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Rittenhouse Square

Location

This friendly and lively area spans from Broad Street to the Schuylkill River, and Market Street to Pine Street. It is truly right in the heart of the city and is easily accessible by public transportation. But it will be walking distance from everything in Center City, which is a major appeal of this neighborhood. 

The Vibe

Rittenhouse Square has a high-end urban city feel. It’s one of the most expensive, long standing and iconic areas in Philadelphia. This is where you’ll feel the hustle-bustle of big city life. It also has a European feel with outdoor cafes and narrow streets to wander. Here you’ll find many of the best restaurants in the city, iconic local Philly shops, high-end stores, galleries, theaters and absolutely stunning homes. 

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Then right in the center of it all is a serene and beautiful park, which is one of the best parts of this neighborhood and is one of the original 5 city squares. The peaceful park is lined with benches, huge trees, grassy areas to pop down on a blanket. It’s great for sunbathers, readers, artists, families and many dogs. It's an ideal place to catch a break from the city and just sit back and relax.

 

And just a quick history of this neighborhood: it became the pinnacle of class and elegance back in the mid 19th century when the city’s elite began building grand homes on the streets of Rittenhouse Square. Then they were followed by the new elite crowd who filled the high rise buildings that sit right on the square itself. Today you can still feel that upscale environment. 

 

Rittenhouse ensures a fast-moving environment that will never leave you bored. But somehow it still manages to create a laid back atmosphere, inviting people to enjoy their time in this great city. 

Things to Do

  • There are several events throughout the year that take place in Rittenhouse Square that turn it into an open air marketplace. Those include the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show and the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival. 

  • Every Saturday there’s a Farmers Market from 9 am to 2pm

  • Plays and Players Theater on Delancey Street

  • Grab a cup of coffee at La Colombe

  • Holt’s Cigar open since the late 1800s

  • Shopping, eating and drinking

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Restaurants & Bars

Whether you want a quick bite to eat, or you are looking to have an elegant sit-down dinner, you are bound to find the perfect place in Rittenhouse. They have everything from cafes, to cocktail bars, and restaurants of all kinds. Here are some of our favorites.

 

  • Parc

    • A traditional French bistro right on the park. It’s one of the most famous restaurants in the city of Philadelphia.

  • Kfar

    • Modern yet retro cafe serving Israeli style pastries, small plates, coffees and more

  • A. Kitchen & A. Bar

    • stylish American bistro and bar

  • Rouge

    • Right on the park with a great outdoor seating area that’s decorated for the season

  • Barclay Prime

    • Continuously rated one of the best steak houses in the country

  • Porcini 

    • A great neighborhood spot that’s BYOB

  • Friday Saturday Sunday

    • Beloved corner eatery

  • Vernick

    • A new American eatery in a Rittenhouse brownstone serving upscale large & small plates plus cocktails.

Shopping

The shopping options, for those hoping to give their wallets a quick workout, are endless. No place does shopping sprees the way Rittenhouse does. Many of the shops can be found on Walnut Street, but it certainly doesn’t stop there. Of course you have your name brand stores but some of the iconic local Philly places are:

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  • Boyds

    • A landmark department store with elegant and classic apparel for men and women.

  • Lagos

    • Flagship store for this high-end and well known jewelry brand

  • Di Bruno Bros

    • A neighborhood staple since 1939, this gourmet Italian market has everything you could ever want.

Real Estate

When it comes to real estate in Rittenhouse Square, there’s three major types of homes you’ll find: high rise luxury condos, brownstone conversions, and single family homes. 

 

Many of the high rise condos can be found right on the square. They come with great convenience as many have 24 hour door security and amenities like gyms, pools, rooftops, incredible views and more.

 

Rittenhouse Square is also known for its large historic brownstones. You know a brownstone when you see one - obviously it’s brown in color and often they have external embellishments that make them ornate and beautiful. Many of the brownstones in Rittenhouse are now multi-family properties because they’ve been converted into multiple unit properties. These are great for first time home buyers. You’ll find these on streets like Spruce, Locust and Pine in this neighborhood. 

 

Rittenhouse Square is home to some of the most beautiful, historic and extravagant single family homes in the city. They are a city’s version of a mansion. You’ve likely heard of Delancey Street, which is one of the most picturesque and beautiful streets in Philadelphia. The 1800 block of Delancey in Rittenhouse Square is a great example of some of the large and stunning homes found in this area that are often sold for millions of dollars. 

 

Homes in this area also come with a big price tag. As of May 2024, the average sales price in Rittenhouse Square is $1,182,006 with 79 days on the market.

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