Em’s guidebook

Em
Em’s guidebook

Best of West Philly/Baltimore Ave

Hungry? Thirsty? Cool, I got you. This part of West Philly is chock full of great local food and drinks. Within just a few blocks, you’ll find a wide array of cafes, bars & breweries, and restaurants. Many of my Philly favorites are right here on Baltimore Ave! I’ve starred (**) places that are at the top of my list.
Local hipster/punk vibe, outdoor seating, strong wifi, lite fare. Good veggie & vegan options. Underneath Firehouse Bicycles and next to Dock Street Brewing Co.
58 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Satellite Cafe
4901-4999 Willows Ave
58 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Local hipster/punk vibe, outdoor seating, strong wifi, lite fare. Good veggie & vegan options. Underneath Firehouse Bicycles and next to Dock Street Brewing Co.
** Relaxed local atmosphere, outdoor seating, great brunch/lunch, strong wifi, excellent people watching. Good veggie & vegan options.
79 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
The Gold Standard Cafe
4800 Baltimore Ave
79 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
** Relaxed local atmosphere, outdoor seating, great brunch/lunch, strong wifi, excellent people watching. Good veggie & vegan options.
Most consistently delicious coffee in West Philly (in my opinion). Great sandwiches. Quiet, studious atosphere. Some outdoor seating. Inconsistent wifi.
60 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Milk & Honey Market
4435 Baltimore Ave
60 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Most consistently delicious coffee in West Philly (in my opinion). Great sandwiches. Quiet, studious atosphere. Some outdoor seating. Inconsistent wifi.
Good coffee, lite fare, NO wifi, some lovely outdoor seating facing Clark Park.
94 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Green Line Cafe
4239 Baltimore Ave
94 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Good coffee, lite fare, NO wifi, some lovely outdoor seating facing Clark Park.
** Upscale American classics (Mac & Cheese stuffed meatloaf?? WHOA.), great cocktails, lovely brunch.
91 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Cedar Park Cafe
4914 Baltimore Ave
91 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
** Upscale American classics (Mac & Cheese stuffed meatloaf?? WHOA.), great cocktails, lovely brunch.
is a kinda funky, kinda mainstream bar on the side of Dock Street. Its vibe totally changes depending on who is there. Serves beer brewed onsite and a few cocktails.
8 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Dock Street Cannery + Lounge
705 S 50th St
8 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
is a kinda funky, kinda mainstream bar on the side of Dock Street. Its vibe totally changes depending on who is there. Serves beer brewed onsite and a few cocktails.
Long live the dive bar! Super low-key dive bar with pool tables in back, pretty good deals on drinks. Hot tip: avoid using the restrooms if you can.
26 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
The Bar(n)
4901 Catharine St
26 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Long live the dive bar! Super low-key dive bar with pool tables in back, pretty good deals on drinks. Hot tip: avoid using the restrooms if you can.
** Consistently rated among the top 5 best Ethiopian restaurants in Philly. Totally delicious Ethiopian food. Local bar & patio in back. Karaoke on Tuesdays, live music often featured on the weekend.
74 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Dahlak
4708 Baltimore Ave
74 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
** Consistently rated among the top 5 best Ethiopian restaurants in Philly. Totally delicious Ethiopian food. Local bar & patio in back. Karaoke on Tuesdays, live music often featured on the weekend.
Quirky Ethiopian bar & restaurant with a split-level back patio.
39 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Gojjo
4540 Baltimore Ave
39 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Quirky Ethiopian bar & restaurant with a split-level back patio.
Converted firehouse. Wide variety of pizzas and other pub fare (the fish & chips goes quickly!). Local beer selection, brewed onsite.
156 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Dock Street Brewing Co
701 S 50th St
156 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Converted firehouse. Wide variety of pizzas and other pub fare (the fish & chips goes quickly!). Local beer selection, brewed onsite.
Classic, affordable & satisfying diner fare. Consistently good breakfast and brunch served.
91 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Cedar Park Cafe
4914 Baltimore Ave
91 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Classic, affordable & satisfying diner fare. Consistently good breakfast and brunch served.
Great light vegetarian & vegan fare.
29 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Hibiscus Cafe
4907 Catharine St
29 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Great light vegetarian & vegan fare.
Super quirky ice cream shop. Features unique flavors like “Grapenut cinnamon” in addition to more traditional flavors.
46 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Little Baby's Ice Cream - Cedar Park Embassy
4903 Catharine St
46 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Super quirky ice cream shop. Features unique flavors like “Grapenut cinnamon” in addition to more traditional flavors.
Low key pizza, calzones, wings, late night snacking etc.
Penn Cafe & Pizzeria
4909 Catharine St
Low key pizza, calzones, wings, late night snacking etc.
Absolutely delicious Thai & Laotian food. It's like comfort food. BYO. Cash only.
79 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Vientiane Café
4728 Baltimore Ave
79 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Absolutely delicious Thai & Laotian food. It's like comfort food. BYO. Cash only.
** Great hoagies and Philly Cheesesteaks, delicious fries. A bit of a wait, but worth it. Cash only, ATM onsite.
21 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Lee's Deli
4700 Baltimore Ave
21 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
** Great hoagies and Philly Cheesesteaks, delicious fries. A bit of a wait, but worth it. Cash only, ATM onsite.
Mexican food, hipster vibe. Cash only. Solid margaritas & bar options. (I have feelings about this place because the owners tend to treat their staff poorly, but the tacos are pretty dang delicious)
167 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Loco Pez
2401 E Norris St
167 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Mexican food, hipster vibe. Cash only. Solid margaritas & bar options. (I have feelings about this place because the owners tend to treat their staff poorly, but the tacos are pretty dang delicious)
** Absolutely spectacular, upscale Mediterranean food. Incredible dinner options, surprisingly great brunch. BYO.
57 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Aksum
4630 Baltimore Ave
57 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
** Absolutely spectacular, upscale Mediterranean food. Incredible dinner options, surprisingly great brunch. BYO.
Best Chinese food in Cedar Park. Super friendly staff.
Chili Garden
4626 Baltimore Ave
Best Chinese food in Cedar Park. Super friendly staff.
Doesn't only have unique grocery options, but also has the *best* Banh Mi sandwiches in Philly, bar none. If you eat meat, the chargrilled pork banh mi is… divine. The tofu banh mi is also spectacular.
66 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Fu-Wah Mini Market
810 S 47th St
66 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Doesn't only have unique grocery options, but also has the *best* Banh Mi sandwiches in Philly, bar none. If you eat meat, the chargrilled pork banh mi is… divine. The tofu banh mi is also spectacular.
Our sweet local co-op. Great fresh veggies, breads, cheeses, etc.
146 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Mariposa Food Co-op
4824 Baltimore Ave
146 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Our sweet local co-op. Great fresh veggies, breads, cheeses, etc.
Great Indian street food (served cold/room temp) & more lassi flavors than you could possibly imagine.
31 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Mood Cafe
4618 Baltimore Ave
31 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Great Indian street food (served cold/room temp) & more lassi flavors than you could possibly imagine.
Consistently good Indian food, lovely staff.
21 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Desi Village Indian Restaurant
4527 Baltimore Ave
21 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Consistently good Indian food, lovely staff.
Funky little bar and restaurant. Wine and Kombucha on tap, local beers available. Cute little patio across from Clark Park.
39 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Clarkville
4301 Baltimore Ave
39 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Funky little bar and restaurant. Wine and Kombucha on tap, local beers available. Cute little patio across from Clark Park.
A completely vegan & vegetarian Mexican restaurant nearby. Their sweet potato tacos are great!
72 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Honest Tom's Plant Based Taco Shop
261 S 44th St
72 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
A completely vegan & vegetarian Mexican restaurant nearby. Their sweet potato tacos are great!
** One of my favorite local spots. It serves a great variety of local and national beers and serves great cocktails. Also serves *amazing brussel sprouts.* They hold Quizzo on Sunday nights. Attached to a cute & bougie bottle shop.
108 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Local 44
4333 Spruce Street
108 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
** One of my favorite local spots. It serves a great variety of local and national beers and serves great cocktails. Also serves *amazing brussel sprouts.* They hold Quizzo on Sunday nights. Attached to a cute & bougie bottle shop.

