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South Street
Long known as the edgiest street in Philadelphia, South Street is a melting pot of groups and cultures.
Residents and visitors, teenagers and adults, preppies and punks, artists and attorneys all mix seamlessly together on the storied boulevard.
Shoppers searching for a statement-making look, visitors hungry for a real Philly cheesesteak and music lovers who want to catch an up-and-coming band all head to South Street in droves.
South Street always buzzes with activity, whether on a Tuesday afternoon or a Friday night. Ethnically diverse restaurants, bars that keep the party going long after dessert and galleries and performance spaces help make South Street remain a vibrant and essential city destination.
Business people saunter down the block from nearby Washington Square West and Society Hill to mingle with their more Bohemian counterparts for lunch, visitors flock to the area to savor their first Philly cheesesteak at Jim’s, or a classic slice at Lorenzo’s, and residents shop for groceries, check out a show, or find a Mexican-influenced piece of art from the Eye’s Gallery.
Mirroring this diverse mix of fun-to-watch pedestrians, a wonderfully eclectic lineup of businesses that includes over 300 shops and more than 60 eateries, cafes and bars caters to the crowd. Most stores are independently owned and have similarly minded signage.
The area’s restaurants reflect the various ethnic flavors of several nearby neighborhoods, and several performance venues feature fringe theater and live music.
Over the past decade, the development of South Street’s east side has spread west of Broad Street, but the traditional definition of the district (depending on who you ask) spans up to 14 blocks: Front Street up to Broad Street.
Enjoy shopping, dining and exciting nightlife on Philadelphia's South Street. — Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.