Where to Do in Philly: 12 Gorgeous Places to Enjoy Outdoor Dining in Philadelphia

 

Dining al fresco has always been a great part of the Philadelphia’s food scene—even the ladies of the New Century Guild had a roof deck for taking tea back when The Guild House Hotel, our historic Philadelphia hotel, was the club’s headquarters. But outdoor dining has never been more popular in Philly than it is right at this moment: It’s a rare restaurant in the summer of 2021 that doesn’t offer outdoor seating, be it on roofs or sidewalks, on balconies or patios or any other little stretch of open outdoor space an eatery might find.

Here, we’ve sifted through the many fab options for warm-weather outdoor dining in Philly to present you with a snapshot of some of our very favorites—a mix of beloved classics and secret gems, from garden oases to pretty patios to towering terraces, all scattered across the city, though many are within walking distance of our boutique hotel in the heart of Philadelphia, and all perfect for a lovely meal. Happy (outdoor) dining!

 

The spot: Irwin’s Upstairs

The food: Modern Sicilian, with beautiful pastas (e.g. gnocchi sardi with eggplant and chili; spaghetti alle vongole), unfussy mezze and entrees, memorable chef’s menus and a rare emphasis on natural wines.

The space: This stunning 8th-floor restaurant inside South Philly’s Bok Building features a twinkle-lit, plant filled terrace that offers breathtaking views of the cityscape. The vibe is cool: urban and sophisticated, but also casual and easy. You’ll want to reserve your spot: Reservations are available Wednesday through Sunday, 5 to 11 p.m. (Ps: We’re a bit biased here, but one of the reasons we’re so taken with this place is because the restaurant was designed by the great Rohe Creative—the same talented people who reimagined and designed our Guild House Hotel!) You should also really take the time to have a pre- or post-dinner drink at Bok Bar, located on the other side of the same building and also known for its truly spectacular views of the city.

The neighborhood: Irwin’s is in South Philly, at 800 Mifflin Street—a 10-minute ride by car from Guild House, our historic boutique hotel.

 

The spot: Branzino

The food: Classic, seasonal Italian, with beautiful burrata and octopus for starters and pasta primi course that you can easily make a meal of. (Try the squid ink tonarelli!) The seafood is a speciality, too, including, yes, a beautiful whole Branzino ala plancha.

The space: This elegant BYO boasts a private garden patio well worth the visit: Lush with greenery, utterly tucked away from the bustle of the city and one of the more romantic alfresco spots you’ll find. Reservations are recommended.

The neighborhood: Branzino is in Rittenhouse, at 261 S. 17th Street, a short (pretty!) nine-minute walk from Guild House historic hotel.

 

The spot: Front Street Cafe

The food: This casual favorite is known for well-executed offerings that range from fresh juices and smoothies to grain bowls to cast iron half chicken, and it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing, reliably good place to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Locals also love it for its outdoor brunch (the huevos rancheros are excellent) and for the coffee bar stocked with pastries.

The space: Out back of this charming rustic-meets-urban spot is an even more charming, mostly covered patio with comfortable seating and lots of space for moving around. Exposed brick and bulbs and lots of greenery make for a really lovely, organic city vibe.

The neighborhood: Front Street Cafe is in Fishtown, located at 1253 N. Front Street, which is a 16 minute ride from Guild House historic hotel.

 

The spot: Juno 

The food: The casual Mexican-American fare includes a nice mix of satisfying favorites, from coctel de camarones to enchiladas to chorizo con papas, and more … including beautiful cocktails and a fun margarita list.

The space: At this relatively new addition to Spring Garden Street and to outdoor dining in Philadelphia, all of the seating is open-air, located on the restaurant’s lively, brightly colored patio. Shade trees, twinkle lights and a hopping outdoor bar make for a fun, festive, welcoming vibe.

The neighborhood: Juno is located in Callowhill, at 1033 Spring Garden Street—about a 30-minute walk or 10-minute ride from Guild House historic hotel.

 

The spot: Suraya 

The food: Truth: You won’t find a better meal in Philly than you’ll get at this Lebanse cafe, market and restaurant. A regular on all the “best restaurant” lists, Suraya is one of those restaurants that doesn’t seem to have a single weak spot. And because so many of these dishes (kebabs, taboule, kawarma, and much more)  lend themselves to sharing, it’s a fun spot for a group.

