Philadelphia, PA

Rob McGowan: Bright space with a laid-back vibe & friendly staff. Walk up to the counter, order, and pay in advance. Chicken & Waffles can be hit-or-miss at a lot of places, but this is not one of those places!

Rob McGowan: Check it out for Happy Hour. $5 for fantastic mac-n-cheese in an onion soup crock.

Rob McGowan: Quizzo, 9pm on Mondays. Weekend brunch, great beer selection.

Rob McGowan: Not just cheesesteaks...one of the best hoagies in the city! Go for the Special Italian with Prosciutto (Salami, Capicola, Imported Ham & Provolone Cheese, LTO)

Rob McGowan: The Franky's Fries are the best cheese fries in the city. Great happy hour, funky decor, friendly staff. Burlesque shows upstairs.

Rob McGowan: Great happy hour and oysters on the half shell out of an open kitchen. Music venue upstairs.

Rob McGowan: Known for their Salted Caramel Budino dessert (with dark chocolate crust, vanilla bean caramel & sea salt) and featuring an "After Hours Happy Hour" starting at 10:30 pm with drink/food specials.

Rob McGowan: best soup dumplings in town.

Rob McGowan: East Passyunk, funky Chinese fusion small plates.

Rob McGowan: Try the cheese curds and Nashville Hot Sliders during happy hour. Retro/60s vibe.

Rob McGowan: Intimate BYOB with seasonal chef's tasting menus in South Philly

Rob McGowan: A great vegan restaurant in its own right, this one stands out as one of Philly's best restaurants, period.

Rob McGowan: Celebrating its tenth year as one of Philly's most popular (and perfectly placed), Stephen Starr's Rittenhouse Square French bistro is the place to be for brunch on the weekend.

Rob McGowan: Eclectic American menu with over the top doggy decor in University City

Rob McGowan: Comfortable spot in Rittenhouse Sqaure, craft beer & burgers

Rob McGowan: Happy hour deals include dumplings, bao buns, and a Kim Chee Fried Rice "side" that most people could consider dinner for $5

Rob McGowan: Loud outdoor patio behind Sampan that's often a mob scene but great to stop for a beer on a bar crawl. Small plates from Sampan during happy hour are reason enough to stop by.

Rob McGowan: Packed, all the time, and for good reason. Consistent service in a flashy setting. Table side guac, the Mexican Chopped Salad and Mahi Mahi Tacos are standouts.

Rob McGowan: Greatly missed by the Philly brunch community after fire damage a few years ago, but now back and better than ever. Pass the time during long waits on the weekend with a beer from their takeout area.

Rob McGowan: A go-to brunch spot featuring wonderful French fare without any of the fussiness.

Rob McGowan: Cheap margaritas during happy hour, 12 rotating taps, friendly staff and tasty burritos. The Cucumber Margaritas are usually on special and are very refreshing on hot summer nights.

Rob McGowan: At the base of the FMC Tower you'll find this stunningly beautiful cafe with a pastry counter and fine dining area. Amazing brunch and Rival Bros. coffee.

Rob McGowan: Homemade French pastries, sandwiches, crepes & coffee in Midtown Village.

Rob McGowan: Their Rittenhouse Square is loaded with meat & seafood, a coffee bar, an upstairs café and gourmet grocery. Grab a sandwich and find a shady spot in Rittenhouse Square.

Rob McGowan: Dead center at Reading Terminal Market, long lines at lunch for their famous pork sandwich.

Rob McGowan: Fun piano bar with a downstairs restaurant and upstairs dance floor in the Gayborhood.

Rob McGowan: Highlights of thiis Old City spot: a great rum bar and late night salsa dancing.

Rob McGowan: An essential stop on your Philly rooftop bar tour. Views from 51 floors up, serving German snacks and cold beers.

Rob McGowan: Decent beer selection in this dive bar covered with local art. Bring cash.

Rob McGowan: Beautiful converted factory space with a 2-lane bowling alley in the basement lounge. Weekend brunch buffet items cover the expansive bar.

Rob McGowan: Underground bar considered by many to be Philly's premiere spot for craft cocktails.

Rob McGowan: Speakeasy-style bar with an often long wait. Tip: have dinner at El Rey and ask to be added to the waiting list. Once you finish dinner the staff will sneak you in.

Rob McGowan: Classic arcade games and a great beer selection.

Rob McGowan: German-style beer garden with communal seating, great pretzels and Jenga on the tables.

Rob McGowan: This location is the Philly-based coffee roasters' original.

Rob McGowan: Brewpub setting with craft ales, mussels, and fantastic fries.

Rob McGowan: British pub setting with craft beers and a U.K.-inspired menu in Rittenhouse Sqaure.

Rob McGowan: Quaint spot with many vegan options. Southern comfort food done right.

Rob McGowan: A pin-up girl themed spot with American craft beers, craft cocktails, and comfort food.

Rob McGowan: Home of the $5 burger.

Rob McGowan: The home of Bluecoat gin, this distillery offers a bar & lounge, tasting room, and a behind the scenes tour.

