If you're flying to New York, head to Pennsylvania, widely acknowledged as the diner capital of the US. You can do day hikes in the mountains, see some pleasant if not beautiful cities (Philly and Pittsburgh) and eat classic diner food (scrapple, cheesesteaks, mounds of pancakes). Not too far to drive, and also home of the birth of the American interstate. Also much cheaper than staying anywhere near New York.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This South Street sushi house is the kind of place I'd imagine one could find in Japan. It's rather small, so it's not geared towards romantic or fancy dining. It's more of a great lunch, quick dinner, or, as it generally closes at 11pm (or 11:30 pm on the weekends) late night sushi spot. As for the sushi itself, it's very good and the prices are reasonable. They offer the best spider roll (a soft shell crab maki roll) I've ever had. You can get it in 12 peices for just over $10, which can be a meal in itself. And if you live close by, they even deliver.

240 South St, Philadelphia, PA.
Maki House on Citysearch: philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/37946380/philadelphia_pa/maki_house.html

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This Japanese restaurant in Center City, close to the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, is fantastic. It features two floors of Japanese cuisine, with a cocktail bar on the third floor and karaoke bar on the fourth. The food is great, and the kitchen is open until 1:30am every night of the week. A friend sent me the link to their site as we were searching for late night sushi, and I was amazed at what he'd found. For late night dining, they seat you on the second floor, with its subdued lighting and intimate atmosphere. I love this place. Can't recommend it enough.

2030 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. URL: fujimt.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It is THE shopping street of philly. There are some shops which are difficult to find even in Manhanttan since they are shops that originally started out in Philly, eg Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, etc. An added bonus is a branch of ING bank right on Walnut that offers free internet and where refreshments are served - a perfect hiatus from all the shopping to catch up on your emails. Weary shoppers can round off their day by getting their well earned rest in Rittenhouse Square, one of the most pleasant green spots in Philly. Walnut Street also has some of the best and most expensive restaurants to boot. One of my favourites is a Japanese restaurant called Shiroi Hana just off Walnut street on the 15th.

philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/ 8946424/philadelphia_pa/shiroi_hana_restaurant.html

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This is a Chinese restaurant in Hatboro, just outside Philadelphia. It's a little bit off the beaten track but the unique blend of Korean and Northern Chinese food is well worth it. Northern Chinese-style sweet and sour pork and black bean noodles (jjajangmyeon) are just two of the highlights.

Ming's Chinese Restaurant, 121 S York Rd, Hatboro, PA 19040-3232
Tel : (001) 215 674 8804

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A Burmese restaurant located north 9th Street just to the north of Arch Street. Something unique but satisfying for almost anyone who likes either curries, Chinese, or Thai or all of the above. Try thousand layer bread with potato curry dip and chili shrimp.

112 North 9th Street, www.phillychinatown.com/rangoon.htm

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This is a wonderful Tuscan BYOB (bring your own bottle) in a pretty area. It's an unpretentious, friendly neighborhood place with simple, fresh dishes. Very reasonably priced for such high quality, with entrees between $12-20. Also outdoor tables in summer. But they don't take reservations so it's best to get there around 6. Closed Mondays and August.

2201 Spruce Street (corner of 22nd St), Philadelphia, PA. (215) 875-8116

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The approach to the Reading Terminal indoor market – part city centre farmers' market, part vast deli – is not too impressive. South to north you cross Market Street at 12th Street, keeping the giant guitar of the Hard Rock Cafe hard to your right, and enter through pavement level glass doors with a municipal look to them.

Inside it is a different matter. Aisles upon aisles of juice bars, fish mongers, Thai soup and sandwich stalls offer one of the most diverse eating experiences you can have in the city. If you so wished, you could lunch here daily and never get bored – soaking up the well-fed atmosphere under the multicolour hues of neon signs displaying such legends as "EAT FISH LIVE LONGER" and "Rick's Philly Steaks".

The Philly Steak - supposedly popularised when a passing cab driver smelt the original Rick adding melting cheese and fried onions to his steak sandwich and asked for one himself - is something of a Philadelphia institution. To my tastes, it was less than the sum of its parts, but the similarly exulted hoagie (multiple Italian cold meats wrapped around onions, tomatoes, oil and vinegar in a long bread roll) was a snack without parallel.

You can get a good hoagie across Philadelphia, particularly in the delis around the outdoor Italian Market below South Street. But what you get in the indoor market are real life Pennsylvania Dutch (the group that includes the Amish) who make the trip from Lancaster County to the big city three times a week to sell their farm and farmhouse produce. One of the overlooked advantages of maintaining an 18th-century lifestyle is the quality of cream you can get when such practices as pasteurisation and other contemporary methods of dairy farming are regarded as among the worst of the modern world. Try a dollop with some apple pie. Then go for a long walk.

12th and Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

www.readingterminalmarket.org

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Bump is a gay/mixed bar and restaurant in Center City. Go for happy hour (5-7pm) when all cocktails are $3, or go later for dinner. I recommend the crab cakes with remoulade, rice and wilted spinach.

1234 Locust Street Philadelphia 19107;
www.bumplounge.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends