Where to Eat at Philadelphia International Airport

A lot has changed.

By marielle mondon

Published on 18/11/2020 at 10:59 PM

Restrictions for holiday gatherings just got a lot more extensive in Philadelphia. As the city just recently rolled out the new Safer at Home policies that will extend from now through January 1, holiday festivities will look very different this year. If you still find yourself skipping town and gearing up to face the Philadelphia International Airport, come fully masked and prepared for shifted hours and availability when it comes to food.

As always, PHL offers a lovely sampling of comfort foods to signature Philly dishes, from the best coffee in town to the best cheesesteaks. Even better: The airport recently rolled out a delivery option to make getting food that much safer for travelers. We’ve gathered our favorite eating options from every PHL terminal that are still open-but keep tabs here on the ever-changing hours and policies in the age of COVID-19. And to travel extra safely, check PHL’s latest travel advisories here.

TERMINAL A – EAST

La Colombe

Closest Gate: A3
Also open in B/C Connector and Terminal E
The Philly-based coffee roaster is a no-brainer for any caffeine-fueled trip to or from Philly, and you can rest assured their PHL locations are open during Covid-19 most mornings and evenings. If you’re in a hurry, get a frothy draft latte on tap with a fresh, fluffy pastry.

Piattino

Closest Gate: A9
Get fire-baked pizza on the go with Piattino, which has an 800-degree, stone-fired oven to easily elevate your fast-casual airport food. In addition to pizza, you can get pasta, paninis, and breakfast items. Consider especially the wild mushroom pizza made with truffle oil.

TERMINAL A – WEST

AMEX Centurion Lounge

Closest gate: A14
If you’re bougie enough to be an American Express Platinum Card or Centurion member, enjoy one of the nicest corners of the airport at Centurion Lounge. Spearheaded by Michael Solomonov, the mastermind behind Zahav, you’ll enjoy a Mediterranean menu plus beer, wine, and cocktails. The lounge is open from 6 am to 7 pm during the pandemic.

A/B LINK

Farmer’s Fridge

Also available in C/D Link
For something easy you can carry on your flight, Farmer’s Fridge is the best choice to stay healthy even as you travel. At these vending machines, you’ll find fresh fruit, salads, and bowls that are made from scratch and delivered nightly to assure freshness and deliciousness.

CONCOURSE B/C CONNECTOR

Vino Volo

Also in D/E Connector
Chances are that anywhere you eat or drink in the airport will be overpriced compared to alternatives out in the real world, but if you’re wanting a legit wine list and don’t mind spending the extra bucks, Vino Volo is your spot. You can also snag all the foods best enjoyed with wine: artisanal cheese, crostini, charcuterie, and more.

Geno’s Steaks

One of Philadelphia’s most famous cheesesteak spots has an airport edition to give passengers the chance to have a Philly cheesesteak even during the shortest of layovers. Besides the legendary cheesesteak (which has been serving out of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue since 1966), pork sandwiches, cheese fries, and breakfast items are all on the menu.

Gachi House of Sushi & Noodles

Also available in Terminal E near gate E3
Sometimes sushi at the airport is actually a great idea. Traditional and chef selection sushi rolls, poke, rice bowls, bento boxes, and warm noodles are at your disposal and can rival what you might find out dining beyond the airport confines.

Smash Burger

Also in Terminal F
Smashburger is your best bet for a short-on-time burger that still hits the spot. The fast-casual spot serves classic burgers (including veggie options) and fries, and also has order-ahead options which come quite handy in light of current public healthy-and when you’re in a rush.

TERMINAL B

Independence Prime

Closest gate: B6
Kevin Sbraga’s tavern/steakhouse hybrid is your go-to for a filling meal with a big wine and beer selection to boot (plus a kids’ menu). The place is open from 5:30 am to 8:30 pm daily, so it’s a good stop if you need an early morning breakfast to charge you up for the day. Speaking of charging, you’ll find plenty of spots to juice up your devices throughout.

Mezzogiorno

Closest gate: B11
Design your own individually sized, Neapolitan-style pizza and round out your airport feast with antipasti, truffle fries, arancini, or a cheese plate at Mezzogiorno, where you can choose from a Southern Italy wine list and locally curated beer menu. It’s a fairly casual setting but with many elevated things to taste.

Noobar

Closest gate: B6
Noobar offers grab-and-go gourmet market options, a breakfast and egg bar, and plenty of dumplings, rice, ramen, and maki roll options to craft your ideal layover. Like many Terminal B restaurants, iPad ordering streamlines the process and gives you a chance to pause and charge your devices.

