Better than any prime time awards show, Philadelphia Magazine’s elite, “Best of Philly” accolade is one that is near and dear to our hearts. This honor is bestowed on a handful of the city’s most popular and beloved businesses each year, and as expected, 2015’s list didn’t disappoint! Here are our top 10 favorite winners from this year’s “Best of Philly” nods.
Best Quick Serve Lunch- Dizengoff:
Looking for the perfect lunch spot to get your grub on? We fell in love with Michael Solomonov’s hummusiya Dizengoff immediately! Known for serving high quality food in a low-key environment, this casual eat-in/take-out spot in Rittenhouse serves the best hummus you’ve ever tasted. Get there early before they sell out!
Best Beer Garden- Drury Beer Garden:
This local hangout is the perfect outdoor spot to unwind after a long day at the office. Tucked right behind Opa in the Gayborhood, Drury Beer Garden has made our recurring This Week in Philly list a few times for offering the finest beers and yummy Mediterranean snacks in a cute little fenced in venue, complete with Jenga.
Best Shore Boutique- Ellelauri:
Our good friends at Ellelauri have great taste AND an amazing line of affordable apparel. From wrap dresses to bold and vibrant statement necklaces and everything in between, Ellelauri has celebs and local ladies like us swooning! Shop online or visit one of their out their retail locations in Avalon, Rittenhouse, or The Shops at Liberty Place. Did we mention their clothes are made in the USA?
Best Over-the-top Beauty Treatment- Hard Day’s Night at Lush Spa:
You might not even realize it, but Lush isn’t just an awesome shop that sells yummy scented bath bombs and made-with-love lotions. They have a spa, too! Only offered in New York and Philadelphia, the spa services at Lush are absolutely amazing! We are dying to try the Hard Days Night massage, which is set to a remixed Beatles soundtrack.
Best BYOB Restaurant- Helm:
Chefs Kevin D’Egidio and Michael Griffiths put together an incredibly inventive menu that’s constantly evolving to showcase the freshest ingredients from local farms. The cuisine screams fine dining, but the casual, BYO atmosphere is light and lively. This tiny Kensington restaurant may be short on space, but it seems all of Philly’s best BYO’s are!
Best Happy Hour, Booze- Hop Sing Laundromat:
Looking for a sexy place to sip away the happiest hour of the day? Hop Sing Laundromat is one of our ideal spots to hang out on a Saturday night. In fact, we’ve been huge fans of this exclusive speakeasy since its opening in 2012. Stop by from 5 to 7 p.m. for high-end booze at insanely low prices.
Best Urban Transportation– Indego Bikes:
It doesn’t take a mind reader to guess that sitting in traffic is probably one of your biggest complaints about our otherwise lovely city. Indego Bikes is the answer to your rush hour prayers! A joint effort by the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities, BCycle, LLC, and Bicycle Transit Systems, Indego offers hourly bike rentals from any of their conveniently located bike stations in the city.
Best Coffee Shop- La Colombe in Fishtown:
If you don’t spend a lot of time in Fishtown, you wouldn’t believe the gems you can find in this charming, progressing neighborhood! One of our favorite spots to visit is La Colombe’s main outpost on Frankford Ave. With its two kitchens, distillery, and a plethora of beer, wine, rum, and lattes on draft (that’s right, lattes on draft!), this isn’t like any coffee shop you’ve ever seen before!
Best Restaurant- Laurel:
Top Chef winner Nicholas Elmi exceeded expectations when he opened Laurel in 2013. With its nightly seven-course tasting menu, his restaurant takes American-French cuisine to a whole new level of deliciousness. Even two years after its debut, good luck getting a prime time reservation! Check out OpenTable if you want to score a coveted seat at the tiny BYO – and prepare to do so a few months in advance.
Best Gay Night Out- Our Night Out:
Thrown by our amazing client, the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF), Our Night Out is an opportunity for the gay community to network while checking out some of the hottest places in the city. Check out Thursday’s event at Morgan’s Pier if you want to join in the fun and support Philly’s LGBT community!
Tonight the winners and nominees will be celebrated during Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly Soiree at Dilworth Plaza! General admission begins at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are still available. Grab a cocktail, and we’ll see you on the dance floor under the stars!
Who were you excited to see make this year’s prestigious “Best of Philly” list?
