Places to Visit in Philadelphia on a Date

1. Lacroix

Lacroix is an award-winning French-influenced restaurant located in the luxurious Rittenhouse Hotel in central Philadelphia, which opened in 1989. The restaurant is a consistent winner of food industry awards nationwide and has topped local best-of lists and travel rankings every year since its opening. Lacroix's second-floor setting offers sweeping views of Rittenhouse Square, which compliment its signature innovative cuisine. Private dining options are available for guests looking to dine in a more intimate setting, including a Chef's Table experience that is available for up to six guests. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and high tea menus change frequently, with an acclaimed wine list available to complement all meals.

Lacroix, 210 W Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Phone: 215-790-2533

2. Stogie Joe's Tavern

Stogie Joe's Tavern is a laid-back neighborhood pub serving home-cooked comfort and bar food in south Philadelphia. The restaurant was opened by the Leuzzi family in 2008. Since its opening, it has been named to several local best-of lists, taking the top spot on Thrillist's list of best pizzas in Philadelphia for their signature pizza topped with fresh-baked dough and homemade sauce. Other menu options include pastas, burgers, sandwiches, and bar appetizers, along with an extensive drink menu featuring cocktails, wine, and draft beer. In addition to food service, Stogie Joe's hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including trivia nights, live music performances, and community block parties. Visitors should note that Stogie Joe's is a cash-only establishment, though an ATM is available on site.

Stogie Joe's Tavern, 1801 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148, Phone: 215-463-3030

3. MilkBoy

MilkBoy is a bar, restaurant, and live music venue that is an extension of the famed MilkBoy recording studio. The iconic Philadelphia studio, opened in 1994, has served as the recording site for major albums by internationally-renowned artists such as Erykah Badu, Miley Cyrus, and The Roots. Its downtown restaurant opened in 2011, offering a full menu of locally-sourced food that includes vegan options. Milkboy is open daily, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has a unique early morning happy hour on weekdays with a full menu and drink specials, making it a hotspot for overnight medical workers in the region. Two bars are also offered onsite, along with a ticketed music performance venue that brings in local and national touring rock, pop, and R&B acts.

MilkBoy, 1100 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Phone: 215-925-6455

4. Trestle Inn

The Trestle Inn has been serving the Spring Garden neighborhood for more than a century, and despite changes to the ownership and the neighborhood, the bar has remained one of Philadelphia's most popular nightlife spots. After a fire closed the business briefly in 2010, the Trestle Inn reopened in its current incarnation in 2011, which has been named among the best bars in the city. The bar is known for its retro theming invoking the heyday of 1960s and 1970s nightlife, including classic cocktails and spirits served at its bar, disco and Motown hits spun by DJs, and go-go dancer performances on weekends. A full menu of old-fashioned bar food is also available. Special event nights hosted at the bar include guest DJs and tributes to iconic midcentury musical artists.

Trestle Inn, 339 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Phone: 267-239-0290

5. Matt and Marie's

Matt and Marie's is an Italian sandwich shop and breakfast spot opened in Logan Circle in 2014 by husband and wife team Matt Sapolsky and Marie Capp. The chain was expanded in 2016 to include two other Philadelphia locations, including a Rittenhouse Square location and a downtown location at Arch and 18th Streets. It specializes in high-quality ingredients, with all sandwiches crafted with imported cheeses, aged fine meats such as coppa and finocchiona, and housemade spreads and toppings. Signature salads, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and fresh-brewed coffee are also available for dine-in, take-out, or catering, with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices available.

Matt and Marie's, 100 N 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Phone: 267-273-1940

6. Suraya

Suraya is a Lebanese cafe restaurant with a market and outdoor garden space, opened in 2018 in the city's busy Fishtown neighborhood. The restaurant was named as the Best New Restaurant of 2018 by Philadelphia Magazine and offers all-day service, including weekday lunch, weekend brunch, and everyday dinner service. Menu options include traditional Lebanese fare, such as a selection of hummus types, man'oushe flatbreads, and expertly-prepared meats. Coffee, pastries, grab-and-go-selections are sold at the restaurant's market for to-go service, along with a variety of kitchen necessities and dinnerware. Outdoor dining and drinks are available in the restaurant's garden area, which features a fire pit.

Suraya, 1528 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125, Phone: 215-302-1900

7. Spice Finch

Spice Finch is a bright and airy upscale new-Mediterranean restaurant in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse neighborhood. The art deco inspired esthetics in the large dining room with wooden tables and leather-backed chairs create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere with lots of wood and wicker accents and startling black and white wallpaper on the wall. The main dining room can accommodate 158 and the outdoor terrace 12 more. At the heart of the main dining room is a massive marble-topped bar with 23 seats around it. Co-executive Chefs Jennifer Carroll and Billy Riddle bring their own creative version of Mediterranean fare inspired by spices and herbs from the many countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The large menu includes such delightful small plates as shishito peppers with tahini, harissa, berbere carrots, cashew nuts, and citrus vinaigrette.

Spice Finch, 220 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Phone: 215-309-2238?,

8. Aqimero

Aqimero is the premiere restaurant of the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, originally opened in June of 2016 within the hotel's lobby. The restaurant, which is helmed by executive chef Richard Sandoval, specializes in Latin-inspired entrees prepared with wood-grilled flavors, with an emphasis on seafood favorites and shareable plates. Diners can enjoy high-quality wood-fired land and sea entrees such as picanha, ahi tuna, prawns, and 45-day-aged New York strip steak or select from a variety of service for two options, including Tomahawk ribeyes and churrasco boards. Shareables range from small plates such as tuna tartare, ceviche, and wild mushroom flatbreads to table-service short ribs, poulet rouge, and black sea bass. An extensive mezcal list complements wine and sake pairing selections.

Aqimero, 10 Ave Of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102, Phone: 215-523-8200

9. Urban Village Brewing

Urban Village Brewing is a delightful Philadelphia brewpub located in the city's hip Northern Liberties neighborhood, owned and operated by head brewer Dave Goldman and business partner Tom Revelli since 2017.

Frequent favorites include the company's Audition Pilsner, CPA Pale Ale, Huntingdon Drive and Super Hero Hustle IPAs, and What Gose Around Sour Beer.

Urban Village Brewing, 1001 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123, Phone: 267-687-1961