It has been quite a wonderful year of discovering and enjoying all our neighborhood has to offer. We started this blog about 3 months after moving here as a way to share our eating and drinking adventures. So far, it has skewed a bit more to the fun stuff we have cooked at home, but we’re thinking that we want to include more of our eating out adventures in the future. And there’s no reason not to. We have so much to celebrate in our neighborhood and beyond.

Here’s a list of some of our favorite places in what we consider “our neighborhood.”

Within 1/3 of a mile:

As I mentioned in part one, the last place I lived had very little within walking distance, so the fact that every place I’m about to name is within 3/4 of a mile gives me great pleasure. And the fact that there are so many places within that range that I feel compelled to subdivide the list into smaller sections speaks to the great wealth and variety of places. This list is by no means exhaustive. There are still many places we are looking forward to trying.

I mentioned Pub & Kitchen and Jet Wine Bar in my last post. The owner of Jet opened another place right across the street, Rex 1516, which very quickly became a weekly go to spot. Rex 1516 is the type of neighborhood bar I always wanted to have. Very friendly staff, excellent selections of beers and wine, and an adventurous cocktail list, as well as an adventurous bartender.

On that same block, there’s a good Thai restaurant, Sawatdee. A block closer is a new pie place, Magpie, and one of our favorite special occasion restaurants, Pumpkin BYOB. Quite a couple of blocks!

Also close by, are a few places we like for breakfasts and brunches: Marathon Grill, La Va Café, Spread Bagelry and Parc Restaurant, Bistro & Cafe.

Also within 1/3 of a mile is another favorite spot, C19. They specialize in Venetian-inspired cuisine but also focus on fresh local ingredients. They have a great wine list and super friendly staff. Another good Italian restaurant nearby is Roberto Café, a BYOB the features Italian comfort food.

Finally, Twenty Manning Grill has been a convenient spot for us when we’re in the mood for cocktails and bar food.

We usually go to 2 farmers’ markets on Saturdays. One is at Rittenhouse Square, which is just a few blocks away. The other is at Fitler Square, which is about 1/2 a mile away.

Within 1/2 of a mile:

A little farther away are a few excellent places for wine and food: a.kitchen, Tria, and Tinto, and a couple of places for beer and food, the neighborhoody Grace Tavern and the legendary Monk’s Café. But let’s not forget cocktails: Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., which specializes in upscale and classic cocktails in a speakeasy setting, and Village Whiskey, which has one of the best bourbon lists in town.

Dandelion Pub is a British Pub that has great food (rabbit pot pie!),  nice selection of beers, and interesting cocktails. D’mitri’s is a Greek restaurant we’ve been to only once but really enjoyed.

After moving in and before stocking up, we needed breakfast and discovered Ants Pants Café, a small, cozy restaurant with Australian inspired coffees. This has become our go-to breakfast place, and I usually can’t resist their Bacon Stack.

Also within 1/2 a mile is the place that was awarded the Best Gelato in the World by National Geographic, Capogiro Gelato.

The Outer Reaches (within 3/4 of a mile):

If we’re in the mood for beer and feel like wandering, we’ll find four excellent beer bars: Good Dog Bar and Restaurant, Nodding Head Brewery and Restaurant, The Sidecar Bar and Grille and Resurrection Ale House. We haven’t yet had any food at Nodding Head, but enjoy their house brewed beers. The food at Good Dog provides interesting twists of pub fare. We often head to The Sidecar or Resurrection for brunch, but the food has been great whenever we go.

That’s 30 wonderful places all within 3/4 of a mile! We’re lucky to have so many great places nearby but it’s difficult getting back to some of them. While writing this, I kept thinking “we don’t go there often enough” for most of these. Both Holly and I enjoy walking, so this radius is by no means the extent of our adventures.