TERMINAL C

Aldo Lamberti Trattoria

Closest gate: C23
The owners of Old City’s Positano Coast and Caffe Aldo Lambert in Cherry Hill, NJ are behind this Italian eatery, which offers by-the-slice pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and a breakfast menu, all of which are best enjoyed when you’re on the go. It’s a pleasant surprise in the world of airport food.

Bud & Marilyn’s

Near security
One of Center City’s very best restaurants has an airport outpost to get a taste of the Philly dining scene from the confines of your terminal. Bud & Marilyn’s channels that swanky mid-century modern vibe that feels even more Mad Men between flights. Don’t skip the cheddar cheese curds or Nashville hot chicken for a quick little something to hit the spot.

Jim’s Steaks

Closest gate: C24
From South Street to south of your gate, Jim’s Steaks is a cheesesteak must for anyone in Philly, tourist or otherwise. This is your chance to try it yourself between flights, so get ready to pack a couple hundred years of cheesesteak-making history into your layover lunch.

TERMINAL D

Bar Symon

Closest gate: D9
This is your go-to to stay full enough to forgo whatever questionable flight meal is being served. Lola fries (which come in rosemary, Parmesan, poutine, and pulled pork varieties) might be satisfying enough, but you could always expand your stomach further with one of the bar’s burgers, like the Thanksgiving-themed Gobbler or the pastrami-filled Fat Doug. Plus, you can order the bun gluten free.

TERMINAL E

Chickie’s and Pete’s

Closest gate: E5
Also in Terminal C and D/E Connector
Crab fries are the quintessential item at this Philly-area classic, but the spot is also key for the classic sports-and-beer combo while you wait for your connecting flight. There’s also a pretty kick-packing Bloody Mary worth your attention as well.

TERMINAL F

Local Tavern

Closest gate: F11
This is the airport go-to for the best beer and wine selection in the vicinity, which you can pair with higher quality pub fare including mussels, fried calamari, and fancy sandwiches. The bar is an elegant spot to waste some time or watch the game, and tables are each outfitted with iPads where you can order and pay. And, as always, don’t sleep on the outlet availability!

LeBus Cafe

Closest gate: F10
Self-styled as “Philadelphia’s hometown bakery,” LeBus is already well-known and well-loved in the city for fresh, daily bread that varies from pastry to baguette to bagel to, well, everything else. Choose from the sandwich menu or simply grab a danish and giant cookie with your coffee to go.Sign up here for our daily Philly email and be the first to get all the food/drink/fun in town.

Marielle Mondon is a writer in Philadelphia. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Philadelphia

Museum Exhibits in Philly to Check Out Before They Disappear

Get in some culture (and selfies) at the best art exhibits in Philadelphia.

By allie volpe

Published on 06/03/2023 at 07:22

From the historical to the artistic, Philadelphia is jam packed with museums. Art aficionados of all ages can get lost inside the likes of tourist-friendly museums like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of the American Revolution or feast their eyes on unique exhibitions at institutions like the Fabric Workshop and Museum and the Museum for Art In Wood.

Between big-ticket exhibitions honouring the House of Mouse to collections showcasing the legacy of a prominent Black family in early America, there’s plenty of material to dig into. After you’ve planned a date night and rounded up friends to explore the city, here are the most exciting museum exhibits in Philly right now-before they’re gone for good.

The Franklin Institute

Exhibition: Disney 100: The Exhibition
Mickey Mouse, you look good for your age. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Disney is a retrospective exhibition, which got its world premiere right here in Philly. Between rarely-seen artworks and artifacts, costumes and props, and interactive installations where you can listen to hit Disney songs, the exhibit is a Disney lover’s wish-upon-a-star-come-true.
Dates: Until August 27, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Monday through Sunday. Tickets are available online and at the door.

Academy of Natural Sciences

Exhibition: Conversations With Birds
No, not an allusion to the Eagles, this exhibition is dedicated to actual birds, their migration patterns, and humans’ relationship with avian creatures. Expect avian photography and video by local birders and wildlife photographers along with an interactive exhibit showing five migratory birds that pass through the Philadelphia region on their seasonal passage between North and South America.
Dates: Until May 21, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets are available online or at the door.

The Barnes Foundation

Exhibition: Sue Williamson & Lebohang Kganye: Tell Me What You Remember
The work of two contemporary South African artists-Sue Williamson and Lebohang Kganye-are shown side by side, offering a cross-generational dialogue. Both artists utilize video installations, photographs, sculptural installations, and textiles “to consider how the stories our elders tell us shape family narratives and personal identities.”
Dates: Until May 21, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Thursday through Monday. Advanced tickets are recommended.

