We start with the most recommended place in the entire survey - the legendary Reading Terminal Market. Philly’s oldest Public Market with more than 75 diverse, family-owned businesses and vendors providing local produce, fresh food, and any and everything else you could possibly imagine. This 78,000 sq foot old train shed has been feeding the city since 1893. Just go here and the rest will figure itself out. From a recs standpoint, there were 13 spots in the market our fans mentioned specifically - we’re just gonna leave them here and let you guys cook…

Fans Recommend: Hershel's East Side Deli. Down Home Diner. Dutch Eating Place. Beiler's Donuts. Termini Brothers Bakery. Little Thai Market. Uncle Gus's. Saami Somi. 4th Street Cookies. Beck's Cajun Cafe. Miller's Twist. Bassett's Ice Cream.

If you noticed one particular spot missing from the Market list, there’s a good reason. Tommy DiNic’s is a spot that our local fans made sure got its own entry. A fourth-generation family business going back to 1954, DiNic's runs a stall that routinely has the longest line in the Market. That long line is all for what is maybe the best sandwich in Philly, and it’s not a cheesesteak - it’s roast pork with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe. A sandwich that the Travel Channel called the Best in America in 2013. This may not be where you start in the Market, but it should be where you finish.

Fans recommend: Roast pork sandwich.

There is another roast pork sandwich our fans recommended even more, and it’s from the dual-threat roast pork and cheesesteak icon John’s Roast Pork. A cinderblock shack by some old railroad tracks in South Philly that’s been slinging sandwiches since 1930, John's is a three-generation family operation and has a James Beard Foundation American Classic distinction. The roast pork sandwich and the cheesesteak are both family recipes, and they are both in the very heated conversation about the best sandwiches in Philly. There will be a line. You should absolutely wait in it.

Fans recommend: Roast pork sandwich. Cheesesteak.

Philadelphia is probably the sandwich capital of the United States. Which means the sandwich recs are going to continue. And oh boy does Middle Child have some bangers. Just open their IG and marvel at these creations. This was our fans’ most recommended spot for breakfast in the city. A small shop and luncheonette that combines the Italian hoagie shops, Jewish delis, and Greek diners of old-school Philly to make some unreal sandwiches and breakfast. Case in point: their star breakfast sandwich is a corned beef, egg, and cheese. Their main location in Washington Square West is open til 3pm with breakfast served til 11am. Middle Child Clubhouse is in Fishtown and also adds a hangout spot and dinner to the mix.

Fans recommend: BLT (if in season - it will be close). Breakfast sandwich.

Here is your brunch king. Or queen. Sabrina’s Cafe. One of our most recommended spots is this family-owned bruncherie that started as an Italian Market neighborhood fixture and has blossomed into five locations across the city. They opened the first one in 2001 in an old iconic bakery, serving New American breakfast, brunch, and lunch daily. They’re doing the same thing 25 years later, 8-3pm, every day. The stuffed French toast is famous. Our Philly fans called out the chicken and waffles. Lots of people have named it best brunch in the city. You guys just did as well.  

Fans recommend: Chicken and waffles.

Philly can also go European, and one of our most rec’d places was the French brasserie on the corner of Rittenhouse Square - Parc. An all-day bistro that wants you to sit and drink cafe au lait, sit and eat steak frites, or sit and drink wine, Parc considers itself a “love letter to all the City of Light has to offer, written in a distinct Philadelphian hand.” Our fans called out the brunch and the soup specifically. And if you want a hell of an accolade - the bread basket was just named the best free restaurant bread in America by the Atlantic, following a 13,000-mile-long investigation. The owner calls it "the dumbest move we ever made."

Fans recommend: French onion soup. Brunch.

