Philadelphia's Hidden Gems
Outfit: Sweater: H&M, Jacket: Zara, Jeans: Topshop, Shoes: Adidas, Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters (Philadelphia Society Hill)
Happy Sunday friends!
I'm back! Sorry I missed last week's post, but I was visiting my beloved bestie, Joud, in Philadelphia and I really wanted to focus on fully experiencing it! So, in lieu of that, I thought I would dedicate this blog post to some of the amazing food, fun, and photogenic locations my gorgeous tour guide, Joud, took me to. (She honestly curated the best trip ever.)
ART GaLORE
If there is one thing Joud got right on this trip, it was the art museums. Little did I know that I would see countless pieces of art that I've been studying for years! (I'm an art major if you didn't know.) From Van Gogh to Picasso to Kehinde Wiley, Philly has got an amazing amount of art. We also took a day trip to Washington D.C. where I got see even more iconic works. My life was officially made when we visited the National Portrait Gallery where I got to see Obama's painting by Kehinde Wiley (one of my painting idols.). If you are an art student or just appreciate great and historical art, you need to visit Philadelphia and D.C.
* We visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art, Rodin Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery of Art, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, and Philadelphia's Institute of Contemporary Art.
BRUNCH GOALS
Brunch was a recurring event on this trip, and let's be honest, I wasn't complaining whatsoever! The first amazing brunch place was Joud's favorite, Cafe La Maude. This little café's food was the perfect French food with Lebanese influence! Next we went to a place called Farmacia that was amazingly fresh. (The fresh squeezed orange juice was the best I've ever had.) Finally we brunched on our way to D.C. at Magnolia Dessert and Coffee Bar in Vienna, VA. The honey french toast was amazing and the banana Nutella waffle was to die for (see below).
Suraya LEBANESE Café
I'm not sure if I've ever had Lebanese food before, but after Joud took me to Suraya, I'm officially a fan! The food was amazing, the location was beautiful, and the overall experience was perfect. I had some amazing fries covered in Lebanese spices and a type of wrap with marinated chicken, fries, veg and a gorgeous yogurt sauce! (TO DIE FOR.) Forget your Philly Cheese Steak and head to Suraya!
KING OF PRUSSIA
If you're looking to shop, like we were of course, King of Prussia Mall is the place to be. One of the biggest malls in America and is was about a thirty minute drive from Philadelphia city center. It had every store you could think of, from Gucci and Louis Vuitton to Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters. Added bonus: They're currently adding a two-story Zara!!
EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY
If you're in the mood for a little scare, head over to the Eastern State Penitentiary. With similar vibes to Alcatraz, which I visited a summer or two ago, it was creepy cool and lurking with interesting crime stories. This is also an awesome photo spot, especially if you love the abandoned building vibe.
BEST SUSHI EVER
Joud and I had the best sushi we've EVER HAD. It was at a little sushi joint in Philly's Chinatown called Sumo. Definitely check it out if you're a sushi lover like us.
EXTRA PHOTOGENIC SPOTS
Some extra photogenic and delicious places to visit include: Dō Cookie Dough in NYC, Lil' Pop Shop, Liberty Observation Deck, A La Mousse, Magic Gardens (so amazing), Washington monuments at night in Washington D.C., and Society Hill.
As I always say, thank you for coming over and having a little read. It means so much to me. Have you ever been to Philly? If so what were your favorite places, food to eat, etc.? I'd love to hear your Philly adventures. If not, you should definitely visit and see if you enjoy it as much as I did! Head over to my Instagram too, if you'd like to see more highlights from my recent trip!