A word from Joanne Davidow:
"my favorite thing about the neighborhoods in center city is that everybody thinks that their neighborhood is the 'best'. To me that means that there are a lot of 'best' neighborhoods in center city"
Rittenhouse Square
One of the five original parks planned by William Penn during the late 17th century in central Philadelphia. It is the most celebrated of all center city parks and is called " the park for all seasons" for it's outstanding beauty at all times of the year.
Today, the tree-filled park is surrounded with the trendy shops of Rittenhouse row, fine restaurants, luxury condominium apartments and five star hotels. It's green grasses and benches are major lunch-time destinations for workers in Philadelphia's Center City neighborhood, while it's lion and goat statues are popular gathering spots for small children and their parents.
More broadly, the name Rittenhouse Square is used informally to designate the neighborhood surrounding the square itself.
This area of the city, particularly the blocks to the south of the square, contain the most exclusive real estate in Philadelphia.
Society Hill
A beautiful residential neighborhood featuring lovely tree lined streets.
A wonderful mix of historic homes, modern homes and high rise condominiums.
Dotted with little green parks, historic churches and synagogues, Three bears Park for the children to enjoy, many restaurants, historic sites, movie theaters, Penns landing- there is so much to offer for residents and visitors.
The public school catchment area in the Society Hill area is the General George A. McCall School (k-8) which includes Chinese Language in its foreign language curriculum. There are supermarkets, sporting clubs, cleaners, salons, farmers market, specialty shops, movie theaters and everything you want for convenient living in this very special, charming neighborhood.
Washington Square
This area is named for historic Washington Square, which is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn during the late 17th century in central Philadelphia.
It is located between Rittenhouse Square and Society Hill. You can choose to live in a townhouse,a brownstone condo or a high rise condo. One can search for a treasure in the antique shops or small stores on Pine Street, walk to the theater, eat indoors or outdoors at great restaurants and grocery shop at local supermarkets, farmers markets or Reading Terminal. Children can play at Segar Park playground. Take your guests to Independence National Historic Park. This is a vibrant neighborhood in the heart of the city.
Old City
Stroll the streets of the Old City neighborhood.
Feel the vibrancy, much like Soho in New york, with city dwellers living in homes, apartments, the occasional high rise, loft condos carved from old factories. Residences are next to art galleries, original themed specialty shops and trendy eateries. Come upon the oldest street still in residential use in all of the country, Elfreths Alley.
Your eyes may light on the beautiful lines of the Ben Franklin Bridge or the Delaware River.
Attend a concert or celebrate a holiday down at Penns Landing. A quick commute to New Jersey or I 95 will take you away when you want to leave the area.
There are diverse museums, cradle of liberty historic sights and movie theaters to walk to after you eat at your upscale or down home restaurant. Of course food stores, pizza shops, cleaners, gyms, coffee shops etc. are all there for the urban dweller.
Queen Village
This neighborhood is a wonderful combination of families that have been living here for generations and newer residents that have chosen one of the older homes or the available new construction.Queen Village includes the catchment area for the William M. Meridith public School (k-8) which is noteworthy as a successful city school.
This area is located to the south of neighboring Society Hill and blends in to nearby Bella Vista. One could enjoy walking to The Italian Market, a wonderful old fashioned outdoor food market, to shop for fresh produce, meats and cheeses and hard to find goodies.
There are great restaurants including some wonderful establishments that have been here for decades or pick one of the innovative newcomers. Stroll the fun shops on funky and famous South Street! Summer time is for picking up a special flavored water ice at nearby John's and winter means time to get a famous south philly cheese steak, Pat's, Jim's or Geno's. (yum).
Fitler Square
Fitler Square is located just west of the Rittenhouse Square area and is named for the charming city park which is the community heart of the neighborhood.
The park itself is bounded by 23rd, 24th, Panama and Pine streets. The Fitler Square Area is bounded on the west by the bank of the Schuylkill River, Schuylkill River Park, where you find tennis courts, dog runs, a children's playground, a basketball court, a softball field and a foot and bike path. Beautiful 19th century townhouses mixed with newer houses built over the years are shaded by old trees and create the charm of this very residential area. Lucky residents are a very short walk from the richness of urban life.
Art Museum
This area is one of the wonderful areas which combine families that have lived in the area for generations and new younger families and singles that have chosen to live here in recent years. Young renters in the area often turn into homeowners that buy and stay. This area is especially unique in its close proximity to beautiful Kelly Drive, Boathouse Row, Fairmount park and the Schuylkill River which means biking and jogging trails and sculling on the river.
Walk with your friends and family to the Philadelphia Art Museum, Rodin Museum, The Franklin Institute, The Barnes, The Main Library of Philadelphia, Moore Institute of Art and more. There are many restaurants, a Whole Foods Market, a Starbucks and sporting clubs. There are older homes, newer homes and condos to choose from in your housing search.
Logan Square
Residents think of their area as a well kept secret. This location is a stones throw from 30th Street Station and an entrance to the Schuylkill Expressway and the Vine Street Expressway to I 95 yet it maintains a residential pocket of charming blocks with townhouses and condos, both older and newer.
The area is a perfect starting point to explore the beautiful museums on The Parkway and is named for the nearby Logan Square Circle with it's beautiful fountain.
Grocery shopping here is excellent as the neighborhood is right between Trader Joe's and just to the north, Whole Foods.
Northern Liberties
Once an area of factories, warehouses and breweries, this neighborhood was noticed by artists and ultimately developers who have turned these exciting spaces into residences. The new eating spots and specialty shops followed and we now have a fun neighborhood with an interesting choice of living spaces.
Graduate Hospital
South of Rittenhouse Square and Fitler Square, this neighborhood was named for The Graduate Hospital which no longer exists as a hospital but the building is there and is used for various other services. This neighborhood has shown amazing growth since the turn of this century.
Old homes have been renovated and new homes have been built. Formerly unattractive blocks have become well groomed and charming as the neighborhood has blossomed. This is considered a convenient neighborhood with just a short walk to many restaurants, offices and even university city via the newly restored South Street Bridge.
University City
This is a wonderful area taking its name from the universities in the area such as University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. Many academics such as professors, students and graduate students have chosen this neighborhood to call home. Many young families have chosen to buy a home here to be part of the Sadie Alexander Catchment area and send their kids to a U. Of P. partnership school. U. of P., School District of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers have made a commitment to create an exemplary Prek-8 neighborhood public school.
The choices of housing are many and exciting with beautiful old homes and condo conversions. New and exciting restaurants are opening all the time. Cross the South Street or Walnut Street bridges and be in the heart of center city in a few minutes.
Avenue Of The Arts
Choose a lovely high rise condominium on and around this thriving street and walk to The Kimmel Center for The Performing Arts, The Academy of Music, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, The Wilma Theatre etc. and within a few blocks you can see great shows at The Forest Theatre and Walnut Street Theatre and eat in a fantastic restaurant.
Chances are you can walk to your office which may be only five or ten minutes away. Not to mention, enjoy your ringside seat to The Mummers Parade on new years day.