The triple-threat, IYKYK Philly gem that could be in any of our categories - Silk City Diner. It’s a diner, a bar, a lounge, a garden, and a nightclub. And it is all of those things to their fullest extent. It was recommended as a favorite dive bar, the best place for brunch (brown sugar bacon pancakes), and as having some of the best wings in the city. Wild range. It’s also on the hallowed shortlist of MiB recs that’s been on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - Mayor Fieri loved the pork belly empanadas. We’re throwing it in EAT, but go DRINK, WATCH, EXPLORE, and whatever else tickles your fancy at this Philly diamond in the rough.

As one fan put it, you go to Vernick for “precision in culinary and hospitality.” Vernick Food & Drink is your pick to dress up your Philly dining experience. A neighborhood bistro in Rittenhouse Square that serves a blend of modern American with rotating global flavors. The vibe inside is immaculate - wine bottles line the shelves in the main area. The second floor seats look out over the street. The bar is great. And the food is insane. Their chef won a James Beard Award, the restaurant was recognized by Michelin. The crab toast has become a thing. The bar area takes walk-ins and is one of the city's better-kept secrets for a serious dinner without a serious reservation.

Fans recommend: Beef tartare toast. French scrambled eggs with sea urchin.

We had to get some Philly pizza on the list, and while our fans had a ton of choices, the one that stood out above the rest was Pizzata Pizza. Pizzata is built around an obsession with naturally leavened dough - the long, slow fermentation process using Philly's native wild yeast, the way all dough was made before commercial yeast came along in the 1850s. The result is a crust with a distinctive sourdough depth that sets it apart from every other New York-style pizza in the city. The original location on 22nd Street is a straightforward takeout counter; the newer East Passyunk Birreria is the fuller experience, with a bar, heated outdoor seating, and a menu that extends to antipasti and pasta. If you need any other confirmation that this place is the vibe, pizzata means “pizza party” in Italian…so check out Pizza Party Pizzeria.

Fans recommend: Calabrese pizza.

A little neighborhood Portuguese cafe in Fishtown - Gilda Cafe & Market - is the next under-the-radar local spot our fans love. They do pastries, breakfast, and lunch, all inspired by the owner’s Portuguese roots. Their speciality is pastéis de nata, a.k.a. Portuguese custard tarts - small, flaky pastry pies filled with a rich, slightly caramelized egg custard. And the Philly sandwich supremacy continues here: theirs are elite, especially for breakfast. Authentic recipes, quality ingredients, and everything is fresh - they source the bread from Teixeira's Portuguese Bakery in Newark. Philadelphia Magazine Best of Philly winner. Get in on Gilda’s before everyone else figures it out.

Fans recommend: Antonio sando. Pastéis de Nata.

Our fans take us to Beirut for our next rec - the Lebanese restaurant, market, and garden in Fishtown, Suraya. An absolutely gorgeous set and setting that rivals anywhere to eat in the city - a café in front, restaurant in back, and outdoor garden through the middle. And the food fits that aesthetic perfectly: Lebanese and Levant-inspired, with mezze plates, wood-fired flatbreads, charcoal-grilled meats, smoky baba ganoush, slow-roasted lamb, and stuffed grape leaves. Locals called out the "Taste of Suraya" tasting menu. It all looks unbelievable and tastes the same. Lunch Wednesday through Friday, brunch on the weekends, and dinner every night.

We’re giving an extra one here that’s technically not Philadelphia, but locals have been crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge for this since 1943 - Donkey’s Place. The alt-grunge best cheesesteak “in” Philly comes from a dive bar in Camden, New Jersey. Anthony Bourdain called it his single favorite cheesesteak anywhere. The twist: Donkey's serves theirs on a round poppy seed kaiser roll with white American cheese and browned onions - a Jersey riff on the Philly classic. It's a proper hole-in-the-wall, founded by Leon "Donkey" Lucas, a former heavyweight boxer whose punch was compared to the kick of a mule. Over the bridge, but only about 15 minutes from Center City.

Fans recommend: Cheesesteak.

