Washington Square West is an area with lots to talk about.
As is the case with many Philadelphia neighborhoods, its boundaries are debatable — but the neighborhood civic association defines its borders as Market, South, 7th, and Broad Streets.
This piece of Center City is home to lots of Penn Medicine and Jefferson Health buildings, the Jewelers’ Row District, the Gayborhood, and a piece of a national park.
Where can you go and what can you do if you plan to visit this neighborhood? Here’s a quick overview of where to start.
Pulled pork, crispy cod, and guajillo BBQ chicken tacos from Hi Lo Taco Co. in Washington Square West. (Asha Prihar/City Cast Philly)
🍽️ Eat and Drink
Washington Square West is awash with restaurants and cafes to the point where it’s kind of overwhelming. Here’s a non-comprehensive list of spots that my team and I think are solid:
- ☕ Habitat Coffee House has an interesting tea list, a nice mix of indoor and outdoor seating, and speedy WiFi.
- 🥯 Knead Bagels and Munchies Cafe are breakfast go-tos for City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri.
- 🥟 City Cast Philly executive producer Laura Benshoff can vouch for Sampan, which serves modern Asian cuisine, and its bustling happy hour.
- 🌮 Hi Lo Taco Co. impressed me with its handmade tortillas and wide variety of a la carte taco options.
🎨 Appreciate Literature and the Arts
Lovers of language can drop by Giovanni’s Room — the oldest surviving LGBT bookstore in the country — to browse a nice selection of used books, or stop by Fergie’s Pub on Wednesdays for poetry events hosted by Moonstone Arts Center. (If you stay at Fergie’s later into the night, you can also enjoy some free comedy!)
You can also catch a show in the neighborhood. Local professional talent performs in plays and musicals at the Walnut Street Theatre, and the Forrest Theatre hosts touring Broadway productions.
Wash Square West is also a great place to walk around and take in public art. It’s part of Philly’s “Mural Mile,” so murals abound in the area, including pieces like “Spring” and “Garden of Delight.”
A shelf of books for sale at Giovanni’s Room, the oldest gay bookstore in the country. (Asha Prihar/City Cast Philly)
🌳 Soak Up the Sun (or Catch Some Shade)
Given that the name of a park is literally in the neighborhood’s name, I’d be remiss not to mention some green spaces. Washington Square is one of the five public parks William Penn included in his original plan for Philly. Today, it’s a well-used swath of Independence National Historic Park with lots of benches and shade, as well as home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution.
That’s not the only green space in the neighborhood, though — residents and visitors can also enjoy nice weather or find a bench to rest on in Louis I. Kahn Park or Jefferson University’s Lubert Plaza.
Getting There
Washington Square West is a transit-rich area — you can get there via SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, over a dozen bus routes, or PATCO. It’s also close to several trolley lines, and Jefferson Station for Regional Rail access.
A map of Washington Square West’s boundaries, according to the Washington Square West Civic Association. (Google Maps)
