TripOut Gay Travel:
Philadelphia
Gay Friendly Rating:
Very welcoming; this place is gay-tastic!
The home of American independence boasts style, history and a fun gay scene.
Philadelphia Fast Facts:
- Gayborhood Much of the gay 'hood is concentrated along 11th Street to Broad Street, and from Chestnut Avenue to Pine Avenue in Center City. Check it out!
- Go Philly! Philadelphia's official tourism resource (http://www.gophila.com/gay) is your first stop on the internet for all things Philadelphia. Check out its gay-specific sections, with tons of dish on what's hot!
- Need to Read? Pick up Philly's local gay paper, Philadelphia Gay News. Online, the Philly Gay Calendar is a great site dishing up event and club listings and local queer stuff, and it's also worth a look!
- Alt Rocks! Two comprehensive free alternative weeklies - City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly - are available all over the city in street corner boxes.
- Go Public! Public transport includes buses and the SEPTA Rail/Subway system. The Market-Frankford line runs along Market and can easily get you from the 30th Street train station (the Amtrak and regional rail hub) to the City Center or University City. Tokens are $2 each; cheaper if you buy more.
- Cheese, Please! You can't visit Philly without sampling an authentic Philly Cheesesteak. During daylight hours, head to Jim's at 400 South Street - but get there before noon if you want to avoid lines. Traditionalists order their steaks with "Whiz," a liquid slathering of Cheese Whiz. Virgins: Go whiz!
- Ice Ice Baby! Another Philly staple is the water ice (read: Italian ices). With its wide selection of flavors, Rita's Water Ice at 235 South Street is almost always busy.
- Got Popcorn? Screen queens visit during July's QFest (formerly the Philly Int'l Gay & Lesiban Film Fest), for loads of special guests, queer movie premieres, and events packed into 10 days (see http://www.qfest.com/).
- DVD Me! Prolific gay movie distribution company, TLA Releasing, is headquartered in Philly. Their rental/retail stores are all over the city and well worth a visit for great LGBT titles.
- Head for the Hill More specifically, Philly's Chestnut Hill is a lovely well-to-do suburb blending small town charm with modern, high-end indulgences. Lovely shops and restaurants line Germantown Avenue, including the award-winning full-service 3000 BC Spa, possibly the best spa in the region. This hot 'hood is only a short drive from Philly's City Center.
Brotherly love isn’t always merely platonic in the historic yet chicly modern city of Philadelphia. Nor is it the only draw. An extremely queer-friendly destination – their official tourism campaign includes the slogan “Get Your History...
Read More Philadelphia: Love and...
Philadelphia Top 5
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Recommended In Philadelphia:
Hotels & Inns
- Club Quarters 1628 Chestnut Street
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Hotel Palomar 117 South 17th Street
- Sofitel 120 South 17th Street
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The Alexander Inn 12th and Spruce Streets
- The Independent 1234 Locust Street
- Westin Philadelphia 99 South 17th Street
Restaurants
- Alma De Cuba 1623 Walnut Street
- Amada 217-219 Chestnut Street
- Barclay Prime 237 South 18th Street
- Buddakan 325 Chestnut Street
- Butcher & Singer 1500 Walnut Street
- Capogiro Gelatiria 119 South 13th Street
- El Vez 121 South 13th Street
-
Lacroix 210 West Rittenhouse Square
- Lolita 106 South 13th Street
- Marathon Grill Various locations
- Mixto 1141 Pine Street
- Monk's Cafe 16th & Spruce Streets
- Morimoto 723 Chestnut Street
- Nineteen 200 S. Broad Street
- Parc 227 S. 18th Street
- Pod 3636 Sanson Street
- Rita's Water Ice 235 South Street
- Tangerine 232 Market Street
- The Continental 1801 Chestnut Street
- The Oceanaire Seafood Room 700 Walnut Street
- Tinto 114 South 20th Street
- Tria 1137 Spruce Street
- Zahav 237 St.James Place
Bars & Clubs
- 12th Air Command 254 South 12th Street
- Bump 1234 Locust Street
- Pure 1221 Saint James Street
- Sal's on 12th 200 South 12th Street
- Shampoo Willow between 7th & 8th Streets
- Sisters 1320 Chancellor Street
- The Bike Stop 206 South Quince Street
- Woody's 202 South 13th Street
Shopping
- AKA Music 27 North 2nd Street
- Duross & Langel 117 South 13th Street
- Giovanni's Room 345 South 12th Street
Sights & Activities
- 3000 BC Spa 8439 Germantown Avenue
- Liberty Bell 6th Street and Market
- Mutter Museum 19 South 22nd Street
- Philadelphia Museum of Art 26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Reading Terminal Market 12th and Arch Streets
- Rescue Spa 255 South 17th Street
- Rittenhouse Square
Events
- Equality Forum 1420 Locust Street, Suite 300
- Philadelphia Cinefest 234 Market St.
- Philadelphia Film Festival 600 Chestnut St
- Philadelphia QFest
More Philadelphia: Related Websites
- http://www.gophila.com/gay Philly's official gay tourism resource. A great site full of invaluable LGBT info!
- http://www.epgn.com Philly's local gay paper, Philadelphia Gay News.
- http://www.expmagazine.com EXP Magazine, features nightlife listings and resources.
- http://www.edgephiladelphia.com/ Edge Philadelphia is worth a look.
Philadelphia: Love and Liberty