We’re gonna cheat here a little bit to start your DRINK recs, because Good Dog Bar in Center City could have some of the best food on the entire Philly list. It’s also been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, mainly for its blue-cheese-stuffed burger and deep-fried empanadas. But at its core (right next to its love for pups) it’s just a flat-out awesome bar. A three-story neighborhood watering hole in a historic 100-year-old building in the middle of the city, Good Dog has the atmosphere, the beer, and the location - a quick hop on the subway at Broad and Locus gets you right to the stadium. Top of the list for food, drinks, and pregaming. And for dogs, of course.

Fans recommend: Vegan cheesesteak. Blue-cheese burger.

Another dual-threat that could easily be in the Philly restaurant Starting XI if it wasn’t such a damn good beer bar - Monk’s Cafe. Since 1997, this temple of Belgian brewing has been serving Philadelphia the best beers from Belgium and all over the world. A rotating tap list, 300+ bottles, and five James Beard nominations for their beverage service. Brewers from all over the world come to Monk’s to study how they do what they do. The owner was knighted in Belgium for his contributions to beer - arguably the best reason to be knighted. And to wash down all your beer? How bout a world-class burger and five kinds of mussels, all served with pommes frites?

Fans recommend: Mussels and frites. Burger.

Open since 1860 - the year Abraham Lincoln was elected - McGillin's is the oldest continuously operating bar in Philadelphia, and an absolute no-brainer recommendation from our fans. Tucked in a tiny alley just off City Hall, this tavern is one of the coolest places in Philly to drink. The brick walls are plastered with vintage Philly memorabilia, liquor licenses dating back to 1871, and splintered signs from department stores long gone. They boast that they’ve been open since the last time the Liberty Bell cracked. The history in Philadelphia is truly special and worth exploring…and the best way to do that while catching a buzz is absolutely, 100% at McGillin’s.

“Love and good times always” is what you get at our locals’ favorite dive in Philly - Tattooed Mom. Two floors of sticker-covered-and-tagged walls, no TVs, pool tables, cheap PBRs, and a rotating cast of neighborhood characters who may or may not be Gritty - TMoms has been the unofficial living room of South Street for over 25 years. It’s a bar, it’s a street art gallery, it’s a vortex. Drag shows on Thursdays, cocktails with cotton candy and pop rocks, a legendary jukebox. It is simply dive bar heaven (or hell, if that’s what you’re into).

Fans recommend: Tots and a Pickletini.

Our fans’ most recommended local coffee shop in the city is Rowhome. A spot that celebrates awesome coffee from all over the world and awesome comfort food from Philly. Locals rec’d it for its coffee as much for its giant - and city-famous - breakfast sandwiches, served on Philly pretzel bread. Its OG location is in a 150-year-old barroom in Fitler Square, its second is in East Kensington. Two chances to grab some great coffee and yet another great Philly sandwich.

Fans Recommend: Breakfast sandwiches. Salted caramel latte.

Our fans’ top spot to watch the beautiful game in Philly is Fairmount’s neighborhood pub the Black Taxi. This authentic Irish spot in North Philadelphia is a proper premier-league-obsessed, early-opening, packed-for-games pub. Leeds and Liverpool supporters call it home, but the walls are covered with scarves from all over the footballing world. Add in a mix of Eagles paraphernalia and Ireland flags and you’ve got a combination of green that somehow makes all the beer taste better.  The food is A+ pub food - of course they have a great cheesesteak - and they’re open til 2am every night. Stop by for the craic.

Fans recommend: Chicken fingers. Cheesesteak. Fish and chips.

The local South Street sports bar Founding Fathers is your counter to Black Taxi as the best place to watch the games this summer. A big, bricked-out modern American city sports bar, Founding Fathers is home to the Philly Spurs, and they were very active in our recommendations, inviting new fans to their home-away-from-home. 13 TVs, 20 taps, a ton of space. and they can turn it into an open-air situation during the summer. The location on South Street is great if you’re bopping around to other spots. Can also serve as a pregame destination as well - a sub-15-minute walk to the subway to get to the stadium.

