June 01, 2026
Michael Tanenbaum/PhillyVoice
Gather Food Hall occupies a 13,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the Bulletin Building in University City.
Philadelphia is bracing for a surge in tourism this summer with dozens of events directly or indirectly associated with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Translation: Expect long lines at the Liberty Bell, Rocky statue and anywhere else that could be viewed as quintessentially Philly by anyone from outside the Delaware Valley.
To help expand out-of-towners' appreciation of what's authentic to the area, we've compiled lists of alternatives to 10 tourist hot spots in the city. (We apologize if we're blowing up your favorite neighborhood spot.)
For this collection of staff picks, we've recommended some food hubs that are not the highly acclaimed Reading Terminal Market. Look, the culinary mecca is worth getting lost in its grid-designed maze at least once. Ditching it is like going to Seattle and steering clear of the Public Market. But the famous indoor hall that's home to over 80 vendors can be a bit overwhelming — especially during lunch on the weekends.
If you're trying to check out a comparable food hub without the masses tagging along, check out these dining destinations instead:
The Italian Market is one of the largest outdoor food hubs in the country.
As long as you’re willing to muscle through some crowds, the Italian Market is in a league of its own. It’s one of the largest open-air food markets in the country and has some of the best meat, coffee and baked goods in the city — if not the region. While the opportunity to watch some truly deranged people attempt to climb a greased pole has passed this year, there is still plenty to explore. You also can’t visit Philadelphia without going to (nearby) Isgro Pastries. I don’t make the rules! - Molly McVety
The city's community of Lao and Cambodian immigrants started selling food out of FDR Park in '80s. Decades later, it's still running most Saturdays and Sundays while the weather is warm (roughly early spring until mid-autumn). The tents have expanded over the years to include Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cuisine, as well as some housewares. Expect authentic dishes like fried sesame balls and lumpia spring rolls — and bring cash. Many vendors accept nothing else. - Kristin Hunt
Gather Food Hall opened last year at the Bulletin Building in University City.
Located directly across from 30th Street Station, Gather Food Hall is a relative newcomer in Philly. The food court occupies the ground floor of the former Philadelphia Bulletin newspaper. All of the vendors are local businesses. Sahbyy Food has Southeast Asian flavors. Mucho Peru has Peruvian cuisine. El Mictlan has traditional Mexican food and Bowl'd Masala offers healthy options. There's also Assembly Pizza Co.and Federal Donuts for coffee, pastries and fried chicken. For a visitor, it's a great spot to grab a bite and then head over to 30th Street Station to take in the neoclassical and Art Deco architecture. - Michael Tanenbaum
8221 Germantown Ave.
Behind the Chestnut Hill Hotel sits a modern market with 15 vendors that's open Wednesdays to Sundays. The food hall offers fresh produce, a butcher shop and deli, as well as an array of prepared foods from pizza to BBQ to sushi. The move is to pick from the many lunch options, grab a beer from the attached Chestnut Hill Brewing Company and find a seat at one of the colorful outdoor seating options that's scattered around the sprawling concourse. Then after your meal, head back into the market to pick up a raw steak to grill up for dinner. - Jeff Tomik