Random cute local things

These don't quite fit under "food & drink" but are totally worth noting while you're in the area!
Clark Park is a badass little utopian hangout spot to grab a blanket and hang out on a nice day. There’s a local “dog bowl” were pups and kids play together, often features food trucks, farmers markets and live music.
188 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Clark Park
4300-4398 Baltimore Ave
188 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Clark Park is a badass little utopian hangout spot to grab a blanket and hang out on a nice day. There’s a local “dog bowl” were pups and kids play together, often features food trucks, farmers markets and live music.
A great community yoga and pilates studio. Super inclusive staff and class attendees. I think classes are $15 for drop ins? They have all the materials (mats, bocks, blankets, straps) available to borrow onsite.
24 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Studio 34 Yoga Healing Arts
4522 Baltimore Ave
24 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
A great community yoga and pilates studio. Super inclusive staff and class attendees. I think classes are $15 for drop ins? They have all the materials (mats, bocks, blankets, straps) available to borrow onsite.
A gentle, sliding scale community acupuncture spot, available for $15-30/session (veterans get services for free).
West Philly Community Acupuncture
4636 Woodland Ave
A gentle, sliding scale community acupuncture spot, available for $15-30/session (veterans get services for free).
An amazing, social justice-oriented independent book shop (amazing illustrated books) that survives by being staffed by local volunteers. It has funny hours because of that, but is definitely worth a visit.
18 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Bindlestiff Books
4530 Baltimore Ave
18 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
An amazing, social justice-oriented independent book shop (amazing illustrated books) that survives by being staffed by local volunteers. It has funny hours because of that, but is definitely worth a visit.
This local theater lives in a multi-faith, LGBTQ+ inclusive place of worship, and often features thought-provoking & well-done local theater.
14 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Curio Theatre Company
4740 Baltimore Ave
14 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
This local theater lives in a multi-faith, LGBTQ+ inclusive place of worship, and often features thought-provoking & well-done local theater.
Looking for a tattoo to commemorate your visit? This tattooing coalition is owned and operated by a QTPOC local and a huge number of our community goes here for our ink. :)
Spirited Tattooing Coalition
4912 Baltimore Ave
Looking for a tattoo to commemorate your visit? This tattooing coalition is owned and operated by a QTPOC local and a huge number of our community goes here for our ink. :)
Great affordable local cuts by queer- and gender-affirming local hairstylists in a kinda punktastic spot. Cash only.
6 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Talking Headz
4922 Baltimore Ave
6 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Great affordable local cuts by queer- and gender-affirming local hairstylists in a kinda punktastic spot. Cash only.
OMG, so many good & sassy local crafts! Definitely worth a swing by for some sweet and tongue-in-cheek cards.
50 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
VIX Emporium
5009 Baltimore Ave
50 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
OMG, so many good & sassy local crafts! Definitely worth a swing by for some sweet and tongue-in-cheek cards.