Our Philly fans hit the Irish pub and the American sports bar, and they finish the treble with their favorite German bierhall, Brauhaus Schmitz. Another great South Street option, the Brauhaus has been the official bar of the Philadelphia Union and the home of the Bundesliga Fan Coalition since it opened in 2009. It also is one of the most recognized beer halls in the country, offering more authentic German beer than anywhere else outside of Deutschland. Most importantly, the World Cup watch parties here are an institution — they’ll shut down the street for a block party that will probably be the best in the city.

Fans recommend: Stammer Max. Schweinhaxe. Haus-made sausages.

Our fans’ other favorite Irish pub — the one with the red door in Rittenhouse Square, a.k.a. the Black Sheep Pub. Tucked into the corner of a three-story colonial townhouse just off the square, Black Sheep has been a neighborhood anchor since 1999. Antique bars, a working fireplace, great shepherd’s pie - absolutely nails the classic Irish pub atmosphere. The food is great and the drink is plentiful, they’ve got over 80 kinds of beer from around the world and a top-tier bourbon/whiskey/scotch list. Add another elite option to the stacked list of Philly places to WATCH.

The only sports bar in Chinatown might be the best sports bar in the whole city. Lion Sports Bar opened right in the heart of Philly - blocks from Reading Market and City Hall - only last year. It’s already become a local favorite, thanks to its 35 screens, great drinks, and $1 wings all day every day. The x-factor at Lion is their food - as one of the few sports bars with an executive chef, they combo bar food with classic Chinese-American and offer bangers like General Tso’s nachos, Szechuan fried chicken, and cheesesteak egg rolls. An awesome and unique cultural combination offered up by the City of Brotherly Love for you this summer.

Fans recommend: Soup dumplings. General Tso's nachos. Beef skewers.

We can’t get through all of Philadelphia without talking about the neighborhood where the United States was invented: Old City. Our fan’s most recommended neighborhood to wander around in while you’re here. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Elfreth's Alley - the oldest continuously inhabited street in the country - are all within a few blocks of each other. The history and the cobblestone side streets give way to shops, bars, and restaurants that are some of the best in the city. All right along the Delaware River Waterfront. When America celebrates its 250th b-day on July 4th, this is the place to be.

Philly locals want to make sure you know…yes, run the famous Philly steps, and yes, do the Rocky pose. Go for it. And when you’re done, go inside - because, as you may or may not know, those steps go up to one of the great art museums in the world, home to 240,000 objects across 200 galleries covering everything from medieval armor to Duchamp to a 16th-century Indian temple hall. The Philly Museum of Art was the single most recommended site to see in the city by the people who live there. And for the summer, they’re spinning up the perfect exhibit for the oncoming masses - Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments, combo’ing the cultural and colonial history of one of America’s great cities.

A South Street institution since 1998 and our fans’ most recommended local Philly shop -  Repo Records. It takes its name from the 1984 cult classic movie “Repo Man,” and that’s really all you need to know about the energy of this place. Bright colors, passionate staff, a secret basement with $1 LPs - it’s doing all the things a great local music shop should. They cover all genres, from metal to jazz, punk rock to hip hop, soul, r&b, indie, and classic rock. New and used vinyl. Events and parties all the time. Add it to your list of South Street spots to hit.

Our fans’ favorite Philly bookshop is the locally-owned independent gem Head House Books. Tucked just off South Street near Headhouse Square, this little shop has been a community staple since 2005. They pride themselves on their curated selection of titles and maintaining the ideal atmosphere for your literary selecting experience. An independent book store alive and thriving for over 20 years, and one of Philly’s best.

Philadelphia has some awesome original clothing shops, and one the fans shouted out the most is the Passyunk Ave gem South Fellini. If you want to take home something authentic and creative from your Philly visit that you won’t find anywhere else, this is the spot. Tees, hats, sweaters, and beanies with custom designs starring South Philly, the Eagles, the Phillies, and the Phanatic, among other characters. The store also has a free Blockbuster section, free comics, and an infamous mannequin named Emmy. The vibe matches the swag. Some IYKYK Philly aesthetics to take with you and show off.