Northern Liberties & Fishtown

Just north of Center City, Northern Liberties and Fishtown are home to eclectic restaurants, craft breweries, and popular live music venues.

Spotlight on Local Business

Discover Mural City Cellars, known as Philadelphia’s “neighborhood winery.” Owners, Francesca and Nicholas, produce wine with crops from local growers within a 300-mile radius of Philadelphia and all wines are hand-crushed and bottled right in East Kensington, neighboring Fishtown.

What to Do

Stroll through these neighborhoods to shop from local boutiques and small businesses selling artisan goods. In Northern Liberties, Trunc sells handcrafted goods including art, clothing, jewelry, and apothecary items. Peruse and purchase literature that celebrates female writers, activists and artists at Black-owned Harriett’s Bookshop along Girard Avenue in Fishtown.

Harriett’s Bookshop. Photo courtesy of Visit Philadelphia.

Try your luck at Rivers Casino Philadelphia with slot machines, table games, and a state-of-the-art sportsbook. In the evening, visit Fabrika, a dinner theater that hosts nightly performances including circus and cabaret acts, live music, and more. Enjoy more live entertainment at Johnny Brenda’s, The Fillmore, The Met Philadelphia, or Brooklyn Bowl. For smaller venues, catch live music at Ortlieb’s, The Fire, or Heritage.

Where to Dine

One of Condé Nast Traveler’s best new restaurants in the world, Laser Wolf serves an array of grilled Israeli dishes. The area is also a destination for the city’s booming craft beer scene. Breweries in the neighborhood include Yards Brewing Company, Love City Brewing, or Triple Bottom Brewing Company, Pennsylvania’s first certified B-Corporation brewery. Grab dinner and a pint of local craft beer at Standard Tap, one of the city’s first gastropubs. Or visit The Abbaye for pub food with ample vegan and vegetarian options. Fette Sau is an all-American barbecue spot specializing in dry-rubbed meats and SUYA SUYA West African Grill is a fast-casual and favorite BYOB.

Where to Stay

While Center City hotels are just a short train or car ride away, there are a few options available for those looking to stay in the heart of this energetic neighborhood.

Lokal Fishtown features apartment-style suites that present guests with an authentic Philadelphia experience meant to feel like home. Lokal is an “invisible service” hotel, meaning there is no concierge or on-site staff. Instead, guests check-in using an automated code and use the in-room iPads to order food, play music, and more.

Lokal Fishtown. Photo by Heidi’s Bridge Photography.

Also stationed along Front Street, Wm. Mulherin’s Sons offers four beautifully appointed, apartment-like rooms featuring custom furniture and curated art. On the ground level, you will find Wm. Mulherin’s Sons popular restaurant – featuring pizza, pasta, seafood and other Italian-inspired dishes.

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