Back in Philly: A Rittenhouse Square Travel Guide
Welcome to my THIRD trip to Philly. What I grew to appreciate about Philly this time around were its parks. In Richmond, as the sun sets every night, people make haste to leave. Our parks have a bad reputation of being unsafe or unwelcoming after dark. With the reopening of Monroe Park here, I hope that’s changing.
What was different in Philly was that the parks seemed to actually fill up as the sun went down. They are true neighborhood gathering places. Families with children come out to expel the last energy of the day. Teens come to hold hands with their crushes. Friends come to catch up over a sandwich or bottle of wine. There’s a real heart beat to this city. I believe there’s some kind of magic pulsing through the city’s parks that keeps it going.
That’s the case with Rittenhouse Square, where I spent most of my time this visit. The neighborhood’s heart is at the intersection of South 18th Street and Walnut Street at one of the original squares created by William Penn in the 1700s. Encircling this one-block park are high- and low-end dining, shopping, wellness and art havens you’ll be glad you walked into. I discovered as many as I could.
Here’s my guide to Rittenhouse Square:
Where to Stay
When I went to New Orleans, my friend and I stayed at the Royal Sonesta. It was luxurious, but totally affordable. The pool was also a major plus. When I was planning to head back to Philly, I was so excited to discover there was a Sonesta in the heart of the city. It is conveniently located in walking distance to just about anything you’d like to see and a quick Lyft drive to anything beyond the city limits. My room was spacious enough to set up at the desk to work for a day. The hotel staff was helpful. The bar downstairs was fun and full of life at night–hello wedding season!
Where to Eat
Harp & Crown: I knew I wanted to head back to Harp & Crown this visit. I only stepped in during the day last time. I made reservations for dinner before I ever got into town during my latest visit. This charming restaurant has two floors. Upstairs, you’ll enjoy a seated dinner from a chef’s tasting menu. The upstairs bar serves up drinks as the nights get later. Downstairs, you’ll get more of a cocktail bar vibe with crushed velvet chairs. If you’re into some friendly competition, sign your crew up for a bowling match on the two wooden lanes down here. I’m already eight sentences in and I haven’t gotten tot all about the food. My advice? Only come with friends who are open to sharing and trying new things. Then, taste as much as you can fit in your belly.
Parc: This French restaurant overlooks Rittenhouse Square. My cousin and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the sidewalk with cocktails, steak tar tar, fresh bread, and more. This was the perfect recommendation for a girls day out on the town. We felt pampered, but still felt like we were in the middle of the city. 
The Love: Here’s a another spot to enjoy a meal al fresco. We settled in on the sidewalk for Saturday brunch right after we checked out of the Sonesta. Yelp actually led me here, but The Love is well known as one of the Starr restaurants. We enjoyed cantaloupe burrata, Italian truffle scented scrambled eggs, and a vegetable frittata. We washed it back with coffee and Bloody Marys.
La Colombe: This little coffee shop is one of many in the Philadelphia area. They have a loyal following. It’s for good reason. this is where coffee people go to drink damn good coffee. The environment was open, inviting, and perfect for coworking. I had a whole bar of La Colombe’s chocolate with my Guatemala drip coffee. I don’t regret it all. I only wish I took home a few more bars of chocolate.
Walnut Cafe at Level 28: If you’re into design and decor, make sure to head over the river and grab a bite at Walnut Cafe. Afterwards, head to the top of the building to check out Level 28, a wellness and lifestyle club house with a view of Philly you can’t beat. I can’t share all of my photos in this post, but you can see more on my Instastory Highlight titled “Philly.”
Where to Shop
Elle Lauri: This is the only shop I’m mentioning in this post because I loved it that much. I stepped in after walking by a few times. I loved everything in the store. You can see me wearing a white dress I brought home in the photo above at Level 28. I chatted with the girls in the store and learned that the owner actually designs many of the items, though they carry a variety of brands. This is rare, but I didn’t see anything in the store I wouldn’t wear myself. All of the items were classic, high quality, not too expensive, and still had a whole lot of fun character to them. I’m looking forward to following them online and visiting again.
Where to Drink
Tria: My cousin led me here. She was craving the Truffle Egg Toast she had tasted once before. I couldn’t indulge in that, but I did discover a delightful Vinho Verde I loved. I heard a few more endorsements of this wine bar throughout the weekend. Come here for a quick drink and gourmet bite or snag a seat by the window and knock back a whole bottle with your friend while you watch the streets flow with beautiful people of Philly. Ask the staff to try anything. They’ll lead you to the right wine.
Time: I have to thank my friend Mictchel for suggesting this one. I really enjoyed the live jazz, dim lighting, and thoughtful cocktail menu. Handcrafted whisky cocktails are a specialty here, but there was just about any type of liquor on the menu you could want. We kept our phones away the whole time and just talked.
Ladder 15: During my first visit to Philly, my cousins and I tried to go to Ladder 15. The line was too long, so we went to Pulse, instead. That turned out to be a good decision that weekend. However, this time around I made it in to Ladder 15 with a fun group. If you’re looking to mingle and meet new people, this is the spot. Make sure you head upstairs for more dancing and room to breathe.
The Randstead Room: This prohibition style bar is hidden away in an alley, fortunately right around the corner from the Sonesta. This was the final stop after our long dinner at Harp & Crown. Head here for a sexy place to chat in the dark while you sip on a high quality cocktail.
Pulse: I can’t write this travel guide without suggesting you go to Pulse for late night dancing. It is always the highlight of my nighttime adventures.
