Philly seemingly has a coffee shop on every corner. The City Cast Philly team recently met up at Mr. Rabbit, one of the city’s newest coffee shops, to dish on the spots in the city that are making coffee in different ways.
Here’s a guide to even more places to caffeinate in Philly:
TO DO WORK
📍Clark Park, Queen Village, Center City, Powelton Village, Walnut Hill
All five locations are prime for locking in and getting some work done. With ample seating and food offerings like a breakfast burrito, you can sit in one of these family-owned locations and knock out that to-do list.
📍Broad Street, Fitler Square, Society Hill
With ample seating (both indoor and outdoor options) and organic/fair trade coffee, it’s easy to work from these cafes – especially given the cheery, light green decor and late closing times.
Anthony’s Italian Coffee and Chocolate House has tons of seating, along with chocolate pretzels and espresso drinks. (City Cast Philly / Abby Fritz)
FOR A DATE
📍South Philly
While the star is the bread, Mighty Bread also offers a variety of espresso drinks like a salted maple latte and espresso tonic. Bring a date and grab some artisan avocado toast while hanging out on the outdoor patio as the cozy smells of baking bread lingers from inside.
📍Italian Market
This fourth-generation coffee and chocolate shop is the perfect place to grab something sweet along with a classic Italian espresso. Afterward take a walk down historic South 9th Street to round out a perfect romantic afternoon. To learn more about the history of Anthony’s, check out this episode of City Cast Philly.
ROASTED IN PHILLY
📍Fishtown, South Philly, Cedar Park, Port Richmond, South Kensington
ReAnimator Coffee sells single-origin, blended, and instant coffee at its shops but also via home delivery from its roastery in South Kensington. Check out its website for build-your-own coffee subscriptions that can be delivered right to your door.
📍Reading Terminal Market, Old City
This business has been a staple in the Philly coffee scene since 1985, known for roasting “tiny batch” Arabica beans. The cafe ensures freshness by sending out beans no later than 48 hours after roasting them at its location in Reading Terminal Market.
📍Kensington
This independent coffee roaster is a wonderful place to sip your coffee. Persimmon gives you reasons to keep coming back – it sells a new single-origin coffee each month.
Drip coffee perfectly pairs with an everything pretzel sandwich of roast beef, cooper sharp cheese, and horseradish mayo from Rowhome Coffee. (City Cast Philly / Abby Fritz)
GRUB & COFFEE
📍Bella Vista
Enjoy a delicious bagel sandwich, sans Wi-Fi, at this quaint cafe with local art on the walls right in the heart of the Italian Market. P.S. It’s cash only.
📍Fitler Square
This new shop serves up a delicious parfait and doesn’t skimp on the lox on your breakfast toast. Plus, in a first for a coffee shop in Philly (and maybe anywhere), Mr. Rabbit has tomato pie from Pizza Richmond on the menu.
📍Chinatown
This tiny Chinatown spot is known for its coffee siphon, which extracts the full flavor of the grind. Aside from this laborious coffee brew, Ray’s has a full menu — check out the beef noodle soup.
📍East Kensington, Fitler Square
Soft pretzel…sandwiches? Yep. Don't miss the sage sausage egg-and-cheese for breakfast and the roast beef for lunch.
📍Kensington
Crispy tofu banh mi (or perhaps roasted pineapple fried rice) with a side of traditional Vietnamese coffee (known for its sweet, condensed milk) is a great way to get your day sorted out right.
Grindcore House in South Philly is a vegan cafe that roasts its own beans and hosts music events. (City Cast Philly / Abby Fritz)
MORE THAN JUST A COFFEE SHOP
📍Kensington
Sneakers and coffee — the duo that we didn’t know we needed. Try the tres leches chai while looking for your next pair of kicks.
📍Roxborough
If you have your kiddos with you, Eremita Cafe is the spot. While you sip on a creamy matcha latte, your kids can play chess or Pac-Man.
📍South Philly, Spruce Hill
Two things make this coffee shop distinguishable. First, it offers vegan food, and second, you’ll always hear some mix of metal, punk, and yes, grindcore.
📍Fishtown, Spruce Hill
An unlikely but fitting pairing: Coffee and vinyl records. Both locations of Milkcrate sell thousands of new and old vinyl plus coffee from La Colombe, our local coffee brand that has now gone international.
📍East Falls
You’ll find not only a perfect cup of coffee here but also a birthday or Christmas gift. Along with a full coffee bar and snacks, the shop sells fresh flowers and gifts.
