University City Neighborhood Guide
Discover Things to Do Near University City
Just west of Center City, Philadelphia’s University City has become the academic center of the entire region. Two of the nation’s top-tier universities are located here — the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University — as are major medical hubs like the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). These institutions have created a vibrant neighborhood fueled by innovation and excitement, and AKA University City is at the heart of it.
Where to Eat in University City
New American fare and cocktails are on the menu at Walnut Street Cafe. City Tap House is a gastropub with great beer and even better food. The bar’s extensive draft beer list — 60 taps including rare and sought-after beers — is paired with its elevated pub fare in a stunning setting on two terraces overlooking Walnut Street. The futuristic Pod Asian Restaurant serves up high-end sushi and Pan-Asian fare. Don’t miss the conveyor belt that delivers cuts of sashimi, nigiri, and maki.
Walnut Street Cafe: 2929 Walnut Street
City Tap House: 3925 Walnut Street
Pod Asian Restaurant Philadelphia: 3636 Sansom Street
University City Museums and Art Galleries
True to the modern aesthetic of the area, University City is home to the city’s Institute of Contemporary Art. See works by modern masters Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe, and more. See the student exhibitions and collaborations at the Charles Addams Fine Arts Gallery of the University of Pennsylvania.
Institute of Contemporary Art: 118 S. 36th Street
Charles Addams Fine Arts Gallery: 200 S. 36th Street
Outdoor Activities in University City
Take in river and city views from the Schuylkill River Trail, a 10-mile-long path that runs through the center of the city. Once the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, Franklin Field is now the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, track and field, and lacrosse. Considered to be the oldest continually-operating football stadium in America, visit here to see the site of the country’s first scoreboard in 1895, as well as the first stadium that built an upper deck of seats in 1922.
Franklin Field: 235 S 33rd Street