Northern Liberties’ origins date back to William Penn, who founded it in 1682 as its own township. It eventually became part of Philly, grew into an industrial hub, and later became an artist haven.
Now, NoLibs is seeing lots of development, making it one of Philly’s fastest-growing neighborhoods in terms of both residents and businesses.
Northern Liberties has lots to offer, but exploring the booming area can be a little overwhelming. Here are my tips on where to start.
Where To Dine
- 🥞 Honey’s Sit ’N Eat serves homestyle comfort food for breakfast and lunch.
- 🍚 Offerings at family-run Baan Thai range from classic dishes to street food.
- 🍛 Suya Suya serves spicy and peanutty West African fare.
- 🍻 The maybe-haunted gastropub Standard Tap goes beyond a stereotypical bar menu, offering Philly-made beers and locally-sourced dishes.
My go-to dish at Honey’s is the “Breakfast Bomb”: eggs, cheese, and meat folded inside a giant buttermilk pancake. 🤤 (Asha Prihar/City Cast Philly)
Where To Find a Little Treat
- 🥯 Freshly made challah and bagels await you at Kaplan’s New Model Bakery.
- 🥨 The Yards Brewing Co. taproom serves piping hot IPA pretzels with mouth-watering mustard and beer cheese.
- 🛒 Browse the snacks at New Spring Garden Market for fun, imported finds.
Where To Shop
- ♻️ Check out Ray’s Reusables for sustainable household and body-care items.
- 🌱 Adopt your newest plant baby at City Planter or STUMP.
- 👔 Nonprofit thrift shop The Wardrobe sells secondhand clothing, with monthly events where a certain population — like veterans, college students, refugees — can take some outfits home for free.
City Planter has some outdoor offerings, plus tropical houseplants you can keep indoors. (Asha Prihar/City Cast Philly)
Where To Have Fun
- 🪩 Music bar Ortlieb’s hosts jazz nights, karaoke, themed dance nights, comedy open mics, and more.
- 🎳 You can take friends to North Bowl (go on Wednesdays after 9 p.m. for discounts), or join a league.
- 🐦⬛ Edgar Allan Poe’s old house is free to visit on weekends. The National Park Service rangers there can share some fun facts about Poe’s time in Philly.
Things to do in NoLibs — click the map for more detail. (Asha Prihar/Google My Maps)
Getting There
Located between Old City and Fishtown, NoLibs is accessible by SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line and routes 5, 15, 25, 43, 47, and 57. The Delaware River Trail, Vine Street Expressway, I-95, and Philly’s interim intercity bus stop are nearby.