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History

Exhibition: The Future Will Follow the Past: An Exhibition by Jonathan Horowitz
Exploring the rapid change of societal issues in America since 2020-antisemitism, racial violence, immigration, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights-Jonathan Horowitz designed installations inspired by recent occurrences. His works explore specific events like the infamous far-right rally from white supremacists in Charlottesville as well as recent themes in American history, like attacks on those within the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Dates: Until July 4, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Friday through Sunday. Admission is available online and at the door.

The Museum for Art In Wood

Exhibition: The Mashrabiya Project
The newly renamed Museum for Art in Wood (formerly The Center for Art In Wood) celebrates the rebrand with a brand new project. Focusing on mashrabiya, the traditional Islamic architectural design, The Mashrabiya Project is a first of its kind effort in the U.S. to examine this aesthetic. As a part of the larger mission, a new exhibition Seeing Through Space features newly-commissioned, never-before-seen works by six female-identifying artists.
Dates: Until July 23, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets are not required.

Fabric Workshop and Museum

Exhibition: Henry Taylor: Nothing Change, Nothing Strange
Combining painting and sculpture, Henry Taylor utilized recycled objects in this exhibition, the product of an 18-month residency. The entire second floor of the museum houses the large scale assemblages, tapestries, and textiles. Think: 30-foot billowing canvases and towering totems created from compressed blocks of paint buckets, vinyl home siding, and black plastic planters.
Dates: Until July 23, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Walk up admission is available but advanced registration is encouraged.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Exhibition: Judith Joy Ross
More than 200 photographs from renowned portrait photographer Judith Joy Ross will be on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, chronicling her career from the 1980s to today. Her black-and-white portraits are intimate reflections of everyday Americans, and this show features work from all her major projects, plus, never-before-seen images.
Dates: April 24 to August 6, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Thursday through Monday. Advanced tickets are recommended.

American Swedish Historical Museum

Exhibition: Radically Marimekko
Famous for their bright and bold fabrics, Finnish textiles, clothing, and home furnishings, the company Marimekko is showcased at this special exhibit. Drawing attention to Finnish design, the collection traces the brand’s path from industrial art house to fashion icon.
Dates: March 30 to September 24, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Walk up admission is available.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and African American Museum in Philadelphia

Exhibition: Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America
A collaboration between the African American Museum in Philadelphia and PAFA, Rising Sun showcases new work from 20 artists examining the question of Is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy? With pieces shown in both museums, visitors can reflect on, challenge, and expand their view of democracy through art.
Dates: March 23 to October 8, 2023
How to visit: The African American Museum in Philadelphia is open Thursday through Sunday; admission is available online and at the door. PAFA is open Thursday through Sunday; admission can be purchased in advance or at the door.

Museum of the American Revolution

Exhibition: Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia
James Forten may not be a familiar name within early American history, but this new exhibit at the Museum of the American Revolution is looking to change that. Telling the story of Forten and his family through 100 historical artifacts, Black Founders explores the Forten family’s roles in the Revolutionary War, business in Philadelphia, and the abolitionist movement.
Dates: Until November 26, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open daily. Admission is available online and at the door.

National Constitution Center

Exhibition: The 19th Amendment: How Women Won The Vote
That lofty document known as the Constitution and its values, interpretations, and amendments are explored in great detail at the National Constitution Center, naturally. This semi-permanent exhibit examines the 19th Amendment-the one which granted women the right to vote-and the road to its ratification. Out of the near 100 artifacts, expect to see a rare printing of the Declaration of Sentiments from the first women’s convention at Seneca Falls, a ballot box used to collect women’s votes in the late 1800s, Pennsylvania’s ratification copy of the 19th Amendment, and various “Votes for Women” ephemera.
Dates: Semi-permanent, no end date announced
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Advanced tickets are recommended.

Mütter Museum

Exhibition: Spit Spreads Death
Eerily topical, the Mütter’s latest special exhibit, Spit Spreads Death, an exhibit about the 1918 flu pandemic, opened in the fall of 2019, less than six months before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The exhibit traces the disease’s spread throughout Philadelphia neighbourhoods a century ago and how the pandemic impacted the city with artifacts like photos, newspaper clippings, and more.
Dates: Now through 2024
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Monday. Advanced tickets are required.

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Allie Volpe is a writer based in Philadelphia. She hasn’t slept in days. Follow her on Twitter: @allieevolpe.