Rob McGowan: Bright & vibrant decor in a large open space plus a lively crowd. Guaranteed good time.

Rob McGowan: $3 PBR + shot of Jim Beam...a great place to start the evening or end it.

Rob McGowan: Top notch service and a beautiful bar serving elevated cocktails in Rittenhouse Square.

Rob McGowan: Inventine small plates and the best breakfast sandwich...ever?

Rob McGowan: In the back of Opa (in the warmer months) you'll find Drury Beer Garden, with picnic tables, a good bottled beer selection, a limited snack/sandwich menu, and of course, Jenga!

Rob McGowan: Vegan Mexican in Rittenhouse Square with some outdoor seating and a nice little bar.

Rob McGowan: The "fancy" donuts of the day never disappoint and the chicken (while the daily batch is available) is delicious.

Rob McGowan: Bistro with a French flair & 70's vibe at The Inn at Penn in University City. Super happy hour and fancy cocktails from the folks who bring you White Dog Café.

Rob McGowan: One of America's oldest public markets, this Philly must-see has it all. Local produce, seafood, baked goods, fresh flowers, kitchenware, AND plenty of places to eat...all under one roof!

Rob McGowan: Attention bargain-hunters! Top designer names at steep discounts at this 1.7-million-square-foot space is just 15 miles from Center City (formerly known as Franklin Mills).

Rob McGowan: Popping the question while in #PHL? The country's oldest diamond district has dozens of bling vendors on the blocks around 7th and Sansom streets.

Rob McGowan: Rittenhouse Square park is surrounded by retailers and makes up one of the best places in Philly to wander around outdoors while stopping to pop in one store after the next.

Rob McGowan: Here you'll find an eclectic mix of people, stores, and dining including vintage clothing and furniture and one of the city's best cheesesteaks at Jim's Steaks (4th & South Sts.)

Rob McGowan: The Shops at Liberty Place feature more than 55 shops right near Rittenhouse Square. Upstairs you'll find a food court with national chains and quick bites.

Rob McGowan: 35 miles outside the city (if you want to do a day trip), Philadelphia Premium Outlets has more than 150 designer outlets in an outdoor, partially covered space. Bring an umbrella in case!

Rob McGowan: Well known to New Yorkers, Century 21 has branched out to Philly! Deal seekers can easily fill an afternoon here, this place is massive.

Rob McGowan: Located in the beautiful/historic Wanamaker building, Macy’s has 100+ years of retail history. Their well known holiday light show runs multiple times daily, Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve.

Rob McGowan: For the daytrippers seeking a change of scenery: New Hope is a quaint community with local arts and crafts, boutique shops and antique dealers. About an hour's drive from Center City Philadelphia.

Rob McGowan: Bring your walking shoes! One of the largest shopping malls in the entire country with 400+ stores/restaurants. If you can't find it here you're not going to find it anywhere!

Rob McGowan: Jump in line, strike that iconic pose, get that photo, run up the Art Museum Steps, and then take a nap! Those steps are no joke.

Rob McGowan: Visit Independence National Historic Park and learn how the bell changed history!

Rob McGowan: Timed tickets are available at the Visitors' Center. The tour itself is short but jam-packed with historical info.

Rob McGowan: THE spot for Philly people watching. Gardens, a fountain, street musicians, artists painting watercolors, beautiful trees and plenty of benches to sit and sip your La Colombe coffee.

Rob McGowan: Long lines at times. Robert Indiana's Love sculpture (one of two in the city, the second is on U. Penn's campus) has just been restored and is back where it belongs!

Rob McGowan: The Oval+ is a seasonal summer pop-up featuring a beer garden, art installations, food trucks, and community programming! A lot of their activities are weather permitting, so check before you go.

Rob McGowan: A unique outdoor park with hammocks hanging from trees, and food & drink vendors. A sight to see at night especially.

Rob McGowan: Gorgeous for walking, running, biking, laying in the sun, outdoor yoga, you name it! Just go.

Rob McGowan: Philly is lucky to have one of the world’s best collections of French Impressionism. The largest collection of Renoir in the world...set aside a few hours at least to take it all in.

Rob McGowan: Science museum with interactive displays and special exhibits. Walk through the giant heart then seen a movie in the IMAX theater.

Rob McGowan: Pasta, cheese, cheap fruits & veggies, clean and convenient. Snack on samples along the way.

Rob McGowan: Creepy and at the same time, informative. Self-guided (audio) tours are highly recommended.

Rob McGowan: Photo opportunities for days in this quirky/beautiful masterpiece of mosaics.

Rob McGowan: America's oldest residential street, featuring homes dating back to the 1720's (!!!).

Rob McGowan: An impressive variety of cupcakes and cookies. Try the Raspberry Crumb Bar, the edible cookie dough, and the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Cookie! Oh, and the Lemon Bars!

Rob McGowan: Pronounced "Ah-lee-cheh." Their pies are sold al taglio (by the cut). The crust is light and crispy. The Fungi e Quattro Formaggi (Mushrooms and four cheeses) is next level good.