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.
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Satellite Cafe
4901-4999 Willows AveLocal 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.
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The Gold Standard Cafe
4800 Baltimore Ave** 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.
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Milk & Honey Market
4435 Baltimore AveMost 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.
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Green Line Cafe
4239 Baltimore AveGood coffee, lite fare, NO wifi, some lovely outdoor seating facing Clark Park.
** Upscale American classics (Mac & Cheese stuffed meatloaf?? WHOA.), great cocktails, lovely brunch.
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Cedar Park Cafe
4914 Baltimore Ave** 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.
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Dock Street Cannery + Lounge
705 S 50th Stis 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.
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The Bar(n)
4901 Catharine StLong 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.
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Dahlak
4708 Baltimore Ave** 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.
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Gojjo
4540 Baltimore AveQuirky 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.
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Dock Street Brewing Co
701 S 50th StConverted 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.
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Cedar Park Cafe
4914 Baltimore AveClassic, affordable & satisfying diner fare. Consistently good breakfast and brunch served.
Hibiscus Cafe
4907 Catharine StGreat light vegetarian & vegan fare.
Super quirky ice cream shop. Features unique flavors like “Grapenut cinnamon” in addition to more traditional flavors.
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Little Baby's Ice Cream - Cedar Park Embassy
4903 Catharine StSuper quirky ice cream shop. Features unique flavors like “Grapenut cinnamon” in addition to more traditional flavors.
Penn Cafe & Pizzeria
4909 Catharine StLow key pizza, calzones, wings, late night snacking etc.
Absolutely delicious Thai & Laotian food. It's like comfort food. BYO. Cash only.
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Vientiane Café
4728 Baltimore AveAbsolutely 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.
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Lee's Deli
4700 Baltimore Ave** 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)
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Loco Pez
2401 E Norris StMexican 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.
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Aksum
4630 Baltimore Ave** Absolutely spectacular, upscale Mediterranean food. Incredible dinner options, surprisingly great brunch. BYO.
Chili Garden
4626 Baltimore AveBest 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.
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Fu-Wah Mini Market
810 S 47th StDoesn'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.
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Mariposa Food Co-op
4824 Baltimore AveOur 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.
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Mood Cafe
4618 Baltimore AveGreat Indian street food (served cold/room temp) & more lassi flavors than you could possibly imagine.
Consistently good Indian food, lovely staff.
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Desi Village Indian Restaurant
4527 Baltimore AveConsistently 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.
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Clarkville
4301 Baltimore AveFunky 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!
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Honest Tom's Plant Based Taco Shop
261 S 44th StA 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.
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Local 44
4333 Spruce Street** 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.
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Clark Park
4300-4398 Baltimore AveClark 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.
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Studio 34 Yoga Healing Arts
4522 Baltimore AveA 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 AveA 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.
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Bindlestiff Books
4530 Baltimore AveAn 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.
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Curio Theatre Company
4740 Baltimore AveThis 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 AveLooking 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.
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Talking Headz
4922 Baltimore AveGreat 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.
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VIX Emporium
5009 Baltimore AveOMG, so many good & sassy local crafts! Definitely worth a swing by for some sweet and tongue-in-cheek cards.