The space: The entire restaurant is stunning, and that includes the garden courtyard, which is unlike any other dining space in the city, a private little oasis with murals, tilework, fountains, a fire pit (in winter), trees — a lovely, enveloping escape.

The neighborhood: Suraya is in Fishtown, located at 1528 Frankford Avenue — a 17-minute ride from Guild House historic hotel.

 

The spot: Little Nonna’s

The food: Old-school Italian favorites, beautifully done. Think Sunday gravy, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parm, gnocchi and more.

The space: Little Nonna’s twinkly patio is an intimate, romantic little space that fits the cozy charm of the restaurant (and its food) perfectly.

The neighborhood: Little Nonna’s is in the lovely, lively neighborhood Wash West, in the midst of the Gayborhood at 1234 Locust Street .. which just so happens to be down the street from Guild House historic hotel. We’re neighbors!

 

The spot: Talula’s Garden

The food: The cheese plates at this gorgeous Wash West restaurant are to die for, and an absolute must. It’s hard to go wrong beyond that, too, actually: The seasonal, American fare ranges from luscious scallops with lemon risotto to fried chicken with maple butter cornbread and thyme gravy to artichokes and grain salad .. and it’s all excellent.

The space: One of the prettiest outdoor dining spaces in Philadelphia, Talula’s Garden is, in fact, very garden-like, brimming with greenery and tucked away just slightly off the busy sidewalk, so it feels truly private and removed from the rest of Philly.

The neighborhood: Talula’s is located in Washington West, at 210 W. Washington Square, bordering the western edge of one of the most beautiful, serene parks in Philadelphia. It’s also just a few blocks from Guild House historic hotel—a 10-minute walk.

 

 

The spot: Cantina Feliz

The food: Contemporary Mexican, to the tune of bacon and fig guacamole, baja fish tacos, blackened mahi bowls, carne asada, nachos with chicken tinga, and more.

The space: Walk through the sleek, slender restaurant, and you’ll find a hidden courtyard adjacent to the dining room. It’s a quiet little patio with the requisite twinkle lights, a few trees and high wooden fences that create an adorable little retreat.

The neighborhood: Cantina Feliz (formerly La Calaca Feliz) is located in Fairmount, at 2321 Fairmount Avenue, a scenic 40-minute walk or a 13-minute ride from Guild House historic hotel.

 

 

The spot: Morgan’s Pier

The food: Elevated, crave-worthy bar food like chicken wings, spicy pork rinds, pork banh mi, fried chicken sandwiches, steamed mussels and more. Great beer list, too.

The space: Perched right on the banks of the mighty Delaware River (and sitting cheek-to-jowl with the Ben Franklin Bridge), Morgan’s Pier has the great maritime views and a chill, laid-back vibe to go with ’em.

The neighborhood:  Morgan’s Pier is in Old City, at 221 N.Christopher Columbus Blvd, a 36-minute walk from Guild House historic hotel, or a quick 7-minute drive.

 

 

The spot: Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge

The food: It’s easier to talk about what Silk City doesn’t serve. Here, you’ll find a super-wide range of dishes: disco fries, cheesesteak eggrolls, grain bowls, burgers, shrimp fried rice … and much, much more. (Bonus: Brunch outdoors is awesome.)

The space: Outside the vivacious retro diner is an expansive back courtyard, cheerfully decked out with colorful tables, chairs, umbrellas, covered bar. It’s big and bold and fun and laid-back: a great spot for an outdoor hang.

The neighborhood: Silk City is in the Callowhill neighborhood, at 435 Spring Garden St., a 35-minute walk from Guild House historic hotel, or a 10-minute ride.

 

The spot: Independence Beer Garden

The food: A simple but satisfying roster of bar food-faves: pretzel bites, cheese curds, al pastor tacos, spicy fried chicken, onion rings, and so forth.

The space: Steps away from the Liberty Bell, Independence Beer Garden is less a garden than a patio with a collection of picnic tables situated around a bar, all under a leafy, greenery-covered pergola. It’s comfortable, casual and seats a lot of people—a great place for a big gathering or party, or just a leisurely bite in the heart of historic Philadelphia.

The neighborhood: Independence Beer Garden is in Old City, at 100 South Independence Mall West—a short 18-minute walk from Guild House historic hotel.