Welcome to Old City
Old City is the perfect neighborhood for new beginnings.
Its occasionally-cobble-stoned streets have witnessed the birth of a new country. They’ve seen the rebirth of the city as a haven for the arts, while gallery after gallery sprang up along the waterfront. They’re still an ongoing and vital part of the city’s evolution into a tech-forward community, as startups and co-working spaces continue to open up within its borders.
It’s also a neighborhood where you can begin a new interest in just about anything.
Like theater, for instance. There’s the Arden, which throws award-winning plays in its theater spaces, and incredible bashes in the lobby. There’s also Christ Church Neighborhood House, a performance venue known for more experimental productions, and a not-to-be-missed destination during Fringe Festival every September. Or if independent film is more your style, choose from any of three Ritz movie theaters.
Or the arts, of course. You can stop by any number of Old City galleries anytime. But during the First Friday of every month, gallery spaces, shops and public venues throughout the neighborhood keep their doors open late – and beckon visitors inside with wine samples, free treats, and all the arts openings you can handle.
Then, there’s all that history. There’s well-known tourist destinations, like the Betsy Ross House and Independence Hall. But there’s also the oldest residential street in America (by 300 years!), Elfreth’s Alley, still inhabited by Philadelphia residents today. Or the still-operating City Tavern, an excellent restaurant with a rebel past – it’s the pub where gents like Ben Franklin and Alexander Hamilton used to talk of revolution with their beers.
And it just keeps on getting better with every new beginning. Boutique shops, restaurants, bars, ice cream parlors: whatever your interest or taste, there’s something new (or really, really old) already there to satisfy it.
Life in Old City:
Schools:
Grades K-8:
Independence Charter School
1600 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
215-238-8000
independencecharter.org
Grades 7-12:
Mastery Charter High School
5700 Wayne Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-866-9000
masterycharter.org
Grades 9-12:
Constitution High School
18 S. 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-400-7850
constitutionhs.philasd.org
Charter High School for Architecture and Design
107 S. 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-351-2900
chadphila.org
Dining and Nightlife:
The Franklin Fountain
116 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
franklinfountain.com
City Tavern
138 S. Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
citytavern.com
Moshulu
401 S. Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19106
moshulu.com
Cuba Libre
10 South Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
cubalibrerestaurant.com
National Mechanics
22 S. Third Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
nationalmechanics.com
JJ Bootleggers
35 S. Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
jjbootleggers.com
Shopping:
Art in the Age
116 N. Third Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
artintheage.com
United by Blue
144 N. Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
unitedbyblue.com
Sugarcube
124 N. Third Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
sugarcube.us
The Book Trader
7 N. Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
phillybooktrader.com
Scarlett Alley
241 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
scarlettalley.com
Smak Parlour
219 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
smakparlour.com
Transportation:
Old City is easily accessible via SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line with stops at 5th and 2nd & Market Streets. A large number of Bus Routes also make stops in Penn’s Landing and the seasonal PHLASH bus offers convenient access to Philadelphia’s top attractions from the Independence Visitor Center.
Source: iseptaphilly.com
Real Estate Stats:
As of January 2018, the Old City neighborhood has seen 182 units sold, with an average list price of $718,582, and an average sales price of $626,365. Average days on the market: 75.