Academy of Music, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts as well as an array of fine restaurants and dynamic new residential developments including Symphony House and The Artisan Townhouses.This is one of Philadelphia’s newest neighborhoods right in the center of Center City,
bella vista
Live the old neighborhood life in Bella Vista, which is just west of Queen Village and just south of Wash West, in walking distance to Center City’s business district as well as shopping and many local restaurants. Its heartbeat is the Italian Market along 9th Street, between Catharine Street and Washington Avenue. The market is a true European open air market, where you can find fresh mozzarella, fresh fish, rare cuts of meat, homemade pasta, produce, exotic spices, flowers, bread right out of the oven and, of course, several of the best Italian restaurants. You can also enjoy the new Asian supermarkets and restaurants along Washington Avenue. The architecture ranges from classic brick row homes to warehouses converted to ultra modern lofts. Many families with young children are flocking to Bella Vista due to the popularity of the neighborhoods public grammar school, Meredith.
chinatown
Philadelphia’s Chinatown is the fourth largest in the US. Chinatown is currently expanding north of the Vine Street Expressway with new housing developments and condo conversion. Shop at the dozens of gift shops and Asian markets. Discover exquisite treasures in Chinatown’s specialty shops. And enjoy easy access to the many events at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Dine and shop at a variety of Asian restaurants, bakeries and food stores, or stroll over to the Reading Terminal Market where you can eat or shop for take-home gourmet.
fishtown
Located to the Northeast of Center City, generally considered to be the triangle between the Delaware River, Frankford Ave & York St. A vibrant and eclectic area attracting artists and young professionals. There’s new development in housing and businesses as well as new restaurants opening. You’ll find homes with original details as well as new modern construction–some still at affordable price points. The area is served by the Market-Frankford El making it convenient for travel throughout the city. The name “Fishtown” refers to the area’s history as the center of shad fishing on the Delaware.
Newbold
Washington Ave to Passyunk, Broad to 18th St. An exciting rapidly growing area in close proximity to the Broad Street line. You’ll find new construction as well as shells ready for development. An area where you can still find homes at lower price points.
Logan Square
Life is quite enjoyable off the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Spring Garden and Logan Square, with easy access to some of the finest museums and cultural institutions in the world. Enjoy the close proximity to the Museum of Art, the Barnes, the Rodin and the main branch of the Philadelphia Library. This neighborhood is great for children, with easy access to the Please Touch Museum, the Franklin Institute and the Academy of Natural Sciences. Enjoy easy access to the scenic Kelly Drive for recreational activities such as jogging, biking or skating. An easy walk to Center City’s business district.
Northern liberties
Located just North of Old City this former industrial and row house district has been cultivated by musicians and artists. Once the land of breweries, now an eclectic version of Philly’s SoHo. The buildings lend themselves to development as great artist live/work space, music and art studios and nightclubs. The neighborhood enjoys good brews, food and jazz, as well as diner fare and clever theme evenings at local establishments. Also find numerous hip galleries and boutiques.
Old City
Commercial buildings from the turn of the century have become exciting, light filled loft apartments or condos with panoramic views of the Delaware River and Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Enjoy walking through this diversified neighborhood of commerce and industry and its many historic structures, which include Penn’s Landing, Old Christ Church, Betsy Ross House and Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest residential street in the country.
Shop at the highest concentration of galleries in the region along Second Street. Celebrate First Friday (first Friday of every month), the night the galleries boast a grand open house.
Olde City is known for chic new restaurants, booming nightlife, coffee shops and cultural boutiques. Easy access to local highways at the East End of Center City and just north of Society Hill make this a convenient location.
Queen Village
Settled by Swedes in the 1600s and named for the Queen of Sweden, this area situated just to the south of Society Hill, is an eclectic and vibrant neighborhood with a strong Neighborhood Association. Architecturally you will find Colonial, contemporary and most periods in between. Queen Village’s heartbeat is Philadelphia’s famous South Street, which many compare to New York’s Greenwich Village.
Catch a quick bite or a live band in this long-standing Center City nightlife district, which is enjoying more stores, better restaurants and hipper musical and performing arts venues than ever before. Or shop at the antique stores and second-hand stores on Sixth Street or on ‘Fabric Row’ on South Fourth Street.
Passyunk Square
Washington Ave to Tasker, 6th to Broad Sts. A bustling neighborhood with lots of renovation that’s managed to keep its original character yet bringing it up to 21st century living. Passyunk Square is known for shopping and restaurants along East Passyunk Ave, including Geno’s and Pat’s Steaks, as well as many fine dining establishments. Residents are active in the neighborhood association and enjoy patronizing the Farmer’s Market and the many local businesses.
Rittenhouse square
The most stylish of Center City neighborhoods is in the heart of Philadelphia with its Manhattan-esque stately Victorian brownstone apartment buildings and blocks of gracious 19th century townhouses. Rittenhouse Square (the park is located between 18th & 19th and Walnut & Locust), designed by William Penn in 1682, is one of the most treasured of the five city parks. Surrounding the park are mainly high-rise apartment buildings with some of the most prestigious in the city. They range in style from 1920′s opulence to the most contemporary. The neighborhood abuts Center City’s office and business district and has the finest in shopping.
Dine at internationally renowned restaurants and then stroll to the Avenue of the Arts for a performance by the Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet, or plays at the Merriam and Wilma theaters.
Society Hill
One of the premier historic neighborhoods in the country, where beautifully renovated Colonial homes on charming cobblestone streets exist in harmony with luxury modern high-rise buildings. Society Hill boundary’s are between Lombard and Walnut, Front and 8th Streets.
Shop at unique stores, at specialty shops along South Street, Headhouse Row, and Center City or crafts fairs under the historic market shed at the old Headhouse. This Colonial area offers some of the city’s finest restaurants, theaters and museums with the Ritz Movie Theaters at your fingertips. You can jog, ice skate, or ride bikes, or attend wonderful musical and entertainment events, including fireworks at New Year’s and the Fourth of July at Penn’s Landing.
Spring Garden
Life is quite enjoyable off the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Spring Garden and Logan Square, with easy access to some of the finest museums and cultural institutions in the world. This neighborhood is great for children, with easy access to the Please Touch Museum, the Franklin Institute, and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Washington Square West
As the name implies, this area is west of Washington Square Park, and neighbored on the east by Society Hill. Its location is extremely central, within walking distance of Center City’s business district. ‘Wash West’ is a neighborhood where coffee houses host poetry readings, and you have shops, cafes and nightspots at your fingertips. Live on cozy cobblestone streets like Camac and Hutchinson or in condos in the grand houses of Strickland Row on Spruce Street.
Shop at the eclectic stores on Pine Street’s Antique Row. Be dazzled by the choices along Jeweler’s Row in the vicinity of 8th and Sansom. Dine at fine local restaurants, then catch a show at the Forrest Theater or historic Walnut Street Theater.