Rittenhouse Square

Rittenhouse Square, one of William Penn’s original five squares, is a tree-filled public park in Center City Philadelphia. Grab a bench or spot on the lawn, enjoy the public art, indulge in upscale shopping or al fresco dining. Wander through the surrounding neighborhood to take in the many Civil-War era mansions that have remained largely preserved.

What to do:

The Rittenhouse Square Farmer’s Market, held Saturdays year round from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, features goods from farmers throughout the Philadelphia region. The market vendors set up on Walnut Street between 18th and 19th Streets.

Enjoy a student recital at the Curtis Institute of Music, the renowned, exclusive conservatory that trained the likes of Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber.

See the country’s finest collection of medical artifacts housed at The Mütter Museum, featuring anatomical specimens, models and medical instruments displayed in a Victorian “cabinet museum” setting.

Discover the Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia, which holds the private collection of the Rosenbach brothers, noted rare book dealers. Among the treasures inside: the only surviving copy of Benjamin Franklin’s first Poor Richard’s Almanack, the manuscript of James Joyce’s Ulysses, the papers of poet Marianne Moore, Bram Stoker’s notes for Dracula, and more than one hundred personal letters of George Washington.

Take an architectural walk through the neighborhood to see many extraordinary structures including the Church of the Holy Trinity, dating to 1857 and known for its stained glass, including five windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel is housed in a magnificent, historic Gothic stone building that dates back to the 1890s. The First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia was built in 1872 and offers self-guided tours of the Victorian Gothic building, praised for its Tiffany stained-glass windows and stone carvings by Alexander Milne Calder.

Catch a flick at the PFS Theater at the Roxy, a Philadelphia Film Society first-run theater showing mainstream, independent and international cinema in a renovated movie house.

Indulge in tax-free shopping on clothes and shoes and shop Rittenhouse Row where chic boutiques neighbor national retailers. Peruse the many architecturally stunning shops, such as Philadelphia-based clothing stores Anthropologie (housed in the historic Van Rensselaer mansion) or the elegant marble staircases at Boyds, which has been called “The Last Great Clothing Store” by the New York Times.

For panoramic views of the city, venture up to One Liberty Observation Deck on the 57th floor of the skyscraper. In addition to camera-worthy sights, you can enjoy interactive exhibits detailing noteworthy moments in Philadelphia history.

Where to eat:

Get the flavor of a trendy Parisian brasserie right here in Center City at Parc Restaurant. Complete with al fresco seating right on Rittenhouse Square, Parc offers a charming and comfortable dining experience any time of the day for any occasion and was declared one of the 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America for 2018 by OpenTable.  Suga is a collaboration between renowned chef Susanna Foo and her son Gabriel, serving Chinese and Asian fusion in a sleek setting.

Chefs Michael Solomonov and Yehuda Sichel found inspiration in the Jewish diaspora for their retro-style eatery Abe Fisher — meaning chicken liver mousse shares the menu with veal schnitzel tacos and Hungarian duck. New American fare is on the menu at Pub & Kitchen, where you’ll find a rotating selection of small plates, filling entrees and a signature burger.

Where to stay:

The many hotel options in the neighborhood include the sophisticated AKA Rittenhouse Square, offering short- and long-term accommodations, the Rittenhouse, a premier luxury hotel located on the Square, or the elegant Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse, on the National Registry of Historic Places.

For late night fun:

Table tennis takes center stage at SPiN Philadelphia, A Ping Pong Social Club, with 16 Olympic-grade ping pong tables, a full bar, food menu, DJ booth and bleachers for watching the action.  Dance the night away at Howl at the Moon and Down Ultra Lounge with live dueling pianos!

Seasonal Events:

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, annually in May

Rittenhouse Square Spring Fine Art Show, annually in June

Rittenhouse Square Fall Fine Art Show, annually in September

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) is the official tourism promotion agency for the City of Philadelphia globally and the primary sales and marketing agency for the Pennsylvania Convention Center.